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: 

• Circular economy solutions turning waste into valuable resources 

• Predictive models for national wind and solar energy generation 

• Smart building technologies to reduce global carbon footprints 

• Digital tools for real-time cell tracking during transit 

• Flood forecasting and sustainable grid management 

• Cybersecurity innovations 

• Creative approaches to easing the housing crisis 

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.