Skillnet Innovation Exchange and Sport Ireland invite digital companies to join the
marketplace for innovation to provide solutions for sports organisations across Ireland
Dublin, November 28th – Today Skillnet Innovation Exchange announced a collaboration with Sport Ireland to support the digital transformation of sport in Ireland. Through its Digital for Sport initiative, Skillnet Innovation Exchange will invite technology solutions providers to pitch to, and collaborate with, sports organisations across Ireland looking to harness the power of digital technology to increase efficiencies and performance.
The collaboration was announced at the inaugural Sport and Innovation Technology Summit held today at the Sport Ireland Campus where Skillnet Innovation Exchange called on digital solutions providers to explore how their solutions can be applied to the world of sports management and performance. The initiative is expected to achieve improved digital adoption across the Irish sports ecosystem, including streamlining administrative processes, optimising data management and communications and improving the understanding of participants performance and experience.
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is Ireland’s innovation marketplace, connecting organisations facing digital transformation challenges with technology companies that can fast-track the solutions. Since its inception two years ago, 30 challenges have been published by Skillnet Innovation Exchange for companies with a digital challenge and 10 deals have been done between companies facing a challenge and companies with the ability to solve them.
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is an initiative of Skillnet Ireland, the business support agency of Ireland that is responsible for advancing the competitiveness of businesses through providing skills programmes. Sport Ireland is the authority responsible for the development of sport in Ireland working with the 60 governing bodies of sport and a network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships.
Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, commented: “Innovation and collaboration are core values of the Government’s National Sports Policy, so I am delighted to see this new partnership taking place between the Skillnet Innovation Exchange and Sport Ireland, which will support the digital transformation of the Irish sports sector. Technology has an impact on most aspects of our lives and so I want to commend all of the sports organisations, researchers and enterprises who came together today at the Sport Innovation and Technology Summit, to explore what role technology will play in shaping the future of sport in Ireland.”
Speaking at today’s launch, Conor Carmody, Programme Director at Skillnet Innovation Exchange, commented: “This new collaboration between Sport Ireland and Skillnet Innovation Exchange will offer many SMEs the opportunity to collaborate with sporting organisations across Ireland, bridging the innovation divide and strengthening the Irish sport ecosystem. With today’s announcement we are thrilled to expand our offering and look forward to seeing the challenges and solutions develop in the next few years”.
Benny Cullen, Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland, said: “The recently launched Sport Ireland strategy aims to drive innovation through creative collaborations across the sports sector and the promotion of a digital first approach. This new partnership with Skillnet Innovation Exchange will help Irish sport to deliver on these ambitions. This initiative will provide tailored supports to the Irish sport sector and Irish enterprise to help foster new partnerships and develop innovative digital solutions in sport.”
Mark Jordan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland, said: “Digital transformation is one of the most significant challenges facing organisations across all sectors. This collaboration between Skillnet Innovation Exchange and Sport Ireland gives sport bodies the opportunity to access the talent required to enjoy the benefits of digital technology.”
Skillnet Innovation Exchange has successfully partnered with regional innovation hubs such as The Ludgate Hub, the Galway Technology Centre, GreenTech HQ, The Mill Hub and the RDI Hub. The continuing expansion of the Skillnet Innovation Exchange, which currently has in excess of 600 participants, allows a growing number of SMEs to enjoy the programme’s benefits, including access to an instant sales pipeline, market intelligence and the capability to sell to large companies.
Corporate members get access to collaboration opportunities with Ireland’s most talented SMEs, accelerating their digital transformation. There are currently 34 corporate members of The Innovation Exchange, including Ryanair, Glanbia, ESB, Axa Insurance, Microsoft, IBM and IDA Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland has committed €5 million over four years to fund the Skillnet Innovation Exchange which is designed to address the barriers that exist for scaling companies when selling to large companies and multinationals. The programme will support over 1,000 companies between 2022-2025.
Skillnet Innovation Exchange invites digital solutions providers to join its marketplace for innovation at www.theinnovationexchange.ie.
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About Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Skillnet Innovation Exchange is where businesses facing digital transformation challenges are connected with innovative solutions providers with the talent to help them achieve their ambitions. Large corporations get access to Ireland’s most talented solutions providers, and to collaborate to accelerate digital transformation. Scaling technology companies get an instant sales pipeline as well as access to key decision makers, market intelligence and the capability to sell to large corporates.
About Skillnet Ireland
Skillnet Ireland is the national talent development agency of the Government of Ireland, responsible for advancing the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses through enterprise-led
talent development. Skillnet Ireland partners with 57 industry bodies, supporting over 24,700 businesses and more than 92,400 trainees annually, through its 70 Skillnet Business Networks across most sectors and all regions in Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
To learn more about Skillnet Ireland visit: www.skillnetireland.ie
Skillnet Business Network search tool: https://www.skillnetireland.ie/our-networks/
Facebook: @SkillnetIreland
Twitter: @SkillnetIreland
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/skillnetireland
About Sport Ireland
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland, including participation in sport, high-performance sport, anti-doping, coaching, and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus.
Connect with Sport Ireland:
Website: www.sportireland.ie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sportireland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SportIreland
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sportireland
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sport-ireland
YouTube: www.youtube.com/sportireland
For press enquiries & further information, please contact:
Andie Cooper Beachhut PR andie@beachhutpr.com +353 864453717 | Dylan Mellody-Kelly Beachhut PR +353874142366 |
For further details or to speak to a member of The Innovation Exchange please email at info@theinnovationexchange.ie
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Expanding Regional Network According to the KHSK Economic Consultants Impact Report, Skillnet Innovation Exchange is playing an important role in implementing regional policy and it strengthens the existing regional economic developing organisations. Skillnet Innovation Exchange has a strong national footprint and expanding regional network, currently involving six innovation hubs – Republic of Work in Cork City, The Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen Cork, Platform 94 in Galway, The Mill, Drogheda, the RDI Hub in Kerry and GreenTech HQ in Enniscorthy – which allows it to roll out over 50 national and regional events per annum, facilitating training and networking for members. It has strategic partnerships with Sport Ireland (Digital for Sport) and Research Ireland (Discovery Exchange). The outcomes outlined in the Impact Report reflect strong alignment with national priorities in competitiveness, digital transformation, sustainability, talent development entrepreneurship as well as regional growth. Scale-ups and corporates in the region are being encouraged by Skillnet Innovation Exchange to sign up 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. 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About Skillnet Ireland Skillnet Ireland is the national talent development agency of the Government of Ireland, responsible for advancing the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses through enterprise-led talent development. Skillnet Ireland partners with 57 industry bodies, supporting over 24,000 businesses and more than 90,000 trainees annually, through its 70 Skillnet Business Networks and five National Initiatives – Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, Skillnet Innovation Exchange, Skillnet MMC Accelerate, Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy and MentorsWork – across most sectors and all regions in Ireland. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. To learn more about Skillnet Ireland visit www.skillnetireland.ie Skillnet Business Network search tool: https://www.skillnetireland.ie/our-networks/ Facebook:
