Driving Collaboration for Impact: Discovery Exchange Update

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Following the success of our Digital for Sport national initiative, we continued to look for broader opportunities to accelerate Ireland’s digital transformation. This led us to the launch of our second national initiative in partnership with Research Ireland —Discovery Exchange—in October 2024.  Partnering for Change  Developed in partnership with Research Ireland, Discovery Exchange connects industry Leaders with researchers funded under the National Challenge Fund. This is a €65 million research fund established through the Government of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.  This collaboration is about more than funding—the aim of Discovery Exchange is to facilitate a collaborative approach between Industry and researchers to developing innovative solutions to tackle them.  Our launch event in Oct 2025 brought together over 250 delegates, focused on exploring new mindsets, innovative approaches, and collaborative processes needed to address the pressing challenges of the green transition and digital transformation. More than just a one-off event, Discovery Exchange is developing into a process of innovation and collaboration between researchers and industry leaders.  Where Are We Now? Fast forward to 2025, and the initiative is gathering momentum. This year we hosted two pitch events providing participating research teams with the opportunity to present their ideas to investors and industry leaders.  The Discovery Exchange is aimed at Research teams in the Grow Phase of their life cycle and across 2025 we will work with 30 Teams. At this stage, they are focused on advancing their prototypes and clearly demonstrating how their solutions can create tangible societal or economic value.  Building Pitching Confidence  Recognising the importance of strong communication, we hosted a Delivering a Winning Pitch workshop led by Dr. Maria Coakley. These workshops took place over the course of a full day session day and offer participants the opportunity to develop key skills in the pitch process. Pitch Prep & Industry Feedback  The next step in the process was to ensure teams were pitch ready. We hosted a Pitch Preparation Sessions with Sinead O’Riordan and Kevin O’Donnell from the Innovation Exchange team. Acting as industry representatives, Sinead and Kevin provided in-depth feedback on each pitch—from content and slide design to time management and delivery.  The result? Nearly all teams made meaningful changes to improve their pitch before stepping in front of industry stakeholders.  Showcasing Game-Changing Innovation  On Pitch Day each team presented for eight minutes and showcased groundbreaking innovations across a wide spectrum:  Each pitch represented not just a promising project, but a potential leap forward in solving complex, high-impact societal challenges.   What’s Next?  At the Innovation Exchange, our goal is to empower and support the next generation of Irish innovators. Discovery Exchange is not just a programme—it’s a step towards collaborative, challenge-driven innovation.  Stay tuned as we continue to support these exceptional teams on their journey from research to real-world impact. 

Mid-Year Update – July 2025

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The past six months have been an exciting and productive period at the Innovation Exchange. Here’s a look at the highlights from the first half of 2025:  So far in 2025, we’ve published 14 innovation challenges across a wide range of sectors—including construction, healthcare, travel, and more. These challenges ranged from data cleansing and multi-system integration to digital membership systems with real-time monitoring, traffic and congestion management technologies, customer journey analytics, personalised training tools, and more.  One of our highlights was the first-ever in-person challenge, hosted at Ireland West Airport. Among numerous high-quality submissions, two of our member companies have been selected for onsite visits this summer to further explore the real-world implementation of their proposed solutions.  Since its launch in late 2023, Digital for Sport national has continued to gain momentum. Designed to support National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships in leveraging digital technology for improved efficiency and performance, the programme has seen four challenges launched this year, attracting 75 submissions from our members.  The challenges—presented by Boxing, Tennis, Gymnastics, and Snooker & Billiards Ireland—focused primarily on record digitalisation and the development of membership systems with real-time athlete progression tracking features.  Discovery Exchange, a national initiative we launched last October in partnership with Research Ireland, is also making strides. Aimed at fostering collaboration between industry leaders and researchers funded under the National Challenge Fund, the programme has hosted two pitch sessions this year. These sessions showcased groundbreaking innovations across a variety of sectors, including green energy, cybersecurity, pathogen testing, and housing solutions—highlighting the depth and breadth of ideas within our network.   In May, we were proud sponsors of Tech Industry Alliance’s TechFest 2025: Tech, AI & Humanity – Shaping Our Future. This flagship event brought together 350 technology and business leaders from across the South West for a day of insightful panels and discussions exploring the future of innovation.  In a significant boost to our regional presence, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a new partnership between Skillnet Innovation Exchange and Republic of Work, reinforcing Cork’s position as a hub for innovation and business excellence. Speaking at the event, the Taoiseach said, “The Government is committed to supporting Irish companies throughout the digital transformation. I’m delighted to launch this expansion of Skillnet Innovation Exchange in Cork, along with their partnership with Republic of Work. This welcome initiative connects our homegrown SMEs with larger companies so they can collaborate and work together on exciting, innovative projects.”  Shortly after, Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD announced our further expansion into County Cavan, through our regional partner, The Mill Enterprise Hub.  Internationally, the U.S. and UK remain two of the most attractive markets for Irish companies seeking to scale. However, in recent months, changing trade dynamics — including discussions around tariffs and regulatory adjustments — have made entering or expanding in these markets more challenging for Irish firms.   To support our SMEs,   we launched a series of briefings and expert-led sessions designed to equip Irish businesses with the knowledge and insights needed to succeed. These events created an open platform for the Irish business community to voice concerns, ask questions, and receive direct answers from industry and market specialists.  In May, we attended the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin — 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 must navigate as they expand their footprint.  Over the past six months we have engaged, organised and participated at well-informed sessions that not only provide access to expert advice but also foster meaningful connections and peer learning. Irish companies already 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.  We’re also proud of our commitment to talent development. This year, our members have benefited from a wide range of training opportunities — from the fundamentals of brand marketing and communications, through design thinking for SMEs to create customer-centric solutions and gain a competitive edge, all the way to building and working with AI.  Our ESI programme, delivered in partnership with the European Sales Institute, has seen five of our members earn a Diploma in Professional Sales, with many more reaching certificate and award milestones.  As we look ahead, there’s even more on the horizon for the second half of the year. Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about the latest challenges, events, and opportunities designed to help Irish innovators Sell, Scale, and Succeed with Ireland’s Marketplace for Innovation. 

