Skillnet Innovation Exchange, Ireland’s marketplace for innovation, has launched Digital for Sustainability — an industry-led initiative designed to help Irish businesses meet the growing demand from large customers and procurement teams for reliable sustainability data.
As sustainability reporting becomes a critical factor in winning contracts and maintaining competitiveness, Digital for Sustainability leverages Skillnet Innovation Exchange’s proven challenge framework to connect organisations with innovative digital solutions — including automation and analytics tools — that make sustainability reporting faster, more reliable and more cost-effective.
The launch follows the publication of a new report from Skillnet Innovation Exchange showing that the initiative has generated over €5 million in SME deal flow since its launch three years ago. The national platform supports both large and small businesses by connecting corporates facing innovation challenges with SMEs that can deliver fast-track solutions. To date, 70 innovation challenges have been published and 30 deals completed, with that figure expected to grow significantly by year-end.
Digital for Sustainability has already achieved its first success, with Intersport Elverys publishing a challenge to source a sustainability dashboard to manage energy, water, and waste data. Innovation Exchange member Energy Elephant pitched for and won the contract. More recently, Ballymaloe Foods published a sustainability challenge on the platform, with the process expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
Recent deals facilitated by the marketplace for innovation include:
· The Nestbox Egg Company & Nualach Automation — the largest deal to date, valued at €800,000
· Cycling Ireland & Fit2Trade — a partnership signed within ten days of the initial pitch
· Cork County Council & Driver Focus — a product solution meeting internal compliance requirements
These join a growing list of successful partnerships that demonstrate the Exchange’s ability to turn innovation challenges into commercial opportunities, including:
· Intersport Elverys & Energy Elephant — first Digital for Sustainability deal
· Astellas & Pro-Reliability Solutions — a unique partnership delivering compliance services
· Horsesport Ireland & Miagen — a Digital for Sport collaboration
The Innovation Exchange is now open to help businesses of all sizes turn their sustainability data management challenges into a competitive advantage.
· For business with a sustainability data challenge: Email oonagh@theinnovationexchange.ie to explore the benefits of joining Ireland’s marketplace for innovation. · For solution providers: Join the marketplace at www.theinnovationexchange.ie
ENDS
For media queries contact:
Oonagh Fox, Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Tel: 087 8554406 Email: oonagh@theinnovationexchange.ie
About Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is an Irish innovation platform that brings together large corporations undergoing digital transformation with scaling SMEs that offer innovative solutions. Launched in 2022 in partnership with Furthr, the programme bridges the gap between the demand for new technologies and the supply of agile, homegrown tech capabilities. Corporates, present real-world transformation challenges. In turn, scaling Irish SMEs—referred to as “solution providers”—pitch solutions, fostering practical and impactful collaborations. The programme operates nationally, supported by regional hubs such as Republic of Work in Cork, The Mill in Drogheda, GreenTechHQ in Wexford, Platform94 in Galway, RDI in Kerry and the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen. This ensures SMEs from across Ireland have the chance to engage with corporates and scale their businesses. Since its launch, in excess of 70 innovation challenges have been issued, resulting in successful commercial partnerships.
By facilitating direct engagement between corporate leaders and tech innovators, The Innovation
