Meeting Note, 13 February 2019

The list of attendees is appended.

The amended minutes of the last meeting were approved and it was noted that they would be published on the Department of the Taoiseach website.

Agenda Item 1: Report on visit to innovation districts in London

TCD gave an update on the visit to innovation districts in London which took place on 7/8 February. The delegation of over 30 people, that included some members of the IDAG, visited three locations: Here East; King’s Cross; and Imperial College London’s White City Campus. A common sense of vision, ambition and scales was evident in all three locations; as was the need for capital, appropriate programming and partnership between investors, universities and the community.

Agenda Item 2: Perspectives on start-ups

The group received a short presentation from Brian Caulfield (former chair of the Irish Venture Capitalist Association) and Dan Crowley (Genomics Medicine Ireland) on their perspective of how the Innovation District might benefit start-ups. It was outlined that the Grand Canal Innovation District represented a fantastic opportunity but that the issue of scale and density would be a determining factor in its success and that the project needed to be ambitious and of sufficient scale to act as ‘lighthouse infrastructure’ in attracting international capital for start-ups. The need to build linkages between the university research system, start-ups and investors was also outlined. Other issues discussed included the need for the Innovation District to have national linkages (including existing regional hubs); shared research infrastructure that start-ups could not otherwise afford; and access to talent.

Agenda Item 3: Outline of final report

The draft structure for the final report of the Advisory Group that was circulated in advance of the meeting was agreed. The Chair outlined that the Secretariat would prepare a draft of the report and circulate for observations ahead of the next meeting of the group.

Agenda Item 5: Remaining work items/next meeting

TCD updated the group that Indecon had completed an Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Grand Canal Innovation District and it was agreed that it would be circulated to the group. The Chair outlined that next meeting might be used to finalise and agree the final report and that the Secretariat will forward details of that meetings in due course.

Appendix – Attendance

• Martin Fraser, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)
• Elaine Boland, Manager, St. Andrew’s Resource Centre
• Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland
• Niamh Bushnell, CEO, TechIreland
• Elaine Coughlan, Managing Director, Atlantic Bridge Capital
• Professor Andrew Deeks, President, UCD
• Amanda Gaynor, St. Andrew’s Resource Centre
• Owen P. Keegan, Chief Executive, Dublin City Council
• Anthony Nakache, Director EMEA, Google
• David Fitzpatrick, President, TUD
• Professor Brian MacCraith, President, DCU
• Diarmuid O’Brien, Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, TCD
• Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills
• Dr. Patrick Prendergast, President & Provost, TCD
• Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
• Eoghan Hanrahan, Enterprise Ireland
• Sharon McCooey, Head of LinkedIn Ireland
• Stephen McIntyre, Partner, Frontline Ventures

Also in Attendance

• Dan Crowley, Genomics Medicine Ireland
• Brian Caufield, former chair of the Irish Venture Capitalist Association
• Joe Cullen, Principal Officer, Tax Division, Dept. of Finance
• Seán Hurley, Department of the Taoiseach
• Barry Vaughan, Department of the Taoiseach
• John Shaw, Department of the Taoiseach

Apologies

• Andrew J. Deeks, President, UCD
• Derek Moran, Secretary General, Department of Finance
• Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland