WDC reveals plan to integrate tech and research with local communities
The Western Development Commission has revealed plans to create a ‘Living Lab’ – an integration of research and new technologies with local communities – to establish the west as a Region of Innovation.
The WDC believe this testbed for new initiatives has the potential to become a global leader in new and emerging sectors, creating a competitive advantage and boosting both employment and investment.
Authored by Dr Brendan O’Brien, the report builds on the global standing of sectors such as Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data & Analytics and looks to the future with emerging sectors such as Agtech, Fintech, Cleantech, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics.
It also lays the foundations for an Atlantic Innovation Region where industry academic government and the public can work together in an internationally recognised living lab to exploit the opportunities presented by our global leadership in MedTech and Sensors as well as our unlimited resources for renewable energy.
The ambition here is to integrate these strengths to create a world-class community of innovation.
With more than twenty initiatives and collaborations at various stages of development, this Atlantic Innovation Region has already secured over €1m in funding from industry and government sources.
The report calls for the region to bring together community, higher education, industry and government to collaborate on finding solutions to society’s challenges and problems.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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