The Noledge Group, the financial management and ERP solution specialist, has announced the launch of sruu, an integrated digital platform which provides deeper business insights, streamlines processes, and reduces energy costs for retailers in Ireland and the UK.

Noledge has invested €250,000 in the launch of sruu and expects the platform to generate an additional €1 million in revenues for the group by 2028. The launch will create 10 new jobs within the same timeframe to meet expected demand for the solution. These roles are being created across product development, support, finance, sales, and marketing.

sruu is the evolution of Noledge’s Connections platform as businesses become increasingly digitalised, unifying electronic point of sale, supplier, accounting, and energy data for retail stores. It currently serves more than 600 stores across Ireland and the UK, and Noledge plans to double this figure within the next three years as part of its continued growth strategy. sruu customers include Corrib Oil, Jump Juice Bars, Sewell on the go, and Jos Richardson & Son.

The solution is purpose built for retailers that require business operations to be streamlined across both single and multiple locations. It unifies disconnected systems across areas including sales, stock, and financial reporting, reducing the complexity of managing dispersed operations and ultimately driving smarter, data-driven decision-making for retail outlets.

In turn, sruu gives time back to retailers and enables them to focus on delivering an enhanced experience to customers in-store. Employees benefit from increasingly streamlined workflows and ease of access to critical data and systems, leading to reduced administrative burden. In addition, the platform analyses, controls, and automates energy usage, which enables retailers to reduce their energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

Ladislav Zimanyi, Head of Operations, sruu, said: “sruu is a one-stop-shop for retailers to automate their business processes and improve their operational visibility. It is scalable as businesses continue to grow and simplifies continued expansion as new retail sites are added. In addition, the ability to leverage business data to spot trends or patterns in a rapidly changing retail landscape and as consumer demand continues to shift will help stores to keep pace with their competitors.

“We are on an ambitious growth path and plan to expand our presence in response to increasing demand for digital capabilities among businesses. There is a new generation of retailers emerging in the digital age and we’re looking forward to becoming a key part of their journeys.”

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Technology Ireland, the Ibec trade association representing the ICT, digital, and software sectors, has published its Budget 2027 submission. TI are calling on the Government to leverage Ireland’s strong fiscal position to fund long-term resilience, balancing immediate cost pressures with strategic investments with a particular focus on talent development, research & innovation (R&I), and the indigenous startup ecosystem.

With Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union approaching, the global economy faces major structural challenges, including seismic shifts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and changing patterns of globalisation.

Director of Technology Ireland said:

“Ireland stands at the heart of Europe’s vibrant technology ecosystem. In the coming year, Ireland has a unique window to shape European policy and champion a continent that prioritises competitiveness and adopts a smarter, pro-innovation approach to regulation. Budget 2027 must balance immediate cost pressures with strategic investments in talent, R&I, and our indigenous sector. Our goal is to ensure Ireland remains the leading location for global technology companies while building a domestic sector that starts here and grows here.”

The Budget 2027 submission outlines key policy recommendations across four core areas:

Securing the Future Talent Pipeline: To meet verified industry demand, Technology Ireland calls for an increase in core funding for Skillnet Business Networks by €50 million over three years (€16.7 million in 2027). Key proposals include a new €10,000 AI Training Voucher for SMEs and Mid-Caps, establishing an AI Skills Fund across the tertiary education system, and expanding the National Training Fund to subsidise Level 10 (PhD) training through the new PhDStart initiative. The body also emphasises the national scale-up of the STEM Passport for Inclusion and P-TECH programs to tackle gender imbalances.

Supporting Indigenous Founders and SMEs: The submission stresses the importance of fostering a domestic sector that scales globally. Technology Ireland recommends reforming Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for technology entrepreneurs to unlock stagnant capital and encourage new founder-led businesses. Furthermore, it highlights the critical need to simplify the Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) by slashing burdensome administration and complex valuation requirements, enabling indigenous SMEs to realistically compete for world-class talent.

Boosting Research and Innovation (R&I): To keep pace with international knowledge economies, Technology Ireland calls on the Government to increase public investment in research and innovation to 1% of GNI* by 2035, requiring an extra €70 million in public spending. Additionally, the association recommends amending the R&D Tax Credit to include Irish-based management of offshore R&D activity, anchoring high-value decision-making roles within the country.

Enhancing Digital and Regulatory Ambition: As EU regulatory frameworks like NIS2, the AI Act, and the Data Act take effect, the submission notes that regional sectoral regulators must be adequately resourced through primary Exchequer funding rather than damaging industry levies. Technology Ireland also emphasizes accelerating the “Silicon Island” and “Quantum 2030” strategies, expanding Cyber Review and Improvement Grants up to €60,000, and scaling up Ireland’s defensive capabilities toward the Commission on Defence Forces’ Level 3 target.

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The Mater Hospital has launched a dedicated website LungTransplant.ie which aims to support patients and their families through their transplant journey.

Co-designed with patients and their care partners, the website brings together expert medical information with lived experience and practical guidance. From real-life patient stories to practical supports and information, the website provides a central hub for those affected by life-limiting lung conditions and those awaiting or living with a lung transplant.

Content has been carefully developed to support each patient and their family through every stage of the transplant journey, from referral and waiting through to recovery and life post-transplant. Highlights of the website include: Patient testimonials, Practical guidance about everything from what medical tests to expect to end-of-life planning, Books for children who have a family member navigating a transplant, Imagery and videos detailing post-surgery, and more.

The project was funded by the Mater Hospital Foundation, double lung transplant recipient Mick (Michael) Cosgrave and his family and friends, and the HSE Spark Innovation Fund.

Describing the difference this website will make, Mick shared, “The team [at the Mater] are incredible and were extremely helpful to me during this time of great change but this website would have been an additional resource that may have made it all a little bit easier for me and I know that it will be extremely valuable to patients going forward whether they are awaiting surgery or have already had it.”

He continued, “Before having my transplant, I didn’t fully understand the amount of work a transplant took. I didn’t understand how the waiting list worked and I definitely didn’t know what to expect after the surgery. I had a lot of learning to do. Between all of the new medications, managing follow-up appointments and learning to use new equipment to measure my blood pressure and lung function at home, it could definitely feel overwhelming at times.”

