Latest news with #EnterpriseIreland-supported
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Why fresh ideas are key to ongoing success of Irish food sector
This is one of the most important and respected industries in the country, supporting over 60,000 high-quality jobs and generating strong exports each year. But consumer expectations are changing fast. People want food that's healthier, more sustainable, and more transparent – and the companies that thrive in the years ahead will be those that respond quickly and innovatively to those demands. Innovation isn't a luxury – it's a necessity. And the sector is responding. New data released at the summit showed that Enterprise Ireland-supported food and drink companies invested €166m in research and development in 2024, with 113 firms each investing more than €100,000. That's a strong step forward. But we know it needs to go farther. Food Vision 2030 sets out a target for privately funded R&D to reach 1pc of turnover across the agri-food sector. That's a bold and important ambition – and meeting it will be essential if we're to remain globally competitive. What stood out most at this year's summit was the power of collaboration. Across the day, we heard from start-ups, scale-ups, researchers, and established brands, all working with agencies like Bord Bia, Teagasc, BIM, FSAI, and our Food Technology Gateways. That joined-up effort is one of Ireland's biggest strengths. We also saw how technology is reshaping food – from AI and precision fermentation to breakthroughs in personalised nutrition, smart manufacturing and sustainable packaging. These aren't just trends; they're real opportunities for Irish companies to lead and grow. And it's not just about technology – it's about mindset. Businesses that build innovation into how they think, hire, plan and invest are the ones best placed to adapt. That point came through clearly in case studies from firms like Keogh's, Lily O'Brien's, Kepak, and West Cork Distillers. At Enterprise Ireland, we're committed to supporting that journey –by funding innovation, connecting companies to research expertise, and helping them scale internationally. The ambition is already there. Now we need to back it with urgency and action. This summit was about momentum – and ensuring that today's challenges become tomorrow's opportunities. With the right investment and collaboration, Ireland can continue to lead in producing high-value, sustainable food for the world.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over 100 jobs set for Galway as leading medical company opens new facility
Located in Westlink Commercial Park, the opening of the new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility marks a 'significant' milestone for the company. The new facility will create 125 new highly skilled jobs by the end of 2028 and will serve as the central hub to produce the company's Neuromark system. The Neuromark system is a minimally invasive medical device designed to target the underlying drivers of chronic rhinitis. The new jobs will range across key functions in engineering, quality control, operations, supply chain management, and sales and marketing. Originating from the Enterprise Ireland-supported BioInnovate Ireland Programme, Neurent Medical has grown from concept to commercialisation within a decade, emerging as one of Ireland's MedTech success stories. The official opening event was celebrated with Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton TD and executive director and incoming CEO of Enterprise Ireland Jenny Melia. Brian Shields, CEO of Neurent Medical, said the company is proud to upgrade its operations in Galway, where the company is headquartered. 'Our new Westlink facility gives us the manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for NEUROMARK, while creating high skilled employment opportunities and contributing to economic vitality in the west of Ireland,' he said. 'As an Irish-founded company, we're excited to manufacture our product locally with the exceptional skills available and deliver Irish-engineered MedTech innovation to the world.' Ms Melia said the announcement of new jobs for the new Oranmore base shows that Ireland is a research and development leader within the medical device space. "Supporting Irish companies with the ambition to scale globally is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland and we will continue to work closely with Brian and the team at Neurent Medical to optimise their full international growth potential, creating and sustaining jobs here in the Galway region," she added. Deputy Naughton noted that Galway is home to eight of the world's top 10 MedTech companies. "It is also highly notable that this is an Irish company, supported by Enterprise Ireland, and selling into the US market. I have no doubt, given their impressive growth to date, that this will be but one of many major achievements for the company," she added.
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Accelerate your sustainability journey with Enterprise Ireland's 2025 webinar series
As global trade and economies continue to experience change and uncertainty, it has never been more important for companies to evaluate and analyse their competitiveness, and this includes placing a strategic focus on sustainability and climate action. Sustainable practices are an integral part of how companies guarantee their relevance and build resilience into their operations, and with increasing expectations from stakeholders and customers, it will be key to competitiveness. Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies on this journey and growing their sustainable impact and resilience. To this end, our Sustainable Enterprise Webinar series begins on April 30. This lunchtime series will run for seven weeks, covering a range of sustainability-related topics, including Sustainability Trends for Business, ESG policies, green public procurement, smart-metering and sustainability reporting. Topics explored will include the European Commission's (EC) recently proposed Omnibus package, the intention of which is to simplify sustainability reporting, and the EC Clean Industrial Deal which outlines plans to support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industry and the growth of cleantech companies, and also accelerate the circular transition. Each webinar gives attendees an opportunity to learn from subject-matter experts and business leaders already on their sustainability journeys. These include experts from CG Business Consulting, Forvis Mazars, Ireland; Centigo UK and Ireland, specialists in sustainable strategy development; Bid Services, which has expertise in tendering, and public procurement and DCS Group, a leading energy engineering services provider. At the end of each live session, attendees can ask the experts any questions they have on sustainability. As part of our new strategy Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally (2025-2029), Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies to improve their sustainability performance. Key targets under our recently published sustainability plan include a 35pc reduction in CO2 emissions in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies by 2030, and for 80pc of supported companies to have a sustainability plan and measured emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2029. In the last two years, €55 million was approved to Enterprise Ireland-supported companies Enterprise Ireland provides a range of supports to help companies implement sustainability best practice, whether they're starting on this journey or are farther down the road. We are also supporting significant progress in the area of climate action. For example, in the last two years, €55 million was approved to Enterprise Ireland-supported companies to reduce CO2 emissions, with 400,000 tonnes abated from 2018 to 2023. Enterprise Ireland wants to help Irish business embrace sustainability to support Ireland in meeting its climate obligations, while strengthening operational resilience and competitiveness over the long term. For more information or to sign up for these webinars, visit
