ENFUSE selected as a European Enterprise Promotion Awards - National Winner 2022

ENFUSE, the pilot project led by Dublin City Council (DCC) / Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in collaboration with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Dublin City University (DCU) and National College of Ireland (NCI) has been selected as a National Winner in the European Commission’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2022. It was selected as a National Winner under category 3 which recognises innovative projects and approaches that improve the business environment and support the digital transition. 

ENFUSE matches local enterprises and social enterprises with teams of masters level university and college students. As part of a module, students work in teams with selected enterprises and propose insights, solutions and ultimately present a bespoke and tangible plan that sets out how the enterprise can innovate, address challenges and develop opportunities. The students therefore help enterprises to better innovate, strategize and adapt to new market conditions such as the digital transition. In addition, the students have a unique opportunity to apply their learning to support a local enterprise or entrepreneur and gain insights regarding starting and developing an enterprise. ENFUSE also improves the business environment and enhances the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through creating and strengthening links and synergies between local enterprises and stakeholders, encouraging collaboration and facilitating knowledge exchange.

Commenting on ENFUSE being selected as an European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2022 National Winner, Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development, Dublin City Council said:

‘ENFUSE tangibly supports local businesses to innovate, transition and respond to new challenges and opportunities. It is great to see the pilot project being recognized on a national and indeed European stage. For this I wish to sincerely thank all the project partners, supporters and participants that have been involved and benefited so far’.

ENFUSE will also represent Ireland at the European Commission’s EEPA ceremony in November where it will compete against other national winner projects from across Europe. To stay informed regarding the EEPA, please visit https://blogs.ec.europa.eu/promotingenterprise/ and follow #EEPA2022  

Further information: 

ENFUSE is a multi award winning pilot project led by Dublin City Council (DCC) / Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City in collaboration with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Dublin City University (DCU) and National College of Ireland (NCI). ENFUSE is supported by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), Dublin Place Brand and the Dublin Regional Skills Forum (DRSF).

ENFUSE began in 2019 when 13 local enterprises and social enterprises were matched with 60 students from TU Dublin. The students worked in teams to research the context, challenges and opportunities regarding their allocated enterprises. In 2020, students from DCU also participated, and in 2021 students from National College of Ireland participated. Each year since it began, the programme has expanded and the impact has increased as more enterprises, students and project partners have participated and benefited.

In national recognition of the innovativeness and potential to scale, DCC was awarded Public Service Innovation Funding in 2020 from the DPER as part of the Our Public Service initiative. The funding was used to develop branding, communications and programme materials. ENFUSE was selected as a European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2022 National Winner. In addition, ENFUSE was shortlisted in the Chambers Ireland - Excellence in Local Government Awards 2022. 

For detailed information on ENFUSE, please see: https://www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/News/Press-Releases/ENFUSE%202022%20Open%20For%20Applications.html