Dr Michelle Murray, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at the Mater adds, “Lung transplantation is a complex and often frightening journey for patients and their families – and every journey is unique. This website is a vital extension of our care, grounding medical advice in real life patient experiences. We are deeply grateful to those who have shared their stories with such courage to support anyone living with serious lung conditions.”

Speaking on the launch of the website, Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of the Mater Hospital Foundation said, “This website is so much more than providing information, it’s about hope. It’s about making sure no patient or family feels alone in what can be an overwhelming journey. I hope more people are inspired to consider the gift of organ donation. There is no doubt that organ donation transforms loss into hope and provides a second chance to those who need it most.”

The launch comes at a pivotal time for organ donation in Ireland, following the introduction of a new national framework aimed at increasing donor numbers and improving transplant outcomes.

Despite progress, many patients remain on waiting lists, underscoring the ongoing need for greater awareness of organ donation and the life-changing impact it can have.

See more stories here.

Guest post by VimalRaj Sampathkumar, Technical Head – UK & Ireland, ManageEngine

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and the rapid growth of digital infrastructure are raising concerns about cyberattacks targeting businesses, event organisers, and fans.

The 2026 World Cup is already expected to attract millions of tourists, generate billions of dollars in revenue, and rely on a complex digital ecosystem involving ticket sales, hotel reservations, payment systems, broadcasts, and service applications. This level of activity creates an increasingly complex challenge, with cyber risks growing alongside major global events, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to evolve.

The advancement of AI has made cyberattacks faster, more personalised, and harder to detect. Compared to the last World Cup in 2022, cybercriminals now have access to far more sophisticated tools that can automate scams, create highly convincing phishing campaigns, and exploit vulnerabilities at scale.

The threat is far from theoretical. During the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, according to French government data, 548 cybersecurity incidents were recorded between May and September 2024, of which 83 were confirmed.

Furthermore, around 25% of the downtime recorded during that period was caused by DDoS attacks, a method in which cybercriminals overwhelm ticketing services, streaming platforms, and official websites to extort money from organisers.

The World Cup presents an even more challenging scenario. Alongside the increased use of digital platforms by fans and businesses, the rise of generative AI has enabled more sophisticated scams, including fake ticketing websites, pirated broadcasts, fraudulent promotions, and highly personalised messages that closely mimic legitimate communications from brands, sponsors, and event organisers.

The impact extends far beyond the host nations. Although the tournament will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the risks affect businesses and consumers worldwide. According to IBSEC (Brazilian Institute of Cybersecurity), 72% of phishing attacks in Brazil occur during major sporting events, such as World Cups, international tournaments, and national championship finals.

Cybercriminals frequently exploit periods of heightened public attention. Scams involving ticket sales, travel promotions, live streams, and even loyalty programmes are increasingly common. In many cases, the objective is to steal credentials, gain access to bank accounts, or collect personal data for future fraud. Fans travelling to the tournament are particularly vulnerable, much like any tourist or visitor. For this reason, it is important to remain vigilant, including being cautious about which Wi-Fi networks you connect to.

Beyond the impact on consumers, cyberattacks can cause significant financial and reputational damage to organisations in sectors such as tourism, entertainment, retail, media, and financial services, particularly those operating digital platforms that experience high traffic volumes during the tournament. However, businesses can take several preventive measures to strengthen security during the World Cup and similar large-scale events.

Three effective measures Irish organisations can take to strengthen security during the World Cup:

Conduct incident simulations

Companies and IT teams should test their incident response processes in advance to ensure they are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to a range of potential threats. This helps maintain agility and reduces the risk of service disruptions or data breaches during periods of peak demand.

Adopt a Zero Trust strategy

This approach requires continuous authentication of users, APIs, and devices before granting access to systems. The principle of “never trust, always verify” becomes particularly important during major events, helping to reduce the risks of data breaches, cyberattacks, and ransomware incidents.

Invest in real-time monitoring

Monitoring networks, applications, and digital environments in real time enables organisations to identify suspicious behaviour and malicious activity before they cause downtime or compromise critical operations.

The World Cup offers businesses a unique opportunity to engage with millions of consumers while significantly increasing their digital exposure.

Just as players must work together on the pitch, IT teams need to operate as a coordinated unit, strengthening their defences and preventing hackers from “scoring a goal” by breaching systems and causing disruption. Preparation, monitoring, and rapid response will be essential to avoiding financial losses, operational disruption, and reputational damage.

About VimalRaj Sampathkumar:

VimalRaj Sampathkumar is the Technical Head of ManageEngine for the UK and Ireland. With over a decade of experience in technical sales, account management and customer success, he has a deep understanding of the implementation of enterprise IT management solutions globally. His core focus is to drive revenue and market share increase by consistently delivering customer-focused solutions, demonstrating product value, and building the foundation for loyal, long-term customer relationships.

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Ireland is one of the few countries in the world to complete a detailed airborne geophysics survey

After 16 years and over 440,000km the Tellus Programme has now undertaken its final flight

Ireland has become one of the few countries in the world to complete a detailed airborne geophysical survey. After 16 years and over 440,000 km of flying the Tellus Programme has undertaken its final flight.

Ireland’s first airborne geophysics survey

The airborne survey took off in 2011 in the border region, with European Interreg cross-border funding. The Tellus Programme, managed by Geological Survey Ireland (part of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment), then became a national survey funded by the National Development Plan. This final flight ensures data has been collected from all corners of the country. This makes Ireland one of the best geologically mapped countries in the world and a leader in geophysical survey data in Europe.

The airborne survey – operated by specialist Canadian company Sander Geophysics Ltd – collects magnetic, electromagnetic and natural radioactivity data from the rocks and soils below our feet. The data is turned into maps and is used to help support the management of our natural resources, assist environmental monitoring, help identify radon risk areas as well as improving geological mapping.

Geological Survey Ireland Director Koen Verbruggen said:

“After 16 years, I am delighted to see the final survey flight and completion of the Tellus airborne geophysics survey. More hard work follows in investigating, modelling and mapping the data. However, this is a hugely significant moment for Ireland as we will have better scientific data to help make decisions on how we best manage our natural resources. We will be making this data freely available, and I look forward to seeing it support policy, industry and research in a variety of areas. Finally, I would like to thank all who have been involved in this fantastic project.”

Data has been processed and is currently available to download from Geological Survey Ireland’s website for about 80% of the county. The final data will be merged with all the other survey data and be available in 2027. All data and maps are free to download.

