Press release
Report makes series of recommendations for Grand Canal Innovation District
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Issued by the Government Press Office
A new report being published by the Government today (Friday) has made a series of recommendations for the development of the Grand Canal Innovation District. The initiative is central to the Government’s aim to make Ireland the tech capital of Europe and will complement Trinity College Dublin’s planned development of their Grand Canal Quay campus.
The Grand Canal Innovation District, which was announced by the Taoiseach in July 2018, will be modelled on similar successful initiatives which have been put in place in cities like Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam and will focus on improving links between academia, established enterprises and start-ups.
To support the future growth and development of the area, an Advisory Group, chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, was established to develop and agree a vision for the Grand Canal Innovation District. The group includes representatives of business, the universities in Dublin, the local community and the public service.
Among the recommendations of the Group’s first report are:
- The development of the Grand Canal Innovation District with a university innovation campus at its physical centre;
- Establishment of new multi-institutional research centre specialising in technology to tackle the world’s most challenging problems in a cross disciplinary manner;
- Establishment of a large start-up hub with shared infrastructure to allow scientists and companies to progress developments in the area of digital technology and associated applications;
- Establishment of community liaison group to understand how the needs of the local community can best be taken into account;
- Establishment of an innovation hub network that would link Ireland’s leading innovation centres to provide strong regional connectivity; and
- The Advisory Group be reconstituted to oversee the next steps in development of the wider Innovation District.
Speaking about the report the Taoiseach said
“We are really serious about making Ireland the tech capital of Europe. We have so many of the right ingredients; a young and talented workforce, a competitive corporate tax environment and of course many of the world’s top tech firms already have their European headquarters here. Now, we are bringing together business, Government and the university sector to maximise the Silicon Docks as an Innovation District where companies, researchers and entrepreneurs link up.
“This first report from the Advisory Group has lots of good recommendations which must now be acted on; from establishing a new start up hub with shared infrastructure, to the need to work closely with the local community to ensure their needs are met as the area continues to expand. We now have a path forward to realise our ambition to establish a world class Innovation District in Grand Canal Dock and the surrounding area.”
ENDS
You can read the Advisory Group report here:
Report of the Grand Canal Innovation District Advisory Group
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An Innovation District is an urban location comprising research-oriented institutions and companies ranging from start-ups, SMEs and large corporations in a vibrant and inclusive community setting. Over the last few decades, many countries have developed these kinds of district as an alternative to out-of-town science parks that dominated previously. The reason behind this development is that there is considerable evidence that dense social interaction between all the distinct partners produces many benefits. Notable examples include Kendall Square in Boston, 22@ in Barcelona and Station F in Paris.
Unlike many other contemporary examples, Ireland already has many of the core components of a successful Innovation District in place. There is a unique mix of leading global firms, many of which specialise in digital technologies, located in the Grand Canal area of Dublin. There are four leading universities in Dublin, each of which possesses significant research strengths and capabilities. And the Grand Canal area is a vibrant urban location close to many cultural and business assets.
Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are developing a new campus site in the Grand Canal Dock area to serve as the nucleus of an Innovation District. Government considered that there was an opportunity to ensure alignment between this proposal and wider policy goals, including urban regeneration under Project Ireland 2040, sustaining business resilience under Enterprise 2025 and preparing for the high-value jobs of tomorrow under Future Jobs.
Developing an innovation district means deepening Ireland’s relationship with the multinationals located here. Properly structured and led it will also strengthen the links between these companies and Ireland’s universities and start-ups and ensure that they flourish together as well as providing facilities and opportunities for the local community.