Digital for Sport: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Irish Sport 

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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!

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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

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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.  

Why digital transformation is a business goal, not a tech project

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 “It’s about breaking down barriers between SMEs and established corporates.” Following an interview with our Programme Director, Conor Carmody, it’s great to see this feature in Silicon Republic, highlighting how Skillnet Innovation Exchange is helping Irish SMEs accelerate digital transformation through real, results-driven collaboration. Read the full interview: https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/innovation-exchange-digital-transformation-smes

SelectUSA

Spotlight on SelectUSA 2025

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Last week, The Innovation Exchange was proud to participate in the 2025 Select USA Investment Summit, held at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. With a large delegation of  over 25 ambitious companies —  the themes  that stood out were  innovation, resilience and global ambition. Backed by the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, the delegation brought together firms from a wide range of sectors, including technology, professional services, and advanced manufacturing. Over the course of the summit, Irish companies engaged in vital discussions on market entry, growth opportunities, and the evolving demands of U.S. expansion. The event provided deep insight into transformative global trends — from infrastructure investments to the acceleration of the digital economy and international climate strategies. The U.S. continues to be an attractive market for global entrepreneurs, offering access to scale, a strong economy, and strategic advantages. SelectUSA was also a hub for forward-looking dialogue, with U.S. business leaders highlighting the critical role of AI, workforce development, and innovation ecosystems. The message was clear: international business is entering a new era — and Irish companies are well positioned to thrive in it. We left SelectUSA energized, informed, and more connected than ever. We’re proud to be part of this dynamic community and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

TechFest 2025 – Tech, AI & Humanity

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TechFest 2025 – Tech, AI & Humanity: Shaping Our Future has just wrapped up and what an incredible day it’s been! We were delighted to be a sponsor of this year’s flagship event, which brought together tech and business leaders from across the South West to explore how innovation is reshaping our world. Keynote Highlights: We were thrilled to welcome Cormac O’Sullivan, CTO of Mbryonics, who delivered a fascinating keynote on: – Ireland’s expanding mission in space – The global race for advanced satellite communications – How Galway-based Mbryonics is leading the way in optical communications and space tech We were also honoured to hear from Dr. Hannah Critchlow, internationally renowned neuroscientist, broadcaster and author, who explored the profound connections between neuroscience, AI, and the future of humanity. The day was packed with thought-provoking panels and discussions, covering: – AI & Humanity – How artificial intelligence is reshaping society – The Future of Tech Talent – What skills will define tomorrow’s workforce – Space & the Future of Humanity – Innovation at the next frontier – Tech Innovators in the South West – A showcase of companies driving transformation – Networking opportunities with an inspiring community of tech professionals and changemakers Thank you to all the speakers, attendees, and organisers who made TechFest 2025 a huge success!

Sales Training with Dr. Maria Coakley 

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We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Dr. Maria Coakley for an exclusive series of Sales Training workshops continues into 2025. Delivered in collaboration with our partners, these sessions will take place across the country, providing a unique opportunity for business leaders to enhance their sales capabilities. Spaces are limited—secure your spot now!  What to Expect:  📍 Upcoming Training Dates & Locations: 

Design Thinking Webinar April 9th

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In today’s fast-moving market, small businesses need smart, customer-focused innovation to stay ahead. Join us for Design Thinking for SMEs – Agile Innovation for Small Businesses. During this session led by Maria Cosgrove on behalf of Skillnet Innovation Exchange, we’ll explore:  Who should attend?  This session is perfect for SME owners/managers, startup founders and SME teams looking for cost-effective, rapid innovation strategies. Don’t miss out!  Not a member? Register here.