Month: February 2023

€5.4m European digital innovation hub launched

A new European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) is to be established in the Northern and Western region to help SMEs apply cutting-edge technologies and digital skills to their businesses.

The online hub, with €5.4 million in funding, will support regional SMEs over the next three years and be connected to a network of over 200 other EDIHs across the European Union.

EDIHs offer a portfolio of free services to help companies become more competitive through the adoption of digital technologies.

Businesses that engage these one-stop-shops for firms with digital challenges will be able to gain expertise on research and development in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Blockchain technologies.

They will also be able to access applied digital research, expertise and solutions from the region’s universities – including Atlantic Technological University and University of Galway – through a number of channels and technology transfer centres.

It is also envisaged that the EDIH will be used by public sector bodies to help make their services more efficient.

SMEs and public sector agencies can access the hub through a region-wide network of contact points including Local Enterprise Offices, universities and Údarás na Gaeltachta – giving it one of the largest footprints of service provision in the country.

Chris O’Malley, Vice-President of the Atlantic Technological University (Sligo Campus), said: “The majority of Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) have little knowledge of the requirements of digitalisation and are hesitant to embark on their own digital innovation projects. We are enabling businesses to gain better access to data or use solutions powered by artificial intelligence. The programme also invests to ensure that our regional talent can get the right skills to actively participate in the labour market. The aim is that everyone in the region – citizens, businesses and public services – can benefit from market-ready technological solutions.”

Explaining the concept of the EDIH, Northern and Western Regional Assembly Director David Minton said: “This new hub, which will be called Data2Sustain, will support start-ups, SMEs and other businesses, as well as the public sector in their digital transformation.

“It has a focus on circular economy, operations and sustainability areas, utilising AI, HPC and cybersecurity technological competence, with particular emphasis on data and data analytics–driven innovation and regard to energy consumption and low–carbon emissions.

“What is really thrilling is that members of this new EDIH can use any of the other 200 innovation hubs across Europe. This means, for example, that a company in Connemara can avail of research in Denmark that might assist its business with a technology such as Blockchain or Robotics.

“Similarly, a company in France, could access our region’s new EDIH for essential research or knowledge at Atlantic Technological University or the University of Galway to help advance its business, service or product. The hub is a coordinated cadre of organisations with complementary expertise, with a not-for-profit objective.”

In a report on the digitalisation of SMEs in Ireland, the European Investment Bank said the country had a two-speed digital economy with the divide most obvious in the Northern and Western region. EDIHs combine the benefits of a regional presence with the opportunities available to a pan-European network that can exploit radical disruptions in advanced digital technologies.

The new EDIH will drive digital transformation for businesses across a range of sectors, including Agri and Bio-based Food, Marine and Aquaculture, MedTech and Lifesciences, Manufacturing and Engineering, Construction, Tourism and Public Services. A particular focus will be applied to the circular economy and smarter and greener processes, systems, products, services and business models.

Helena Deane of the West Regional Enterprise Plan, said: ‘Data2Sustain will be a leading EDIH helping to create smarter, greener, more sustainable processes, systems, products, services and business models, which are instrumental to advancing the digital and green transformation. This will have a profoundly positive impact on the region.’

Opening of a call for applications to the Enterprise Ireland’s Innovators’ Initiative

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Opening of a call for applications to the Enterprise Ireland KT Boost Programme

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED.

€19m in Funding Opportunities Unveiled for Innovators and Researchers in Northern and Western Region

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD,, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, has launched two new funding programs, Innovators Initiative and KT Boost, aimed at supporting Irish innovators and researchers.

These programs have a total regional funding of over €19M and are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which aims to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion across all European regions.

The Managing Authorities for the ERDF in Ireland are the Northern & Western Regional Assembly and the Southern Regional Assembly.

Innovators Initiative

The Innovators Initiative is designed to develop five immersive, needs-led innovation training programs, with a regional budget of €5.04m allocated for the Northern and Western Region.

This training will attract high calibre individuals and inter-disciplinary teams who, through their immersion and identification of needs in these environments – via the use of a design methodology – will be supported to generate new product and process ideas, new IP and in some cases, supported to create of high-potential-startups (HPSUs). On completion of a programme, participants can return to their sectors with the accrued benefits of their new skills and training or can form new start-up teams.

The Innovators’ Initiative programmes will be hosted in Irish publicly funded Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) – mainly third level institutions – or within a consortia of RPOs. Applications are now being sought from publicly funded RPOs from areas of sectoral importance to Ireland.