Due to the low flying nature of the aircraft, flying at an altitude of just 60m, an extensive operational communications programme was undertaken.

Geological Survey Ireland would like to thank all the team, along with all landowners and stakeholders for their assistance and co-operation over the last 16 years. Equally Geological Survey Ireland appreciates the skill and dedication of the pilots who have probably seen more of Ireland than anyone else. Due to the delicate nature of the instruments on-board and the technical requirement not to fly in rain, wind or cloud, considerable patience was required by all stakeholders involved. However, that patience has been rewarded and the national datasets produced will be of great benefit to the state in the future.

Geological Survey Ireland is Ireland’s National Earth Science Agency. It is responsible for providing geological advice and information, and for the acquisition of data for this purpose. It produces a range of products including maps, reports and databases and acts as a knowledge centre and project partner in all aspects of Irish geology. Geological Survey Ireland is a division of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) (https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/Pages/default.aspx).

‘Tellus’ was the Roman goddess of the earth, also called Terra Mater.

The airborne geophysical survey was conducted in parallel with a national soil geochemical survey with samplers collecting physical samples across Ireland.

Data from the geophysical and geochemical surveys are freely available to all as soon as they are processed and checked https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/programmes-and-projects/tellus/Pages/Data-and-Maps.aspx.

See more breaking stories here.

By Steve Mostyn, who is the author of Why Great Leaders Ask Great Questions, and one of the world’s leading designers and directors of senior executive leadership programs. He is Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and creates and leads the Oxford University Executive Leadership Program

Leadership insights, ask great questions

The best leaders ask the best questions. The best questions unlock value in others and organisations.

How do these leaders ask the best questions? They create a practice of reflection. They build a reflective practice that allows them to develop the muscle of reflection in the midst of action- the time you most need it.

Let’s start to help you reflect better, with a question. Take some time to answer the question, and perhaps use a journal to note your response.

How do I reflect?

Set the timer of your phone to ten minutes and spend some time on this question as it is foundational in how you start to build a reflective practice

Now let’s evaluate your words. Have you answered a different question that is  ‘Where do I reflect?’  For example – Out-doors, running, cycling, in the shower?

Or perhaps you did answer the question – How do I reflect?

Answers I often hear focus on for example – writing a journal, discussing a specific issue with a confidant, writing a gratitude list each day, or through structured (or unstructured) meditation. These are all examples of what you can experiment with.

Building a reflective practice will ground you in a way that releases a new sense of agency and possibility. It will develop better observation skills and prepare you for greater generation of multiple interpretations for the one constant question we should always be asking ourselves at our workplace – What’s going on here? What’s really going on?

By building a reflective practice you prepare yourself even in a microsecond of frustration to pause in the midst of action and the resultant you will be more helpful not only to yourself but to your team.

Reflective practice then invites you to experiment and try out new ways of acting or behaving. The skill to masterfully develop is to reflect amid action and if you reflect on unexpected experiences and conduct mini experiments which will in turn create novel understanding of the experience and most significantly a change in the situation.

As Warren Bennis comments,

“There are lessons in everything, and if you are fully deployed, you will learn most of them. Experiences aren’t truly yours until you think about them, analyze them, examine them, question them, reflect on them, and finally understand them. The point … is to use your experiences rather than being used by them, to be the designer, not the design, so that experiences empower rather than imprison”

Armed with your answer of how you reflect let’s build on that insight and add this micro tool.

The key to habit building is to repeat a simple exercise for up to eight weeks.  A simple one I share is as follows.

The 1 minute daily reflection.

In your journal (or phone notes)

Ask yourself

When did I lead today?

When could I have led?

What was I most pleased with?

Spend only one minute a day asking this question and then over time look at your trends and then you become more and more aware of opportunities to lead, develop others and generally be more aware of your own sense of agency. This will lead you to generate better questions that have less to do with your ego needs and more focussed on the needs of your team to be challenged, supported and engaged. Become that better reflective leader!

See more breaking stories here.

By David Stephen, who looks at Universal Basic Income in this article. 

Why can’t everyone become a mathematician? Or, why does everyone not like advanced math? Why do some people really find math tough? Or, why do some people encounter mathematics and a lot of energy or enthusiasm follows?

These are questions for how human intelligence works in the brain. This is not simply about resources, location, age or whatever.

Can Universal Basic Income provide equality amid AI job cuts?

How does human intelligence work in the brain, amid the rise of artificial intelligence? Simply, what makes humans more advanced than other organisms, giving that there are several similarities across species?

This would have been the best objective that Senator Bernie Sanders [I-VT] would have pursued, against AI, to keep human intelligence competitive with the emergence of artificial intelligence.

AI can do a lot of productive work as well as fulfill social objectives. AI is actually excellent at some skills that are difficult for several humans to learn or master. AI is available on digital, a now dominant medium for important economic human processes. AI is also great at tasks that come with post-academic value.

AI may have a lot of flaws, but there are things that are common [or easy] among humans that are not economically rewarding. So even if AI is weak at those, it does not matter as much, in labor value hierarchy.

The current capabilities of large language models [LLMs] include solving complex math, rigorous analysis, writing, software engineering, domain knowledge across expertise, social communication, teaching and so forth.

AI has learned a lot of what humans train — at school — to become. So, while it appears that the education system seems intact, the availability of an alternative to take on tasks will be a factor in hiring and retention considerations, gradually.

Also, even among humans, intelligence capabilities are varied, especially for types, needs, and so forth. There is already a lot of competition that some people have a little chance against some others. For example, in choice industries like building AI, space, biotech, and so on.

Still, there are ways to try, given that it is humans-against-humans. Now, with machines, there could be a cutoff for what a minimum should be, for what is accepted, at a performance level.

This means that what should be an urgent project to answer is what human intelligence is, in the brain, how it works, how to improve it for problem-solving and so forth. Also, if human intelligence intensity built AI, space science, biotech, if human intelligence improves, would there not be hope for more breakthroughs in more places?

No matter how safe, spread, shared or supportive artificial intelligence becomes, it is not human intelligence, in the brain. It will be used with a connected device — for the most part. AI will still be owned or controlled by a few entities, and AI will work within the capability of individual human intelligence, for its ability to help. For example, learning a new language for an adult is still dependent on human intelligence, even if AI can teach and ease translation.

