A Unique Opportunity to Build Innovation Capability in the Region

Businesses, leaders, creative teams, and those who want to be job shapers not seekers are invited to the launch of an ambitious new collaborative opportunity between the Mid-East Local Enterprise Offices and Trinity College Dublin.

Local Enterprise Offices of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow come together to extend an open invitation to the launch of a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation and Enterprise Development accredited by TCD and based in MERITS, the Mid-East Region’s Innovation Thinkspace.

The launch event, refreshments and networking will be hosted in MERITS, Naas from 5:30pm on Wednesday 5^th October.

In securing this partnership, Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development in Kildare County Council said:

In developing this opportunity with TANGENT - Trinity’s Ideas Workspace, our overarching objective is to accelerate innovation capability in the region, to ensure that our business clients have a competitive edge and the ambition to be global leaders.

For many companies there is a wide gap between their aspirations to innovate and their ability to execute. By supporting innovation at the core of each business, we can support and bridge that gap.

Ken Finnegan, CEO of Tangent, Trinity’s Ideas Workspace, added:

 We are excited to begin working alongside the LEO network and MERITS to support the region’s enterprise community; from SMEs and emerging start-ups, to intrapreneurs and those simply wanting to learn more about innovation and entrepreneurship. Together, we can deliver a transformative learning experience, nurturing local talent and strengthening our national innovation network.

IRDG CE Dermot Casey, as keynote speaker, will lead a challenging discussion on the hurdles SMEs face in undertaking R&D but also the scale of the successes he has witnessed as a leader and educator in business-led innovation.

Dermot is CEO of the Industry Research and Development Group (IRDG) since Jan 2022. IRDG, a non-profit business group, is the voice of Irish Innovation, representing hundreds of companies engaged in research and innovation, nationally.

IRDG has led learning, collaboration, and growth of Irish research and innovation for 30 years, directly supporting, networking, advocating for its members.

Dermot’s background is in technology and innovation. He’s worked as strategic advisor to hundreds of technology companies in spaces as diverse as AI, IoT and MedTech.

He was Director of innovation consultancy Resolve Partners and Venture Leader at NDRC, Irelands national pre-seed investor and accelerator investing and supporting the growth of innovative companies.

Prior to this Dermot was Chief Operations Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Storyful growing the company from 2 to 35 people over three years.

Before Storyful he worked in a variety of technical and leadership roles in General Electric. He’s also been an adjunct lecturer in Strategy, Innovation and Digital Transformation on MBA and MSc programmes at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD. He is Board Member of the Festival of Curiosity and the National Standard Authority of Ireland (NSAI). 

 

The event opens for registration & networking with some light refreshments served from 5:30pm

Please note that a photographer and videographer will be in attendance to document the event. please notify a member of staff prior to the event if you wish to not be included in any digital recording of the event by the LEO.