Successfully awarded programmes will each focus on a specific sector of national or regional importance and will augment the industrial strength and research capability of the region in which the programme is to be based.

KT Boost

The KT Boost program is a four-year knowledge transfer funding program focused on increasing research commercialization outcomes in Irish universities and technological universities, with a regional budget of €14.4m allocated for the Northern and Western Region.

KT Boost will be managed by Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI), on behalf of Enterprise Ireland and the ERDF. KTI is the national office responsible for making the process of engaging with public research and of research commercialisation more simple and straightforward. It helps business to benefit from access to Irish expertise and technology by making it easier to connect and engage with the research base in Ireland.

KT Boost will focus on bolstering capacity and capability within the Knowledge Transfer Offices, also known as Technology Transfer Offices at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) so as to further support knowledge transfer activities, outputs and performance. The programme succeeds the Enterprise Ireland Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative (TTSI) – which has run since 2007 – and invested more than €88million into the development and strengthening of Ireland’s knowledge transfer and research commercialisation system, to date.

Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said: “These two new funding programmes, which are worth €63M combined, signal a major vote of confidence for both innovation and research in Ireland. We have a very strong and well-earned reputation for our capabilities in research, innovation and knowledge transfer, and this will enable us to build further on that success.

I very much welcome that the funding programmes will be targeted both nationally and regionally at sectors and organisations, where growth will be identified and subsequently supported and generated. I would like to acknowledge the important role of the ERDF in co-funding these initiatives alongside the Government.”

Marina Donohue, Head of Research and Innovation at Enterprise Ireland, said: “These funding programmes build on the extensive range of Enterprise Ireland supports already available for Irish research, innovation and knowledge transfer. The programmes will enable those active in this space to investigate, establish and develop new ideas. Both initiatives will accelerate the development of innovation capability in Irish enterprise across all regions and we look forward to supporting the projects involved.”

Donal Gilroy, chairperson of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly’s SPA North Committee, welcomed the two new funding schemes, which are part of a €217 million investment in the Northern and Western Region, co-funded by the ERDF and the Irish Government. He stated that these schemes will contribute towards developing a smarter, more competitive North and West of Ireland.

Overall, the two funding programs are worth €63M nationally and represent a significant investment in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in Ireland.

NWRA launches new “Regional Economic Briefing Notes”

In the coming year, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly will be releasing a series of short “Regional Economic Briefing Notes”, providing our stakeholders in the Northern and Western Region with a brief update on the latest data releases related to the region.

The 1st edition of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly’s “Regional Economic Briefing Notes” focuses on the new Regional GDP figures from Eurostat, which were released this week. The key findings are as follows:

The Border’s GDP per capita has dropped to 52% of the EU27 average, the lowest since records began.

The Border’s GDP per capita – as a % of the EU27 average – was notably lower than its previous peak of 98% in 2006.

In 2021, the Northern and Western Region’s GDP per capita was 83% of the EU27 average.

The 1st edition of the “Regional Economic Briefing Note” can be downloaded below and for any queries on this publication please contact John Daly, Economist with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (ei.ar1749929477wn@yl1749929477adj1749929477).

Figure 1: GDP per capita – as a percentage of the EU27 average – for the Northern and Western Region, 2000-2021 (PPS)

Source: Eurostat

Figure 2: GDP per capita – as a percentage of the EU27 average – for the NUTS 2 Regions of Europe, 2021 (PPS)

Source: Eurostat

Regional Economic Briefing Note on Regional GDP data

Key Galway agencies and organisations come together to unlock more EU funding opportunities

The Galway Culture Company in partnership with the Northern Western Regional Assembly and Galway City and County Councils has established an Ecosystem of Supports in EU Funding for Arts, Culture, Digital, Creative Entrepreneurship and Urban Innovation, comprising of key agencies and organisations who provide support, development, policy and knowledge in EU Funding.

The Ecosystem of EU Supports allows key agencies and organisations to share learnings, advice, contacts and networks, partnerships, training opportunities and policy updates to further increase the number of applications for EU funding being progressed from Galway. The hope is to unlock more funding opportunities for the sector, city. county and region and will act as a way in which new partnerships can be created to better support cultural and creative organisations and individuals working in the sector as well as Urban Innovation initiatives and sustainability.

Currently the Ecosystem is comprised of 22 members including Galway Chamber of Commerce, University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University, Western Development Commission, Galway City and County Councils, CREW, Galway Technology Centre, PorterShed, Galway Roscommon Education Board, Udaras Na Gaelthacta, University of Galway, TG4 and many others.

