Category: NWRA News - Page 23 - Northern & Western Regional Assembly

Turning adversity into advantage: why 2018 is going to be the West of Ireland’s big year

The West of Ireland is offering more and more families an escape from the pressures of Dublin with a lifestyle and career to match, according to the organisers of a major conference showcasing entrepreneurialism in the region.

And with increased infrastructure such as new motorways and connectivity being put in place, the West will soon offer a viable counter-weight to the economic might of Ireland’s Dublin and Eastern region.

The One Region: One Vision conference will focus on a burgeoning movement in the West of Ireland – a growing band of entrepreneurs, business people and risk takers – and the region’s designation by the EU as European Entrepreneurial Region 2018.

Organised by the Northern & Western Regional Assembly, the body which administers European Union funding in the western region, and by the Western Development Commission (WDC), the agency responsible for economic development of the Western region, speakers include leading business figures and entrepreneurs.

The conference will hear that Dublin’s economic success has had an entirely unexpected impact on the West: it is potentially quickening the speed of economic development in rural Ireland as people seek an improved quality of life including cheaper housing and reasonable commuting times.

NWRA Director David Minton said:

“To be a great entrepreneur, you have to be a bit of a fortune teller, able to read the proverbial tea leaves and predict what your customers will want before they know they want it.

Key note speaker will include Westport-based Portwest CEO Harry Hughes who was recently named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for 2017 at the 20th annual awards in Dublin.

The company, which he runs with his brothers Cathal and Owen, is a global safety provider that designs and manufactures specialist workwear.

“This conference, now in its second year, will showcase those people who do just that – the people who are job by job, enterprise by enterprise, helping to change the story here in the West of Ireland, helping to drive change and re-energise the region.

“More and more people are realising that not only is Dublin and the east becoming an unsustainably expensive place to live and grow families, it is also not prudent to rely on the capital to drive the national economic agenda. There needs to an alternative.”

Ian Brannigan, CEO of the Western Development Commission, said: “As we’re seeing in Ireland, local leadership and decision making is critical when it comes to creating economic growth and delivering good jobs. We need to look to our communities to develop lasting growth for themselves and future generations – one region with one vision.”

A key topic for discussion at the One Region: One Vision conference will be the EER 2018 designation. The ambassador for EER 2018 will be Minister Sean Kyne. Commenting, he said “Ireland is going through an unprecedented level of change. Internationally we are seeing an increasing level of digitisation, urbanisation and globalisation. We can’t afford a business as usual approach. The entrepreneurs and business people of the west of Ireland are leaders in facing these challenges. This is recognised by the entire region winning European Entrepreneurial Region 2018. Further recognised by our success in the Entrepreneur of the Year competition, this year. Our entrepreneurs and our business people can lead Ireland into the future”.

Announced in Brussels by the EU’s Committee of the Regions, the award was given to the region because it has collectively developed policies that are transforming the area ‘from adversity to advantage’, in the process making it one of the most resilient and ambitious places in Europe.

David Minton added:

“This is an amazing honour and an opportunity for a part of Ireland that has been traditionally marginalised to emerge stronger and more attractive as a place to live and work for our young people.”

The company, which he runs with his brothers Cathal and Owen, is a global safety provider that designs and manufactures specialist workwear.

Other speakers at the One Region: One Vision conference include John Breslin (co-founder Galway Innovation District), Group Technology Editor of Independent News & Media (INM) Adrian Weckler and Michelle Murphy, director of recruitment chain Collins McNicholas.

Commenting, Michelle Murphy said:

“The West is alive with innovative, creative, motivated and versatile entrepreneurs which is a truly amazing asset for our region in ensuring we keep our identity as a thriving, dynamic and attractive place to start and then grow a successful business.”

Registration is available for the conference on November 28th, Salthill Hotel, Galway (1-5pm) on Eventbrite (One Region One Vision) and more information is available on www.nwra.ie / www.wdc.ie

MARIE Project up and running

MARIE, an interregional project was born from a desire among partners to convert debate on Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) into tools for regional development. MARIE hit the ground running with a kick off meeting being held in February. The five-year project was approved for a grant of €1.9m by Interreg Europe Programme late last year.

