Grand Canal Innovation District Advisory Group – Terms of Reference

Context

On the 6th July 2018 the Taoiseach announced that he was establishing an Advisory Group to develop proposals for a Grand Canal Innovation District, which will complement an initiative being led by Trinity College Dublin (TCD) to build a new innovation campus at Grand Canal Quay.

Grand Canal Dock Campus

TCD has developed a proposal for an innovation district based around the Grand Canal Dock. This area already houses many globally successful tech companies and TCD has a five and a half acre campus at Grand Canal Quay which is ready for re-development. TCD are at an advanced stage in preparing proposals for redeveloping this campus to form the nucleus of an innovation district.

TCD would operate as an anchor tenant and offer shared office space for local start-ups and scale-up companies. They would also develop the civic space necessary for individuals to interact and exchange ideas and which would also operate as a forum for public engagement and cultural expression. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed between Dublin’s universities about their active participation in the proposal.

TCD have had extensive engagement with relevant stakeholders including IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. There are detailed discussions with an internationally-renowned incubation company about locating at the Campus. As part of this engagement, TCD are exploring issues such as planning and funding for a new campus and will take this work forward with the relevant statutory bodies. They envisage the project being implemented over a ten year period. They are now in a position to publicly launch the proposal before it enters the formal planning process.

Terms of Reference

The Advisory Group will be asked to:

• develop and agree a vision for the Grand Canal Innovation District which would build on relevant existing policy frameworks and objectives for enterprise, academia, research and urban development
• identify actions, initiatives and policies which would support the development of a globally competitive innovation district
• focus in particular on strengthening links between existing multinational companies in the area, SMEs and start-ups, and academic and research institutions, to build a stronger more sustainable innovation ecosystem
• consider the role of the local community and residents which is essential to create the enhanced urban environment envisaged
• consider how the District could help position Dublin within Europe and globally as a leading location for technology investment and innovation
• recommend an appropriate roadmap and governance structure for developing the District.
• While complementary to, and supportive of, Trinity College Dublin’s proposed development of their Grand Canal Quay campus, the Advisory Group will not have any direct role in governance or funding of that project, which will remain a matter for TCD.
• The Advisory Group will submit a report to the Government, via the Taoiseach, in the first quarter of 2019.

Membership

The Advisory Group will be chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and the secretariat for the IDAG will be provided by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The members of the group are :

• Martin Fraser (Chair), Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach
• Elaine Boland, Manager, St. Andrews Resource Centre
• Niamh Bushnell, CEO, TechIreland
• Elaine Coughlan, Managing Director, Atlantic Bridge Capital
• Andrew J. Deeks , President UCD
• Owen P. Keegan, CEO of Dublin City Council
• Sharon McCooey, Head of LinkedIn, Ireland
• Brian MacCraith , President DCU
• Stephen McIntyre, Partner, Frontline Ventures
• Derek Moran, Secretary General D\Finance
• Brian Norton, President DIT
• Sean O'Foghlu , Secretary General, D\Education & Skills,
• Patrick Prendergast , the Provost and President of TCD
• Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General, D\Business, Enterprise and Innovation,
• Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA
• Julie Sinnamon, CEO EI
• Anthony Nakache, Director EMEA, Google