“The Ecosystem is critical in terms of encouraging inter-agency collaboration on applications for EU funding,” said Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of Galway City Council and chairman of the Galway Culture Company. “In most cases these applications have to be submitted by an agency or local authority lead, so we are ensuring that we share learnings and advice amongst each other and support knowledge sharing to further increase the number of applications being progressed from Galway, whilst ensuring the right expertise is in place”

David Minton, Director with the Northern Western Regional Assembly stated that “the establishment of such an eco-system is really valuable in terms of sharing networks, knowledge and learning opportunities and. Our role is to enable innovation, and work with like-minded organisations and people to maximise EU based opportunities. All across the EU, places like Galway are taking this ecosystem approach to the cultural and sustainable development of their city.”

“The Ecosystem meets every eight weeks, and we were delighted to host its inaugural meeting in the Chamber in October,” said Kenny Deery, CEO of the Galway Chamber of Commerce. “It really brings us all together to drive forward that collective vision around EU funding. Each of the partners bring their expertise, resources, networks and influence to the development and operation of the ecosystem, many also represent other interest groups and initiatives in the city and wider western region, it’s been hugely rewarding to-date. I can see already that many great relationships are forming and partnerships are building that will ultimately lead to a more integrated approach to EU funding, which is what we need in Galway”

Marilyn Reddan, CE of the Galway Culture Company stated, “In the coming weeks the Galway Culture Company will advertise for an EU Officer to manage and oversee the Ecosystem of EU Supports and our EU projects as well as ensuring a strong presence and participation at all of our EU networks. We hope to unlock many funding opportunities with and for our sector as well as for our City, County and Region. We envisage that as it grows we will have many pillars within the Eco-System, each of which will focus on a key area of development and expertise”

Sizeable response is needed to address rising regional inequalities

Regional inequalities in Ireland continue to rise according to new CSO regional and county disposable income figures
Lack of investment in infrastructure assets and a weak urban structure in the Northern and Western Region is contributing to rising regional disparities
The Northern and Western Region needs a sizeable stimulus package and a policy of “Positive Discrimination”.

Key findings of the CSO’s publication “County Incomes and Regional GDP” were reviewed at the NWRA’s February meeting. According to the report, the Northern and Western Region is experiencing the lowest disposable income per person in the country.

This worrying trend has been attributed to a lack of investment in infrastructure assets and a weak urban structure in the region, which is further exacerbating regional disparities.

According to the CSO, disposable income per person in the Northern and Western Region was estimated to be €20,882 in 2021, which is significantly lower than the state average of €24,855. Additionally, each of the counties in the Northern and Western Region recorded disposable income levels below the state average, with Donegal registering the lowest disposable income per person in the region and in the entire country at €18,579 per person in 2021.

The gap between the Northern and Western Region and the state average has progressively widened over the past decade, with the difference in disposable income per person increasing from just over €1,400 in 2011 to nearly €4,000 in 2021. The Border and West Regions have also shown similar trends.

*2021 is an estimate from the CSO

The elected members were also informed of the various factors that are likely to be contributing to this rise in regional inequality in Ireland and what is needed to overcome these challenges.

“The main factor that explains why regional inequalities in Ireland are rising is because the Northern and Western Region of Ireland is underperforming across a variety of areas considered key to supporting economic development,” said John Daly, Economist of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly.

Daly added, “The European Commission found that the Northern and Western Region was notably underserved in terms of high-quality infrastructure, with our region lacking in terms of motorway, rail, gas, and digital infrastructure.

The Northern and Western Region is also the only region on the island of Ireland to be classified as a ‘Moderate Innovator’, which is a region with a below-average level of innovation capabilities. Addressing these challenges will be central to enhancing the economic performance of the Northern and Western Region’s economy and reducing regional inequalities in Ireland.”

Councillor David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly, said:

“Based on these figures, it is clear that the Government needs to positively discriminate in favour of the Northern and Western Region, by providing a higher rate of capital investment – per head of population – in our region and by supporting the strategic priorities of our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.”

Collins continued, “Furthermore, a sizeable stimulus package is needed for the Northern and Western Region’s economy to counter the economic impact of Brexit and COVID-19 and to provide a platform for the region to improve its performance as a ‘Transition Region’, ‘Lagging Region’, and a ‘Moderate Innovator’. Without this, regional inequalities in Ireland could continue to rise, which would weaken our regional economies, affect social cohesion and undermine the delivery of key national policies such as the Programme for Government, Project Ireland 2040, Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan.”

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly is calling for immediate attention to be paid to this issue to ensure that the people and businesses of the region are not left behind in Ireland’s economic recovery.