The consortium of 10 project partners (including the Southern Regional Assembly on the Irish side) are working together to face challenges associated with RRI to improve regional public policy that supports delivery of responsible research and innovation in design, production and distribution of innovation in Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) Sectors, focusing on 3 types of RRI support action; Quadruple Helix; Open Innovation; Information & Tools for RRI application.

Using interregional activities, communication and stakeholder engagement, partners will develop Action Plans that will result in: improved policy instruments; more and better targeted funding for RRI delivery; increased capacity among innovation actors and consolidated partnerships of quadruple helix innovation chain stakeholders.

MARIE’s first interregional learning event was hosted by the incubator CesenaLab, Italy in February, under the curious eyes of busy start-uppers and with active participation by local stakeholders.

The partners, from 8 European regions and coordinated by CISE, gathered together to learn more about the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). They were supported in this by a group of local and regional stakeholders with experience in innovation, sustainability and social & environmental responsibility. The second interregional learning event, hosted by the Greek partners in sunny Athens in May proved very productive. RRI good practises identified by each partner were explored, as was the method of gathering data relating to mapping RRI in each partner region. Local and regional stakeholders working in the areas of innovation and social entrepreneurship also shared their knowledge and experience with participants. MARIE is part-funded by the Interreg Europe Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund and is led by CISE – Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Florì-Cesena, Italy.

MARIE will run until 2021, find out more about MARIE at www.interregeurope.eu/marie/

Help Us Build a Smart Region

Are we Smart? Some of the world’s most innovative solutions exist in our region; across energy, healthcare, industry, commerce, buildings, communities & many more. SMARTPLACES is a project with big ambitions.

A collaborative project ‘Smart Places’ between the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), the Western Development Commission (WDC), and the Insight Centre (NUI Galway). We are working with our stakeholders to be a platform for capturing existing smart projects and building a strategy to ensure our international competitiveness. Click here for more information about the project.

SMARTPLACES sets to build a SMART & effective region. Adopting a smart strategy, smart policies and smart practices will enable continued international investment and ensure our people create and participate in the jobs of the future.

Example of a Smart Region

Help Us Build a Smarter Region:

We can be world leaders with your help.

A short 5-10 minute survey has been set-up here to capture our current SMART position. The survey looks for information about smart people, smart solutions and smart organisations from Clare to Donegal and Monaghan to Mayo. (Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway City, Galway County, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan Roscommon, Sligo). By ‘Smart’, we mean using modern technology, policies or systems to improve people’s lives.

Do The Survey

Thank you for your time and participation in the short regional survey. Please invite others to fill in the survey. All responses are strictly confidential.

For more information visit http://smartplaces.insight-centre.org

NWRA Profile and Regional Overview

View this short presentation on the NWRA, who we are and what we do.

Download Presentation

Submission to the National Planning Framework Process

The submission from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) to the first stage of the National Planning Framework process.

Download the Submission here

‘Rural Ireland’ is far from dead – and has the potential to become an economically powerful region

‘Rural Ireland’ is far from dead – and has the potential to become an economically powerful region

‘Rural Ireland’ could lead the emergence of vibrant new economies
Re-imagine the future of Rural Ireland at the ONE Region: ONE Vision conference on December 8
Debates on entrepreneurship, population loss, jobs, wealth and connectivity
Speakers include ESRI chief economist Dr Edgar Morgenroth and ‘Battle for Rural Ireland’ broadcaster Richard Curran

‘Rural Ireland’ has the ability to become an economically powerful region in its own right, according to the director of one of the region’s key funding agencies.

With its key strengths of people, energy and resources connected, David Minton, director of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) believes that ‘Rural Ireland’ could become a force to be reckoned with.

Instead of ushering in its demise, he says, we should see Rural Ireland as a region with huge untapped potential and the capacity to lead the emergence of vibrant new economies.

Mr. Minton, who is head of NWRA, one of the national bodies, which administers European funding in Ireland, was speaking at the launch of ONE Region: ONE Vision today (November 16).

