Limerick retains top spot in prestigious European City of the Future rankings

LIMERICK city has once again secured a top award at the fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024 and remains the second highest ranked city overall in its category.

For the second year running, Limerick ranked first for FDI Strategy in the Micro European Cities of the Future category, which looks at urban areas with an immediate population below 100,000.

The city was also once again the overall runner up in the category, with the Swiss town of Zug retaining the top ranking.

Limerick city ranked highly in three other awards, Human Capital and Lifestyle, Business Friendliness and Economic Potential.

The awards are hosted by fDi magazine, an international news and foreign direct investment magazine published by fDi Intelligence, a specialist division from The Financial Times Ltd.

The awards benchmark European cities and regions according to their economic, financial, and business strengths.

The fDi Special Report says of Limerick: "A life sciences and pharmaceutical hub, Limerick is expected to invest €1bn in enterprise and infrastructure investment, in line with its Limerick 2030 plan.

"A key part of this is the emphasis it has placed on entrepreneurship. Innovate Limerick, its platform to spur innovation ahead of the city’s 2030 targets, works with the start-up community, local and foreign businesses and acts as the ‘glue’ between all three.

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"Its current projects at Innovate include: Engine, Troy Film Studios Limerick, Film in Limerick, NAMC and Rathkeale Enterprise Centre."

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell welcomed Limerick’s sustained high ranking: "International recognition is essential for elevating Limerick’s global appeal as a thriving business destination.

"The fDi rankings underscore the dedication of Limerick City and County Council, the IDA, and Enterprise Ireland, and the concerted efforts to enhance our city's reputation.

"In the fiercely competitive arena of foreign direct investment, this independent validation strengthens our position, providing a valuable edge as we present compelling pitches for future investments."