What Bernie Sanders should be saying now is to have the first human intelligence research lab, or an American Academy of Human Intelligence, or an international day for human intelligence and so forth. The goal is to at least find ways to ensure there is a large effort into human intelligence, comparable to how AI is getting fed and improving, to avoid neglecting human intelligence and assuming it is dead, with the only hope [just] to share AI profits.

Bernie Sanders

There is a recent [June 1, 2026] guest essay in The New York Times, Bernie Sanders: A.I. Is a Public Resource. You Should Own Half of It., stating that, “The question, then, is not whether A.I. will change the world. It will. The question is: Who will own and control that future? Who will benefit from it, and who will be hurt by it? Will A.I. be used to make life better for working families? Will it enrich our quality of life? Will it help us eliminate poverty, extend life expectancies and solve the climate crisis? Or will the future of humanity be determined by a handful of billionaires who have promoted and developed A.I., with virtually no democratic input, who stand to become even richer and more powerful than they are today?”

“Dozens of sovereign wealth funds exist all over the world to ensure that ordinary people benefit from national wealth. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, one of the largest in the world, was funded from the country’s oil wealth and is now worth more than $2 trillion.”

“Fifty years ago, Alaska created a sovereign wealth fund from the state’s oil revenues. For decades, it has paid annual dividends directly to Alaskans. Moreover, public pension funds in states across the country already hold hundreds of billions of dollars in the stock of companies throughout America.”

“But the principle is simple: When a public resource generates wealth, the public should share in that wealth.”

AI Stake

Even though people own shares in companies, there are those with controlling stake, management teams, as well as those with more voting power. The same with sovereign wealth funds. This means a few will retain power even if they are representatives.

Nothing can compensate for cognitive slump, if AI replaces jobs, and does the most valuable common, white-collar work, and there are few alternatives.

Across the globe, for most of the last decade without AI in several countries, there has been high youth unemployment. It is not like human intelligence solved that problem at scale. So, with AI, the problem is compounded and broadened, and it is not like there will just suddenly be things to do, for people, when new sectors are not getting made so easily.

This means that even with novel labor economics models, small business workforce growth research lab, and so forth, it is still necessary to find how to improve human intelligence.

What should be sought is versatility and to ensure that human intelligence stays competitive. Not just let AI win and hope in sharing. That could be ruinous, without simmering human intelligence, providing new options for development and exploration across purposes.

Human Intelligence in the Brain

Human intelligence is defined as the use of memory for expected, desired, or advantageous outcomes. Simply, intelligence is how memory is used. There are two types: operational and improvement intelligence.

Operational intelligence is for regular endeavors, to get things done routinely, while improvement intelligence is to advance stuff.

There are mild, mid and extreme ranges of operational and improvement intelligence.

Extreme improvement intelligence is rare. Even extreme operational intelligence is not as common. LLMs can do some aspects of operational and improvement intelligence, matching several humans in aspects of those.

The elements of human intelligence in the brain are postulated to be electrical and chemical signals of neurons across sets.

Why is it difficult to learn math for many people?

There are two ways to answer, at least from conceptual brain science. First, when some people learn math, they often lack quick overlays and addition into thick sets.

Sets are conceptually collection of electrical and chemical signals in a cluster of neurons. Thin sets retain what is most unique about any information. Thick sets collect what is common. So door, window, chair, desk, are respective thick sets — collecting what is common about those into one.

To learn, most information has to be added to an existing thick set. While it is possible that some information will remain unique and stay in a thin set, most will have to join a thick set.

For some people, having math join some existing thick set takes much longer — so to speak. The same with learning a new language. Aside from thick sets, there are overlays, or temporal states where thick sets layer on each other, to reach understanding or clarity, or connecting the dots and so forth. The thick set of a desk could layer on that of an office.

Simply, even if thick sets already have common elements of information, some thick sets still have things that are similar with other thick sets, like [say] the thick set of square root and the thick set of cube root.

Both can sometimes overlay, or something like that, this overlay can prompt understanding. For some people, overlays in math solutions are more difficult. The quickness of overlays, sometimes, for some people who do intense math, result in high-energy states.

Then there is pleasure. There are people with thick sets that have faster ability for new sequences [or paths] to the emotion of pleasure, when learning math. Simply, for some, learning math has a faster pleasure derivative than others.

While it is true that learning and understanding does this for many, there are people who have it faster.

So, human intelligence mechanism can conceptually be used to explain why some soup complex math and while it remains difficult for some.

This does not mean persistence, consistency, or practice is not necessary [for all], just like learning a new language, but that learning is subject to the relays and destinations of electrical and chemical signals, in sets. This is also expounded in the postulate in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.

Now, AI can solve math, which is not so direct for humans to learn. AI can also translate several languages, which is also difficult for humans.

How does human intelligence work, what adjustments can be made to increase the chances to learn better, understand and to solve problems?

These should be at the fore of equality. Sharing AI wealth is the easy part. Because, if the problem is sharing then AI owners can let some go. They have investors. They proposed universal basic income [UBI].

But as human intelligence crashes, the world will not be a place that even those that get the handouts would want to inhabit.

There is a new [June 18, 2026] report on Axios, Bernie Sanders unveils AI “tax” plan, stating that, “Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday unveiled his plan for the U.S. government to take 50% equity stakes in large AI companies.”

“The one-time “tax” would apply to any company with annual AI revenue of at least $200 million.”

“The stakes would go into a new U.S. sovereign wealth fund, overseen by seven commissioners nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate. It then would pay out a 5% annual dividend directly to Americans.”

“The stakes would go into a new U.S. sovereign wealth fund, overseen by seven commissioners nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate. It then would pay out a 5% annual dividend directly to Americans.”

“The bill also would require such companies to separate their “AI and non-AI businesses,” with the government only taking equity in the former.”

“It would be voting stock — which means the government would have a major say in how such companies operate.”

David Stephen does research in conceptual brain science and served as a visiting scholar in medical entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He did computer vision research at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona.

See more breaking stories here.

Irish NGO Camara Education secures $2.56 million UNICEF partnership to expand Camara AI-powered  digital learning across Ethiopia

Dublin, Ireland – Irish-founded NGO Camara Education has announced a major new partnership agreement with UNICEF valued at $2.56 million, to deliver a large-scale digital and transferable skills programme across Ethiopia through to December 2027.