His comments come as the debate about the future of rural Ireland rages, with issues such as possible cuts to transport links, poor broadband connectivity and the closure of vital services that connect communities in rural Ireland.

The ONE Region: ONE Vision conference, which will be held at The Model in Sligo on December 8th, will bring together key players in Rural Ireland in order to plot how the region can kick-on and build a lasting recovery.

It will explore the unique possibilities on offer to innovators and job creators in rural communities, discussing how changing conditions could enhance what’s already one of the most sensational places to live on the continent of Europe.

“Rural Ireland is far from dead – in fact it’s changing, adapting, reshaping – it has responded to international trends and survived,” says Mr. Minton.

“In fact the people of rural Ireland are the leaders of this global technology change. If anything, we should be asking, how we serve it better?”

Ireland needs rural Ireland, believes Minton. All we have to do is connect its strengths.

“We need its people, its energy, its resources, its space and its creativity. Ushering in its demise is misguided. Rural Ireland in the future could be a net exporter of energy, water, services and global technology solutions. I see the emergence of new economies and rural Ireland will lead it.”

Speakers include RTÉ broadcaster Richard Curran, who hosted TV’s ‘Battle for Rural Ireland’, the ESRI’s Chief economist Dr. Edgar Morgenroth, and broadcaster and environmentalist Duncan Stewart and Oliver Daniels of the Insight Centre. The conference will throw open the doors of possibility and answer challenging questions.

There will be a focus on what more can be done to maintain rural communities, to build a sustainable future for young people, to create the conditions to enable wealth generation in rural Ireland.

Minton says these and other questions will be tackled. “How do we promote our region’s creativity, space, resources and energy? How do we turn possibilities into reality?” he added.
ONE Region: One Vision will take place at The Model, in Sligo, on December 8 from 1pm to 5pm.

[Pictured above (l-r): Northern and Western Regional Assembly Director Mr. David Minton with NWRA Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon, launching the One Region One Vision Conference to be held at The Model in Sligo on December 8]

Interreg Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme ‘ASCENT’ Project Launch

With over 30,000 visitors to Errigal mountain during the summer of 2016, the need for an environmentally sustainable approach to allow for the responsible enjoyment of the mountain is a clear focus of the ASCENT project which was launched on Thursday morning (20th Oct 2016) at Dun Lùiche by Cathaoirleach Cllr Terence Slowey.

The launch which took place at the foot of the iconic Errigal mountain heard from a number of key speakers including Seamus Neely from Donegal County Council, Michael O’Brien, Northern & Western Regional Assembly, Paul Roarty, Dun Lùiche Community Group Rosita Mahony, Donegal County Council and representatives from each of the partner organisations from Finland, Iceland, Norway, Northern Ireland.

Seamus Neely Chief Executive with Donegal County Council paid tribute to the local community for their foresight and commitment to the sustainable development of the mountain.

This project is being funded under the Northern Periphery & Artic Programme and will see the exchange of learning and knowledge between seven sites that have similarities but which also face unique challenges in their own regions.

In launching the project Cathaoirleach Cllr Terence Slowey extended a warm welcome to the European partners from Iceland, Finland, Norway and Northern Ireland and said “not only have we a shared past as descendents of the vikings who explored the northern islands and coasts of the North Atlantic, we also live in the periphery of Northern Europe in quite rural and remote locations that boast an abundance of natural resources and the highest standards of living in Europe.

This project is all about facilitating the responsible enjoyment of Errigal in a way that protects the mountain’s special qualities and benefits the local community. The ASCENT project will see research being undertaken into models of upland access in partner regions and in Scotland, development of a multi stakeholder intervention at Errigal, development of a Management Plan for Errigal, the design of a path for Errigal as well as training programmes on path building and maintenance and piloting path models on sections of Errigal.

[Pictured above L-R: Seamus Neely Chief Executive Donegal County Council; Cllr Terence Slowey Cathaoirleach Donegal Co Co and Michael O’Brien of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly]