The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar T.D. today announced funding of €338,000 to establish a new Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway for the North-East in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT).
The new CREDIT Technology Gateway will focus on energy efficiency and look at how companies can make both their products and their manufacturing operations as energy efficient as possible. With a particular focus on start-ups and SMEs, CREDIT Technology Gateway will enable companies to explore product innovation, source applied research opportunities and technology solutions for their ‘close-to-market’ needs. Providing a research and skills resource network targeted at companies based both in the North East and nationally.
The Gateway is the latest addition to the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Programme and brings the number to 16 Gateways established by the Government around the country. It joins a network of 15 existing specialised Gateways based in the Institutes of Technology and the Technological Universities across the country, providing Irish industry access to innovation expertise and novel solutions.
The Tánaiste said:
“The enterprise sector accounts for 13% of Ireland’s emissions. We have committed to reducing emissions by 7% per year on average, over the next ten years and businesses will have a really important role to play in helping us reach that target. How a business uses and sometimes wastes energy is one of the main things it can change to bring down its emissions.
“This new Gateway, based in Dundalk IT will provide a place for industry and experts to work together to look at how companies can make both the products they produce and their own operations more energy efficient. I hope that the work that they do will find ways of working that can be shared more broadly, with many other businesses across the country.”
Speaking about the announcement Gearoid Mooney, Divisional Manager, Research & Innovation at Enterprise Ireland said:
“The addition of a new Gateway in the North East will have a very positive impact on companies in the Region as it will allow for enhanced interaction and collaboration between the Technology Gateway Network and companies throughout the North-East. Dundalk IT has a rich history of successful industry engagement and I’m very excited to see them join the Technology Gateway Network”.
The initial funding of €338,000 is for 2 years and will allow DkIT to set up and staff the Gateway with a view to joining the other 15 Gateways in reapplying for funding for a further 5 years, when a new programme is announced.