The initiative, Digital and Transferable Skills Development: Transforming In-School Learning and Transition to Earning, will expand access to digital education for thousands of students and teachers, particularly in refugee-hosting, displacement-affected, and underserved communities. The programme places a strong emphasis on inclusion, with a focus on girls and learners with disabilities.

Digital Learning Hubs for schools and institutions in Ethiopia

Through this partnership, Camara Education Ethiopia will support the rollout of 115 AI-powered Digital Learning Hubs in schools and institutions, alongside managed internet connectivity and offline-first learning environments designed for low-resource settings. A total of 1,166 desktop computers, 826 tablets, and 200 laptops will be deployed, alongside curriculum-aligned digital content and the Camara AI Education Assistant. Many schools supported through the programme have limited or inconsistent internet access, making offline-first digital learning particularly important for ensuring continuity of learning and equitable access to technology.

The programme will also deliver training for 1,570 teachers and school leaders in digital skills, artificial intelligence, and technology integration, as well as training for 7,000 students in essential digital and transferable skills. Learners will have access to structured progression pathways, including coding bootcamps, mentorship, and job-readiness support.

The initiative is delivered through a coordinated UNICEF programme that brings together multiple international funding streams, including support from the Government of the Netherlands, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education. This unified approach is designed to strengthen education systems, increase efficiency, and deliver impact at scale.

Ibolya Nemeth, CEO of Camara Education, said:

“This landmark partnership demonstrates the growing importance of digital skills, AI literacy, and equitable access to technology in shaping the future of education. Together with UNICEF and our partners, we are investing in practical, scalable solutions that empower young people and teachers with the tools, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive in a digital economy. We are proud that an Irish-founded organisation continues to play a meaningful role in advancing education and opportunity across Africa.”

Founded in Ireland over two decades ago by Cormac Lynch, Camara Education has grown into an internationally recognised organisation delivering digital education programmes across Africa, while also advancing technology reuse and sustainability. The new UNICEF partnership highlights Ireland’s continuing contribution to global education, innovation, and digital inclusion.

Camara Education is an Irish-founded international NGO focused on improving access to education through technology in Africa.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. The programme will be implemented across multiple regions in Ethiopia, including Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray, with a focus on underserved and displacement-affected communities.

See more breaking stories here.

Image details : Rear view of the Future Cast Innovation, Research and Development and Education Centre in Manorhamilton

A new multi-million-euro innovation centre has been opened by Future Cast in Manorhamilton. Co. Leitrim, to drive Ireland’s construction and quarrying industries.

The €3.25m investment has transformed a derelict 200-year-old church into an impressive 10,000 sq ft innovation, R&D and science hub and is expected to create 15 new roles.

New Future Cast innovation hub

The Future Cast Innovation, Research and Development and Education Centre in Manorhamilton was officially opened today (Friday, June 19^th) by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke and attended by Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Marian Harkin.

The former St Clare’s Hall church in the town has been redeveloped into a  state-of-the-art facility featuring a geological material science laboratory, prototype-building and machine-development spaces, facilities for green skills training – and a 3D concrete printer.

The project was supported by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment under the Border Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland.

The Future Cast Innovation, Research and Development and Education Centre will provide companies and individual designers access to space, technical expertise and equipment. This will give them the opportunity to develop their ideas, build prototypes, and progress R&D projects.

It is expected that skills training will include programmes related to 3D concrete printing and the maintenance of offshore wind energy infrastructure.

Future Cast is a not-for-profit organisation supporting innovation, education and R&D in the construction, manufacturing and quarrying industries.

The organisation currently employs 22 people across its existing facilities at the W8 building in Manorhamilton and Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.

However, the Innovation, Research and Development and Education Centre in Manorhamilton promises to create an additional 15 jobs over the coming years. Roles include those in concrete and material science, machine design, prototype development and specialist training.

The launch brought together government, industry and academic representatives to mark the opening of the new rural innovation facility.

Minister Peter Burke delivered the keynote speech at the event, which also featured contributions from Minister Harkin; Future Cast CEO JJ O’Hara; Enterprise Ireland Executive Director Mark Christal; Vice President at ATU (Enterprise & Engagement)at ATU Sligo Chris O’Malley; and Shane Kerrigan of the Kerrigan Group.

A panel discussion, ‘Innovation in Action: Prototyping, Materials, and the Future of Construction and Quarrying in Ireland’, was made up of leading figures from industry and academia, such as Gerry Farrell, CEO of the Irish Concrete Federation; Anthony Fitzpatrick, Head of Enterprise and Economic Development at South Tipperary County Council; Ciaran McManus, Director of Development and Support at South West College; and Dr Roisín Hyde, founder of 3DCP start-up NoMAD, chartered architect, and PhD in Computation Design, Concrete Technology and Digital Fabrication

Future Cast, which is the trading name of Manorhamilton Innovation and Development CLG, works with more than 220 member and partner companies across its programmes.

Future Cast is a European Digital Innovation Hub, helping companies across Ireland to access innovation, digitalisation and R&D supports. The organisation also plays a leading role in 14 European projects through flagship EU initiatives like Erasmus+, which supports education and youth; Interreg, which fosters regional cohesion; and Horizon Europe, which tackles research and innovation.

The opening of the Future Cast Innovation, Research and Development and Education Centre follows the organisation’s development of its W8 Innovation, Research & Education Centre, also based in Manorhamilton. The project has transformed the region into a centre for Industry 4.0 adoption, enterprise collaboration, and advanced technology innovation.

Alongside that, Future Cast opened a new €1m training centre for mechanical and electrical trades in the centre of Ballaghaderreen in June 2025.  The Mechanical and Electrical Training and Assessment Centre (METAC) at Mill Business Park features a state-of-the-art equipment, 16-person classrooms, and dedicated workshop spaces for up to 10 learners.

The projects represent a sum total of more than €5million of investment in the development of supports for businesses across the construction, quarrying, manufacturing and wider industrial sectors in recent years.

Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said:

“Future Cast’s Innovation, Research, Development and Education Centre will provide unique skills development services to support entrepreneurship and SMEs to start and grow across the wider North-West region.

“This centre will play an important part within the wider enterprise ecosystem supporting business development locally, working closely with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, among others. Competitiveness remains at the heart of Ireland’s enterprise policy and our ambition is for Ireland to remain a frontrunner when it comes to innovation. The Future Cast centre will provide invaluable research and education initiatives to individuals and businesses to stay ahead of the curve on innovation and productivity.”

