When it comes to making fast progress on innovation and scaling overseas in an era of wide-scale disruption, companies still find they’re stronger together.
Clustering is all about encouraging national and international collaboration. Clusters give companies in the same sector a structured opportunity to work together, share knowledge and support each other.
At Enterprise Ireland, we see how clustering enhances SME competitiveness, productivity and internationalisation.
Moreover, the evidence clearly shows cluster companies achieve higher revenue and exports, and are more active in innovation and R&D. These benefits were on display at the recent 28th TCI Global Conference in Dublin, which brought together over 250 clustering experts from 25 countries.
It was jointly hosted by Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland. This cross-border partnership reflects our all-island cluster collaboration ideal.
Clustering is all about encouraging national and international collaboration
We work together to help contribute to balanced regional economic growth across internationalisation and innovation agendas.
As well as hearing from world-leading experts on clustering, delegates workshopped strategies for growing clusters.
They also discussed how clusters can be key drivers of skills development and R&D, and how they can bring companies together for mutual economic benefit.
?During cluster tours to Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Portlaoise, delegates were able to witness first-hand the strength and diversity of Ireland’s cluster ecosystem, including its integration with Ireland’s strong research ecosystem.
The tours showcased a wide range of capability in such sectors as advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, cybersecurity and fintech, and maritime and offshore wind.
During the advanced manufacturing cluster tour, Midland Steel CEO Tony Woods guided delegates through the company’s smart factory environment.
As they toured the facility, Tony explained how the company’s involvement in the local cluster, Advanced Technologies in Manufacturing (ATIM), is helping it.
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke announced a new clustering initiative
The cluster is not only supporting Midland Steel develop productivity measures, but also in growing its international connectivity and export footprint.
During the conference, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke announced a new International Impact Clustering Programme. This will initially fund three pilot clusters with €2.3m over six years, which will be supplemented with Shared Island Cluster Funding.
This funding complements the Regional Technology Clustering Fund (RTCF), which Enterprise Ireland launched in 2019.
Since then, Enterprise Ireland has approved investment of over €10m to develop 12 industry clusters aligned with Ireland’s Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.
By the end of 2024, these 12 clusters supported 766 full members, including 604 industry partners. Collectively, these members represent over 50,000 employees.
Multinationals are well represented in Irish clusters too. They see clusters as key in building Ireland’s attractiveness for FDI.
To find out if there’s a suitable regional or sector cluster for your company to join, talk to your Enterprise Ireland client advisor.
?Darragh Cotter is south west regional manager at Enterprise Ireland and national coordinator for cluster development
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