Athlone is one of a number of focal locations identified for digitalisation growth in the recently launched Midlands ICT Cluster Action Plan.
The action plan, the aim of which is to develop and enhance ICT presence in the Midlands region, was launched by Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Deputy Dara Calleary at the Building Better Business event held at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.
“I am delighted today to be publishing the Action Plan for the Midlands ICT Cluster. A key objective of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan is capitalising on the strengths of the region through Smart Specialisation and Digitalisation, with the development of industry clusters widely recognised as a key driver of growth and resilience for regions in terms of employment generation. It is fitting to be launching this Action Plan today at our Building Better Business event here in Portlaoise as the Midlands ICT Cluster will play a strong role in supporting businesses across the region with the opportunities and challenges presented by digital transformation,” Minister Calleary, in launching the Action Plan, stated.
The Action Plan has been developed by the Midlands ICT Cluster, who worked with SecondEdge Solutions Ltd to develop a plan which features a suite of actions under four enabling themes, namely R&D and Ecosystem Development; Skills and Talent; Marketing and Cluster Development.
The Midlands has for many years proven to be an attractive destination for ICT businesses, with multinationals such as Ericsson who have been present in Athlone for over 40 years. More recently, fast-growing tech companies such as Sidero, Zinkworks, N’Ware, Nostra and Skout have been joined by many innovative start-ups to create a region which now has the highest concentration of ICT professionals outside of Dublin.
Representatives from the Athlone ICT sector were presewnt at the launch, manwy of whom afforded their thoughts pertaining to the Cluster Action Plan.
Ms Sinéad Pillion, Head of Operations, Ericsson and Industry Chair of the Midlands ICT Cluster Steering Committee, expressed her hope that Athlone and the Midlands region would soon become recognised as an ICT centre of excellence.
“The Midlands region is already home to over 400 thriving ICT businesses, employing thousands of people, and we aim to bring enterprise together with government agencies and academia for a triple-helix approach to supporting our ICT ecosystem. Our goal is to make the Midlands internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in Smart Connected Technologies, while highlighting the region as the ideal place to live, work and invest,” Ms Pillion stated.
Dr Anne Cusack, Chair of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee, noted that the ICT sector had been designated as a key growth sector in the regional enterprise plan.
“The development of the ICT Cluster leverages the collective regional competencies in this area, serving to position the Midlands as a destination of choice for sectoral investors,” Dr Cusack remarked.
Noting his pride that Zinkworks had been a founding member of the Midlands ICT Cluster, Mr Paul Madden, company CEO, expressed his desire to see many great benefits from “enhanced collaboration with industry and University partners to jointly build on the vibrant ICT ecosystem in our region.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Enda Fallon, Head of Department - Computer & Software Engineering, TUS Athlone Campus, noted that the Midlands had the fundamental capabilities and values required to become a European region of technology excellence.
“As a Technological University in the heart of the region, TUS is delighted to partner with the Midlands ICT Cluster in order to realise this vast potential,” Dr Fallon commented.
Paying tribute to her colleagues on the Steering Group, Orla Martin, representing Midlands regional LEOs, stated that the cluster was a unique collaboration and commitment between industry, Technological University of the Shannon – Midlands Midwest, enterprise agencies (EI, IDA ) and the LEOs.
“We will work together, learn from each other, and grow the smart technologies base of the Midland Region, delivering on the ambition of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan,” Ms Martin concluded.