Marian Harkin T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, says:

“I am delighted to see this investment in Manorhamilton. This new state-of-the-art facility will host critical training delivered by Industry 4.0 Skillnet and will support businesses in the North West in the manufacturing, construction, and quarrying industries. This training is supported through National Training Fund, providing  upskilling in process automation through technologies such as robotics, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.”

Future Cast CEO JJ O’Hara says:

“Future Cast’s new innovation centre in Manorhamilton project is designed to bring innovation, science and R&D into rural Ireland in a very practical way. We are creating a place where companies, entrepreneurs, researchers and young people can come together to test ideas, build prototypes, develop new technologies and gain the skills needed for the future of work.

“This was a derelict building with a long history in Manorhamilton, and we are proud to have been able to bring it back into use as a modern innovation centre while retaining its unique character and connection to the town. The centre demonstrates how regional hubs can become valuable national resources for industry-led innovation, green skills and practical R&D.”

Mark Christal, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said:

“This state-of-the-art innovation centre is a prime example of how Enterprise Ireland’s Border Enterprise Development funding is enabling high-impact regional initiatives that drive innovation and enterprise. By supporting Future Cast, we are backing a model that connects entrepreneurs, researchers, SMEs and start-ups to world-class expertise, accelerates growth, and strengthens the North West’s position as a vibrant hub for sustainable business. By bringing together a diverse range of skills, knowledge and resources, the centre will allow for real collaboration to take place and accelerate the growth of the enterprise base in the region.”

Shane Kerrigan, founder of the W8 Centre and Director of Future Cast, said:

“The opening of Future Cast’s new Research, Innovation, Development and Education Centre represents the next step in our mission to demonstrate that rural communities can be places where innovation, enterprise and opportunity thrive. Together with the W8 Centre, we are creating an innovation ecosystem that gives businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers and learners access to world-class facilities, expertise and opportunities that will help them prosper and grow into the future.

“We see this investment helping to build long-term economic resilience, supporting our young people, enabling the development of future industries, and ensuring that the North West and Border Region can play a leading role in Ireland’s future economy.

“Today’s opening is as much a celebration of the team behind the project as it is of the building itself. I am deeply grateful for their commitment, professionalism and belief in what we are trying to achieve.”

About Future Cast

Future Cast is an Innovation, education, and R&D centre focused on the construction and quarrying industries. Future Cast works with companies in these sectors and throughout their manufacturing supply chains on projects to increase the adoption of advanced technology and processes. It is a non-profit organisation with a remit to research and disseminate technologies in Industry 4.0 to its member companies. Future Cast helps solve pressing issues with our accumulated knowledge and expertise in industries automation, innovation, and funding.

For more information on Future Cast and its programmes, visit www.futurecast.info

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Kildare County Council has announced a new partnership with EnergyCloud, a charity that uses innovative solutions to divert otherwise wasted renewable energy to homes, and Microsoft to deliver an initiative that will provide 200 households with hot water using surplus renewable electricity.

The scheme, which is being rolled out in County Kildare for the first time, will help reduce renewable energy waste while benefiting approximately 550 people living in the Council’s social housing.

Kildare renewable energy for 200 households

Participating households will receive an EnergyCloud-enabled smart device that diverts surplus renewable electricity, which would otherwise go to waste, to heat water in the home, turning unused energy into a direct benefit for families.

The initiative addresses a significant and growing challenge in Ireland’s energy system. According to Eirgrid, in 2025, 11.4% of renewable wind energy and 12% of all renewable energy was dispatched down, or wasted, as the grid was unable to carry all the generated power. On any given night, the surplus electricity going to waste nationally is enough to heat as many as three million domestic water tanks. By diverting this excess energy to homes, EnergyCloud turns an environmental loss into a direct benefit for families and communities.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, welcomed the initiative: “As Ireland continues to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, it is vital that we maximise the benefits of that transition for our local communities. This initiative in Kildare shows how surplus renewable electricity can be put to practical use in people’s homes – reducing waste, supporting households, and advancing our national climate ambitions.”

Speaking at the launch, Leas-Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Veralouise Behan said: “This is a very positive initiative for County Kildare and for the households who will benefit from it. It shows how innovation, partnership and sustainability can come together in a practical way to support families, reduce waste and make a real difference in people’s daily lives. I welcome the collaboration between Kildare County Council, EnergyCloud and Microsoft in delivering this pilot.”

Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said: “This pilot is a very positive initiative for our tenants in social housing. By working with EnergyCloud and Microsoft, we are putting surplus renewable energy to practical use in the home, helping to improve comfort for families while also supporting our wider climate goals.”

Alan Wyley, Chief Executive Officer, EnergyCloud Ireland, said: “EnergyCloud is delighted to partner with Kildare County Council and Microsoft to bring this initiative to households that need it most. By putting surplus renewable energy to practical use in people’s homes, we can reduce waste while delivering a real, everyday benefit for families. This project is a strong example of how local collaboration can turn unused renewable energy into meaningful impact for communities.”

The initiative builds on Microsoft’s ongoing partnership with EnergyCloud and expands on the recent rollout of a similar scheme with South Dublin County Council.

Commenting on the announcement Lavinia Morris, General Manager, EMEA Data Centre Operations, Microsoft, added: “At Microsoft, we are committed to being a force for good in the communities where we operate. Through our Datacentre Community Pledge, we are proud to support this partnership with Kildare County Council and EnergyCloud, which shows how collaboration and technology can deliver meaningful local benefits. By helping to divert renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted to homes close to our operations, this initiative will make a real difference to hundreds of people. We look forward to building on its success and continuing to support communities in Kildare and beyond.”

For further information on the initiative go to: https://energycloud.org/ireland/

About Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council is the local authority responsible for delivering local government services across  the county of Kildare. For more information, visit https://kildarecoco.ie/

About EnergyCloud
EnergyCloud is an innovative, not-for-profit initiative operating across Ireland to advance energy equality by utilising surplus renewable energy. For more information, visit https://energycloud.org/ireland/

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Marketing leaders discuss ROI, relevance and the reality of AI adoption

Photo of panel discussion at The New Media Playbook event hosted by Buymedia and Deloitte Digital in Dublin. From left: Peter McPartlin (MC), Lynda Vance (Stena Line), Stephen Williams (Windward Management), Laura Plunkett (CeADAR Ireland) and Graham Kinsella (Deloitte Digital).

