Home > Business > Investment & Incentives
Investment Overview
More than one thousand market-leading overseas companies have already selected Ireland as their main European base.
- One of the most attractive business environments in the world – The Economist Intelligence Unit
- A regulatory environment which encourages competitiveness – IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
- Some of the least-restrictive product market regulation amongst developed countries - OECD
- The second-freest economy out of 41 countries in the European region – The Index of Economic Freedom
And financial incentives play their part too in making Cork a prime business location. Overseas companies are attracted by Ireland’s low corporation tax – just 12.5 percent compared with 28 percent in the UK.
In addition, the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) and Seed Capital Scheme (SCS) provide vital tax-based support to existing or start-up SMEs. These significant reliefs have been extended to run up to at least 2013.
Another very attractive incentive for businesses locating here is a tax credit that’s available for R&D outlay. When a business invests in an R&D project that qualifies under the scheme, it becomes entitled to an extra tax credit of 20%.
Indigenous Irish SMEs can talk to Enterprise Ireland about its Growth Fund which provides financial aid under the following headings: capital investment, technology acquisition, recruitment of key managers, consultancy services, management development and staff training.
Cork’s four enterprise boards help to fund small business start-ups and expansion. The Cork City Enterprise Board alone has funded more than one thousand new jobs since it was established.
For more information on relocating to or investing in Cork, email or telephone +353 (0) 21 4317895.
