Microsoft has been awarded the Special Recognition Award (SRA) by IDA Ireland in acknowledgment of the company’s substantial contributions to the Irish economy. The announcement was made on March 3rd, 2025, coinciding with Microsoft’s 50th anniversary worldwide and its 40th year of operation in Ireland.
The SRA, presented to companies demonstrating significant economic and societal impact, highlights Ireland’s appeal for foreign direct investment, citing its skilled workforce, innovative environment, and stable business policies. Past recipients of this prestigious award include industry leaders such as Pfizer, Apple, and Google.
At a ceremony titled “Our Shared Digital Future,” held at Dublin’s Mansion House on March 3rd, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin presented the award to Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President. The event drew over 400 guests, including representatives from IDA client companies, policymakers, business leaders, and Microsoft employees, customers, and partners.
Microsoft’s journey in Ireland began in 1985 with a small manufacturing operation employing fewer than 100 people. Through years of strategic investment, operational transformation, and diversification, Ireland has grown into a crucial international hub for Microsoft. Currently, the tech giant employs more than 4,000 individuals in Ireland, providing software development, engineering, data center management, finance, operations, and sales and marketing services for the EMEA region.
Demonstrating its continued commitment to Ireland, Microsoft announced in November a new strategic investment creating 550 new Irish-based engineering and R&D roles to develop innovative AI technologies. Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised Microsoft during the award presentation, stating, “I am delighted to present this Special Recognition Award to Microsoft, one of the world’s most successful technology companies. The fact that it has had a presence here for 40 of its 50 years is testament to the value proposition that Ireland offers companies looking to internationalise their business.”
He added, “Microsoft’s decision to choose Ireland as a location from which to expand its operations has contributed immensely to the vibrant and innovative tech ecosystem that has evolved here over the past four decades, not to mention its economic and social impact. I want to both congratulate and thank Brad Smith and all the team for Microsoft’s presence and its continued investments in Ireland, and to assure them of the ongoing support of the Irish Government, through IDA Ireland, as Microsoft continues to innovate, transform, and shape the future of AI.”
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, emphasized the award’s significance, saying, “Our Special Recognition Award celebrates the substantial contributions our client companies make to the Irish economy and to the people of Ireland. Foreign Direct Investment continues to be a substantive driver of the Irish economy… Microsoft is one such company and is a very deserving winner of our Special Recognition Award 2025. IDA Ireland and Microsoft have built a longstanding, trusted partnership over four decades of expansion and growth in Ireland and I look forward to our continued partnership throughout the next decades as the company continues to develop the next wave of AI-powered software and technology.”
In accepting the award, Brad Smith stated, “For four decades, Microsoft has shared a special relationship with the people and government of Ireland. From our first European Operations centre that shipped software in boxes to customers, to one of our most advanced cloud datacentre campuses delivering AI solutions, Microsoft Ireland continues to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and transformation across the EU.”
