Digital Innovation: An Irish Perspective
by Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager for ICT and International Services Sectors in Enterprise Ireland
This blog by Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager for ICT and International Service Sectors in Enterprise Ireland, was written to accompany the IIEA Panel Discussion on Digital Innovation in Europe, which was organised as part of the IIEA’s Europe’s Digital Future project. As part of this project, which is supported by Google, a year-long programme of events and research is exploring what the concept of digital sovereignty means, and what future it might herald for the EU and for small, open economies like Ireland.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
Advances in digital technologies and the shift to digital activity accelerated by Covid-19 is shaping business and revolutionising business operations. Digital innovation, driven by technologies such as cloud computing, advanced sensors, advanced automated and autonomous systems and robotics have been key underpinning enablers of this transformational change.
Irish manufacturing and services companies, in both traditional and new sectors, need to have digital capability embedded into their strategy to succeed in global markets. Companies which embrace digital transformation grow faster, with an ability to use data to inform decision making, which drives scaling opportunities.
Successful implementation of digital across all aspects of business operations presents opportunities for gaining competitive advantage in customer experience, internal operations, employee experience and business model innovation. This will support productivity growth and innovation in goods and services across the value chain.
Despite the opportunities, companies of all sizes face challenges in developing and implementing digital transformation, such as:
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Availability of inhouse digital skills;
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Understanding their level of digital readiness;
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No digital adoption strategy to guide the implementation of a digital plan across all aspects of the business;
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Cost in terms of the investment in research and development, innovation, training and expertise;
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Interoperability with existing systems.
Government is committed to supporting Irish businesses on their digital transformation journey. The recently published Economic Recovery Plan seeks to kick start a jobs-led recovery and propel the economy forward to a more sustainable, digital and secure future. Digital adoption, driven by the forthcoming national AI Strategy and digital initiatives to drive digital transformation of enterprise will be key drivers in this regard.
At Enterprise Ireland we are committed to supporting Irish businesses harness digital technologies to transform their business operations and succeed in international markets. To support Irish companies with their digital journey, the agency provides financial and non-financial supports such as:
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A digital innovation offer to assist companies to plan and implement their digital transformation;
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Funding support for research and development, including collaboration with the higher education sector and research performing organisations;
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Funding for business innovation via implementation of new and innovative production, delivery or organisational methods;
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Capital equipment; and
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Capability building through training in lean, leadership and innovation.
While the digital transformation will be led by companies, the presence of enabling conditions that facilitate the development of new technologies, as well as their diffusion and absorption, will play a key role in the digital transformation journey. Enterprise Ireland is also playing a role in this regard, for example:
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Despite the impact of Covid-19, in 2020 Enterprise Ireland invested more than €48 million in 125 new high potential start-ups in key areas such as cybersecurity and fintech.
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Under Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Centre Programme, the agency is providing support for industry led technology centers, such as CeADAR, Ireland’s national center for applied AI and data analytics. This center is driving research, development and deployment of AI and data analytics technology and innovation supports into business. In addition, the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre is delivering solutions to the manufacturing ecosystem throughout Ireland, delivering business solutions in areas such as automation and robotics.
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Under the €500 million Disruptive Technology Fund, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with support from Enterprise Ireland, is driving collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry, as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and deployment of disruptive and innovative technologies on a commercial basis. Under this fund, projects in areas such as AI are being supported.
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Under Horizon Europe, Enterprise Ireland is supporting companies and researchers from across the higher education sector to access European funding to support research and development in science and technology areas underpinning business digital transformation.
Digital transformation is a key challenge for Irish enterprises today. However, Irish enterprises have proved many times over, in every corner of the world, their flexibility, innovative capability and resilience. Enterprise Ireland’s message to companies in respect of digital transformation is to take action now, get informed, get support and take decisions, both in the immediate and longer term, to maximise opportunities and manage the challenges presented. Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies on this journey by driving innovation, competitiveness and internationalisation.
This blog is part of a three part series accompanying the IIEA Panel Discussion on Digital Innovation in Europe. The other blogs can be read by clicking on the hyperlinks below:
Accelerating Digital Innovation in Europe by Henna Virkkunen, MEP