Meeting Note, 7 November 2018

Department of the Taoiseach, 7 November 2018

Meeting Note

Attendance

The list of attendees is appended.

Agenda Item 1: Minutes of last meeting

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

The Chair suggested that the Group would hear all three presentations and discuss them together under Agenda Item 5.

Agenda Item 2: Marketing Dublin as an Innovation Destination

IDA Ireland gave a short presentation (circulated in advance). It noted that Ireland has been successful in attracting foreign direct investment largely due to its strong value proposition of which ‘place-making’ is an increasingly important element and which should underpin the Innovation District. Amongst other things, IDA Ireland suggested that the District should be characterised by a strong core research and innovation competency which would help to communicate Ireland’s ambition and provide a strong signal to international investors. The IDA noted that many cities around the world are making themselves innovation ready and are positioning themselves for innovation investment.

Agenda Item 3: Building an innovation community – international architectural perspectives

Perkins+Will Architects made a presentation (circulated in advance) which drew on experience with similar international examples. It emphasised that Dublin already has many of the attributes of a successful innovation district. The importance of early activation of the Grand Canal Campus site was stressed and an indication of how it could be redeveloped was outlined. A key learning is that programming and activating spaces is as important as the spaces themselves.

Agenda Item 4: Initiatives underway to enhance the Docklands area

Fáilte Ireland’s presentation (circulated in advance) outlined the initiatives planned in the Docklands area to grow sustainable tourism in Dublin which would also benefit the local community. These include enhancing visitor experiences by emphasising the maritime heritage and innovation aspects of the area as well as encouraging a vibrant arts community which could enhance the night-time experience in the area. This would complement the proposed Innovation District.

Agenda Item 5: Making the Innovation District Work for All – Discussion Paper

Following a brief introduction of the discussion paper circulated, there was a general debate arising from the three presentations. An important issue emerging was that the Group should draw on international best practice while also identifying how the distinctive offering of an Innovation District in Dublin.

Topics raised in the discussion included:

• Ensuring the Innovation District connects with other innovation sites around the city of Dublin;

• Role of place-making and consequent metrics for success;

• The focus in attracting different types of firms to the District;

• Developing core competencies of the Innovation District, and

• Enhancing the attractiveness of the Docklands area for those who live, work and visit there.

The Group agreed it was essential that the views of the local community regarding any proposed redevelopment be taken into account. In this context, it was agreed that the next meeting of the Group would take place in the St. Andrews Resource Centre and they would receive a presentation which would articulate how redevelopment plans could benefit the local community.

Agenda Item 6: AOB

It was noted that the Innovation District Advisory Group will operate under the Transparency Code of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. This will require certain information about the Group including membership, terms of reference and minutes to be published on the Department of the Taoiseach website.

The next meeting will take place on 17 December at 11:30am in St. Andrew’s Resource Centre.

Appendix – Attendance

Martin Fraser, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)

Elaine Boland, Manager, St. Andrew’s Resource Centre

Elaine Coughlan, Managing Director, Atlantic Bridge Capital

Professor Andrew Deeks, President, UCD

Anthony Nakache, Director EMEA, Google

Professor Brian Norton, President, DIT

Diarmuid O’Brien, Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, TCD

Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills

Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

John Shaw, Department of the Taoiseach

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

Sharon McCooey, Head of LinkedIn Ireland

Stephen McIntyre, Partner, Frontline Ventures

Barry Vaughan, Department of the Taoiseach

Presenting:

Mary Buckley, Executive Director, IDA Ireland

David Green, Principal International Trade and Development, Urban Deisgn Perkins+Will

Paul Keeley, Director of Commercial Development, Fáilte Ireland

Apologies

Niamh Bushnell, CEO, TechIreland

Owen P. Keegan, Chief Executive, Dublin City Council

Professor Brian MacCraith, President, DCU

Derek Moran, Secretary General, Department of Finance

Dr. Patrick Prendergast, President & Provost, TCD

Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland

Also in Attendance

Liz Halpin, Fáilte Ireland

Seán Hurley, Department of the Taoiseach