New Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway for the northeast in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) will focus on energy efficiency.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD has announced funding of €338,000 to establish a new Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway for the northeast in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT).
The addition of Dundalk brings the number to 16 technology gateways established by the government around the country to date. Each gateway is based in an institute of technology or a technological university and brings together industry and academia in collaboration to work on projects within a certain area of specialisation.
Focused on energy efficiency and optimisation
The new Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk IT Technology Gateway is focused on energy efficiency and optimisation and will look at how companies can make both their products and their manufacturing operations as energy efficient as possible.
The Tánaiste said: “The enterprise sector accounts for 13% of Ireland’s emissions. We have committed to reducing emissions by 7% per year on average, over the next ten years and businesses will have a really important role to play in helping us reach that target. How a business uses and sometimes wastes energy is one of the main things it can change to bring down its emissions.
“This new gateway, based in Dundalk IT will provide a place for industry and experts to work together to look at how companies can make both the products they produce and their own operations more energy efficient. I hope that the work that they do will find ways of working that can be shared more broadly, with many other businesses across the country.”
The initial funding of €338,000 is for two years and will allow DkIT to set up and staff the gateway with a view to joining the other 15 gateways in reapplying for funding for a further five years, when a new programme is announced.
Gearoid Mooney, divisional manager, research and innovation at Enterprise Ireland said: “The addition of a new gateway in the northeast will have a very positive impact on companies in the region as it will allow for enhanced interaction and collaboration between the Technology Gateway Network and companies throughout the northeast.
Successful industry engagement
"Dundalk IT has a rich history of successful industry engagement and I’m very excited to see them join the Technology Gateway Network.”
The Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk IT Technology Gateway is the latest addition to the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Programme. It joins a network of 15 existing specialised gateways based in the institutes of technology and the technological universities across the country, providing Irish industry access to innovation expertise and novel solutions.
The network covers a wide range of specialties including pharmaceuticals, photonics, wireless services and now energy efficiency and optimisation.
The network also works together in three industry focused research and development clusters, combining their expertise in the areas of internet of things (applied IoT), engineering, materials and design (EMD) and food and beverage technologies (Irish food tech).