Hundreds of jobs have been announced in two expansions by healthcare and digital marketing companies.
Opko Health is to take on 200 staff over the next five years as it invests in EirGen Pharma facility in Waterford which focuses on developing and supplying specialised oncology products.
In a separate investment Search Optics, which sells digital marketing to many blue chip firms, is to create 100 jobs with the opening of new offices in Dublin.
Both expansions have been supported by enterprise agency IDA Ireland.
Opko, which bought EirGen almost a year ago, said it plans to expand manufacturing in Waterford and set up an R&D centre.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton made the announcement and claimed the South East is now enjoying the fastest rate of jobs growth in the country.
Meanwhile, Search Optics’ new Dublin offices at Fumbally Square will be home to its European, Middle Eastern and African headquarters.
Brendan O’Brien, of Search Optics, said Dublin is a diverse, vibrant city that offers the firm access to highly-skilled staff and a technology infrastructure that will serve as the perfect base.
“We have experienced excellent support from government business development departments as well as from local businesses and suppliers, which means that setting up our HQ has been straightforward and without delay,” he added.
Founded in 1998 in San Diego, California, in the US, Search Optics has 12 offices in nine countries around the world.