The Northern and Western Regional Assembly were delighted to, along with one of the MEPS for our region, Ciaran Mullooly, participate at the RISE@ATU Summer School in ATU Letterkenny this week.

Ciaran Mullooly informed the participants of the summer school that the European Parliament is prioritising investments in advancements in research and with strengthening partnerships with industry. He referred to the TU Rise initiative for its exemplary practices in fostering collaboration between technical universities and industry leaders. Such partnerships are considered vital not only for innovation but also for the sustainable development of Europe’s economic and scientific landscape.

On behalf of the ERDF Managing Authority, Bobbie Baker, Programme Executive with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly emphasised the significance of innovation and competitiveness as key priorities under the EU co funded Programme.

The RISE@ATU is one of the schemes co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Northern and Western Regional Operational Programme.

The purpose of the scheme is to establish, strengthen, and systemise research and innovation offices in the Technical University to enable engagement with local and regional enterprises and community stakeholders.

As a component of the RISE@ATU scheme, the annual Summer School is facilitating an extensive research training programme, providing opportunities to develop soft skills and become familiar with new concepts, methods and applications. The RISE@ATU Summer School also gives the wider postgraduate research community across the ATU opportunities to develop networks, build collaborations, knowledge transfer and cross-pollination of ideas and perspectives.

Members of the ERDF team from the Northen and Western Regional Assembly conducted a number of meetings with colleagues from the European Commission and the Irish Regions Office in Brussels.

During the meetings, the team delved into several key topics. They explored Administrative Capacity Building, focusing on events, best practices, and relevant training sessions. The discussion also covered policy evaluation and benchmarking through the open EU data platform, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency.

In addition, the team discussed Smart and Sustainable Growth, sharing insights on decarbonisation projects from other member states. They also highlighted the importance of supporting green enterprises to foster a more sustainable economy. Effective communication strategies were also a significant part of the conversation, ensuring that all initiatives are well-coordinated and effectively implemented.

The team also had a series of engagements with Members of the European Parliament: Nina Carberry, Barry Cowen, Ciaran Mullooly and Maria Walshe to review progress under the EU Co funded Northern and Western Regional Programme and to gather feedback on relevant regional and EU cohesion policy matters.

National school children across the Northern and Western Region celebrated Europe Day this week. They learned from this month’s Primary Planet magazine that Europe Day on May 9th commemorates peace, partnership, and progress.

Europe Day marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, signed on May 9, 1950. This event heralded a new era of peace, integration, and democratic cooperation in Europe, laying the foundations for the European Union as we know it today.

Students from various schools in the region participated in a Europe Day Quiz sponsored by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly to test their knowledge of the European Union and EU funding. Participating schools included Abbeycartron National School, Scoil Mhuire Creeslough, Creeslough National School, Annaduff National School, Corlough National School, St Louis Girls National School, Cloghogue National School, St John’s Logboy National School, Scoil Croí Íosa, Presentation Primary School, and Cloonfad National School.

Staff members from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund in the region, visited the participating schools. EU flags were presented to the schools, and the winning students in the Europe Day quiz received book vouchers.