More than 50 senior marketers gathered at Deloitte’s Dublin offices on Monday for The New Media Playbook, an event hosted by Buymedia and Deloitte Digital exploring how artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to practical implementation across marketing organisations. Irish Tech News attended the event.

New Media Playbook

Representatives from sectors including financial services, healthcare, tourism, education, charities and the public sector came together to discuss how AI is changing marketing, media planning and customer engagement.

The session was chaired by Peter McPartlin, who set the tone for the discussion by highlighting the growing pressure on marketing leaders to embrace AI while continuing to deliver measurable business results.

“Every CMO in Ireland is under pressure to make a move on AI. But pressure without direction is just noise. That’s what this event is about: cutting through the noise. The tools are changing faster than the thinking,” said McPartlin.

The AI adoption gap

One of the recurring themes throughout the event was the gap between interest in AI and successful implementation.

According to figures presented during the event, 80% of marketers feel pressure to adopt AI, while just 6% say they have successfully made it work within their organisations. Gartner research cited during the session also suggests that one-third of organisations have yet to see measurable returns from their AI investments.

The discussion focused less on future possibilities and more on practical examples of where AI is already delivering value.

Reducing the cost of relevance

Dylan Cotter, Managing Director of Deloitte Digital and its creative agency ACNE, argued that generative AI is reducing the cost of relevance rather than simply reducing the cost of content.

His presentation explored how brands can move beyond broad campaigns and create more personalised communications for different audiences, locations and customer segments.

Cotter noted that around 60% of the imagery and film production undertaken by ACNE now involves generative AI. He suggested that organisations are moving from a scarcity mindset around content creation towards an abundance mindset, enabling greater personalisation at scale.

“Generative AI is cutting the cost of relevance, not just the cost of content,” he said.

The shift, he argued, is changing how brands structure and deliver their communications. Rather than producing a single campaign aimed at a broad audience, marketers increasingly have the ability to tailor content for specific segments, channels and customer journeys.

AI and media planning

Fergal O’Connor, Founder and CEO of Buymedia, focused on the role of AI in media planning and advertising decision-making.

He argued that AI can process thousands of data points across multiple channels, helping marketers make better-informed decisions and reducing bias towards channels that are easiest to measure rather than those that may deliver the strongest results.

Much of the discussion centred on how marketing leaders can demonstrate value to CFOs and executive teams, and how AI investments can be linked to measurable business outcomes.

O’Connor suggested that the phrase “AI-powered” is becoming increasingly commonplace and that organisations need to focus on demonstrating real business value rather than simply adopting new technology.

“The marketers who win will not be the ones who adopted AI earliest, but the ones who put it to work most intelligently. For us that means powering the precision behind every media decision, while keeping human judgement in charge of the strategy,” he said.

Practical implementation

A panel discussion brought together speakers from Windward Management, Stena Line, CeADAR Ireland and Deloitte Digital.

The conversation centred on practical adoption rather than experimentation, with discussion ranging from customer engagement and campaign localisation to operational efficiency and responsible AI deployment.

Laura Plunkett represented CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI and one of the country’s four European Digital Innovation Hubs. Through the EDIH network, Irish SMEs and public sector organisations can access support for AI adoption, digital maturity assessments, training, testing and innovation projects.

Plunkett highlighted the importance of understanding the business problem being addressed before selecting an AI solution. The panel broadly agreed that AI is best viewed as a tool to improve decision-making and efficiency rather than an objective in itself.

Human judgement, governance and oversight remained recurring themes throughout the discussion.

Beyond generative AI

The event also looked beyond content generation and media planning.

Stephen Barnes of the Walton Institute and ENTIRE European Digital Innovation Hub outlined practical applications of extended reality technologies across healthcare, tourism, hospitality and retail.

His presentation focused on examples where immersive technologies are already delivering measurable outcomes, including training, visitor experiences, customer engagement and retail applications. The examples served as a reminder that the digital transformation conversation extends beyond generative AI alone.

Looking ahead

While AI continues to evolve rapidly, the discussion in Dublin suggested that the conversation among marketing leaders is also maturing.

The debate is increasingly moving away from whether AI should be adopted and towards how organisations can apply it effectively, responsibly and in ways that deliver measurable business outcomes.

For the marketers gathered at The New Media Playbook, success will ultimately be measured not by the technology itself, but by the results it helps achieve.

About Billy Linehan

Billy Linehan is a freelance writer covering innovation, tech for good and entrepreneurship, and a regular contributor to Irish Tech News.

Further reading: Billy Linehan’s previous coverage of artificial intelligence and digital transformation

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Legendary Dutch Blockchain Week finally got a matching venue this year. Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff ArenA needs no introduction – home of the legendary AJAX Football Team, European Cup/Champions League in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995, UEFA Cup in 1992 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987. A serious upgrade from previous years and a clear statement of intent. The eighth edition of the event is running from June 22 to 28, with the flagship summit opened yesterday, June 23rd, and continuing today. The week is being clearly messaged as a step up, and on day one, by most measures, it has been one. Tickets sold out ahead of the summit, with more than a thousand professionals started busting the doors since the early morning, which is very much uncommon for web3 events.

The latest about Dutch Blockchain Week

What is interesting is how the event is carrying that scale. More than one attendee has noted that it feels smaller than the numbers suggest, even though it clearly is not. Part of that comes down to something rare at industry conferences: people actually listening to the main stage. At most events of this size, the real action happens in the hallways, with half the badge holders skipping the panels entirely to network outside. Here, a noticeable share of attendees are staying in their seats. Fewer people drifting through the corridors are making the rooms feel quieter than its real size, even with a sold-out crowd filling it.

A large part of that comes down to who is in the room. The Student Tickets Program starting at 25 euros pulled in a wave of students, and it shows. Some are there pitching their own projects. Others are simply there to learn, sitting through sessions on stablecoins, tokenisation and institutional adoption with the kind of attention that seasoned conference veterans often stop giving after their fifth event of the year. It is a small thing, but it changes the texture of a room when a meaningful slice of the audience is still building their first understanding of the space rather than closing their fifth deal of the week.

