Digital for Sport: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Irish Sport 

Blog, News

In late 2023, Sport Ireland and the Innovation Exchange launched Digital for Sport, our first national initiative aimed at supporting National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships in embracing digital transformation. This initiative is designed to help sporting organisations leverage technology to streamline operations, enhance communication, improve data management, and gain deeper insights into team and athlete performance.  How It Works  Digital for Sport follows the Innovation Exchange’s proven Six Step Challenge to Deal model. Before challenges are issued, Innovation Exchange advisors work closely with each sporting organisation to define and shape the challenge to ensure it accurately reflects the organisation’s needs and goals.  Where We Are Now  To date, several challenges have been published under the Digital for Sport initiative. These have addressed a wide range of needs, including:  So far, we’ve seen 75 submissions, multiple deals secured—with more currently in the pipeline.  Spotlight on Deals  The deals secured so far showcase the speed and impact of this initiative:  What’s Next  At the Innovation Exchange, our mission is to empower Irish innovation and help sports organisations future-proof their operations. We’re actively collaborating with more sporting bodies to launch new challenges that will bring exciting opportunities for Irish tech companies and accelerate digital transformation across the sports sector.  Stay tuned—there’s more to come. 

The Discovery Exchange Industry Engagement Session was a great success!

News

As part of our Discovery Exchange National Initiative, we aim to foster collaboration between industry leaders and researchers funded by the National Challenge Fund. Our goal is to develop a shared understanding of society’s most pressing challenges—and to drive innovation through collective expertise. Our second Discovery Exchange Pitch Event took place in Dublin city on June 17th, in collaboration with Research Ireland. We were proud to showcase ground-breaking innovators as they pitched their ideas to industry leaders. From sustainable power grid enhancements, cybersecurity, and rapid pathogen testing to potential solutions to ease the housing crisis, a diverse range of sectors and challenges were represented. A big thank you to our network partner, Vhi, for generously hosting the event at their Dublin HQ. 👏 Congratulations to all the innovators, and a huge thank you to our industry partners for joining us in shaping a better future!

Ready to Scale? Skillnet Innovation Exchange supporting Irish SMEs navigating U.S. expansion

News

Ireland has long had a deep and dynamic relationship with the United States — built on shared values, a common language, and a strong transatlantic bond that spans centuries. For generations, Irish businesses have looked to the U.S. as a land of immense opportunity, and this tradition of entrepreneurial ambition continues today with even greater momentum.  The U.S. remains one of the most attractive markets for Irish companies seeking to scale internationally. At the same time, Irish talent, innovation, and adaptability have not gone unnoticed by American investors. U.S. multinationals have consistently chosen Ireland as their European base, recognising the strength of our workforce, our business-friendly environment, and our position as a gateway to the European market. This mutual recognition has led to decades of collaboration — with U.S. FDI playing a vital role in the Irish economy, and Irish firms contributing significantly to U.S. growth stories.  However, in recent months, changing trade dynamics — including discussions around tariffs and regulatory adjustments — have made entering or expanding in the U.S. more complex for Irish firms. These developments demand strategic reconsideration, not hesitation.  Instead of retreating in the face of uncertainty, Skillnet Innovation Exchange has taken proactive steps. Working with regional and national partners, we launched a series of briefings and expert-led sessions designed to equip Irish businesses with the information and insights they need to succeed. These events provided the Irish business ecosystem with an open platform to voice concerns, ask questions, and receive direct answers from industry and market specialists.  We’ve covered key U.S. tech and innovation corridors — from Washington to Virginia, Ohio to Maryland and beyond — ensuring that no matter where opportunities lie, our community is prepared to explore them with confidence.  As part of this initiative, our team also attended the Select USA Investment Summit, one of the most important events for international business expansion into the U.S. Being on the ground enabled us to engage directly with U.S. decision-makers, identify actionable opportunities, and better understand the nuances that Irish companies need to navigate as they expand their footprint.  The result is a growing series of practical, well-informed sessions that not only provide access to expert advice but also foster meaningful connections and peer learning. Irish companies currently operating in the U.S. have shared their experiences, challenges, and the strategic choices that led to their success — offering valuable insights to others planning similar moves.  For any Irish company considering the U.S. as their next big step, these resources are invaluable. Whether you’re looking to establish a presence, scale an existing operation, or simply understand the evolving market landscape, stay tuned for more opportunities in Q3.