The range of what was actually discussed on stage today reflected how broad the industry has become. Laura Peijs of the Crypto Women Collective asked where the women in crypto actually are, a question the room clearly still needs to keep asking. Peter Engering of Compliance Champs made the case that the MiCA deadline is forcing the industry to grow up fast, whether it wants to or not. Lisanne Drost pushed further on the same theme, arguing crypto cannot build the future it promises while leaving out half the population building it. On the institutional side, bunq’s Joe Wilson explained why a bank with 20 million users is quietly betting on crypto rather than staying on the sidelines, while Bitvavo’s Julian Hötzel walked through the exchange’s new 10x leverage product, a notable move for the Netherlands’ largest platform. And in one of the more unexpected sessions, Litecoin creator Charlie Lee took on the question of whether quantum computing is actually coming for crypto, a topic that rarely gets stage time outside of far more technical circles.

The professional services firms are treating the week as their own platform rather than just a sponsorship slot. Deloitte and PwC both have dedicated booths running their own workshops, breakout sessions and panels independent of the main stage. It gives the event a second layer, with smaller, focused rooms running in parallel to the keynotes, covering compliance and institutional adoption in more depth than a 20-minute panel slot usually allows.

The exchanges have shown up in force too. Kraken, Crypto.com, and OKX are all running their own side events across the week, adding to a programme that already includes more than 40 satellite gatherings around Amsterdam. That is the real shape of Dutch Blockchain Week: a sold-out main event surrounded by a sprawling, diverse ecosystem of smaller gatherings. It is almost the inverse of Monaco, where the booths stay small but the brand names are unmistakably large. Here, the big international names are running their own rooms, while the main floor stays open and easy to move through.

None of this happens by accident. The organisers pre-arrange a list of venues and partners for businesses wanting to run their own side events, which removes most of the friction that normally comes with putting together a satellite event during a major conference week. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that participants rarely notice, precisely because it is designed to be invisible. A genuinely complex logistical operation, made to look simple. There is something close to choreography in how seamless it all feels for a business showing up for the first time.

The week’s structure is already shaping up to be the biggest difference from a Monaco Summit or Istanbul Blockchain Week. Because Dutch Blockchain Week runs across a full seven days rather than compressing everything into 48 frantic hours, nothing has felt rushed so far. VIP dinners and focused side events are scattered throughout the week, each with room to breathe rather than competing for the same two-day window.

The organisers have made no secret of their ambitions either. The stated goal is to grow Dutch Blockchain Week into the main yearly technology event in Europe, and on the evidence of day one, next year is expected to be bigger again.

Bigger venue, same instinct for substance over spectacle. One day into the summit, Dutch Blockchain Week has leaned into scale without losing the thing that made it work: a sold-out room full of people paying attention.

About the Authors

Iaros Belkin is the founder of Belkin Marketing, a boutique agency serving as Strategic Advisor to Deep Tech, Web3 and AI Founders. Two decades of experience navigating high-stakes global markets and orchestrating everything from grants and key partnerships to VVIP events elevated experience.

Philip Cripe is the founder of CripeHub Solutions LLC, a technology and political advisory company providing geopolitical analysis, business and technology advisory, and fractional C-suite services to clients across Europe and North America.

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Modern casino platforms run thousands of aggregated RNG and live dealer titles through a single API layer that plugs into payments, KYC and CRM

Modern casino platforms have grown significantly throughout the world over the past two decades. Online casino platforms have seen significant growth, and operators have invested in ensuring these run effectively and smoothly. After all, a whole part of the gaming experience is a fun, smooth-running game that works efficiently.

Therefore, casino platforms have to work to ensure their platforms have the latest technology to help run them correctly for their players. Here is a look at how modern casino platforms work and how they are effective by using API.

What is an API layer?

When it comes to modern casino platforms, they need a strong system to be able to run their platform effectively. After all, from the games to payment to marketing, they need a strong management system for this. A lot of these platforms have an API layer, which is the most important way to run these platforms.

An API is an application programming interface which enables all the different parts of the platform to work together to run smoothly. This API layer helps to ensure everything can run effectively together. From live casino games to slot games, all work on the platform through this API layer.

Why is it so useful for online platforms?

To make the online casino run smoothly, operators aim to offer users a speedy and efficient surface. With an API layer, it can help to run everything effectively, from payments to the player experience.

It also means that new games can be launched more easily if there is already a framework in place. The modern online platforms can launch new games without the need for lots of new technology. With the market being so competitive, an efficient API layer will ensure new games can be launched to introduce players to new titles and formats.

How does it work with RNG and live dealer titles?

RNG games are one of the most popular forms of games on online casino platforms. These types of random number generator games work by creating an instant randomised winning score, whether on a digital slot machine or a roulette wheel. This offers the user a fair and random result every time. With a strong API layer in place, this enables these systems to work effectively with the RNG games. While hundreds of these games might be playing at once, the system works so that everyone playing can have a smooth user journey.

Meanwhile, live dealer games are just as popular and need to be run efficiently on modern casino platforms. These live games need to be structured correctly as they offer video streaming with dealer interactions. Like a real-life casino table, there needs to be communication on decisions made between the bettor and the gaming system. Through the API provider, these work to manage the systems through one connection.

How do payments work with the API?

The framework for the modern casino platform must work with payments for its customers, too. There are often many forms of payment being made through the platform at one time, and this can include debit or credit cards and vouchers. With all these needing to be managed, the API layer can help to make it possible.

It works so that any payment to be made or withdrawn to a player can all be run through the system. The API layer routes transaction data to fraud detection systems for verification.

How does it work with KYC and CRM?

KYC stands for Know Your Customer, and it is a verification process by law that helps to keep those players safe and secure.

This process can verify that the player’s age and location that has been provided on the platform are correct, so there are no issues down the line. The API layer routes this data automatically to identity verification systems. It will automatically check when the player registers that this is correct and legal, with no bots or chance of fraud.

CRM is also important for modern casino platforms that aim to build a relationship of trust and support with their players. Customer relationship management tools support player account management and ensuring they have a good experience on the platforms.  The API layer can be plugged into this to help ensure customer relationship management is a priority.

It can also facilitate access to player support records to help resolve queries more efficiently. It can also ensure that the customer service team know about any past problems or experiences the player may have had before support is given.

With this system in place, it can offer a good experience for both the platforms and the players in the games.

Gambling Advisory Notice: Online Gambling involves financial exposure, and results are uncertain. Players should establish limits and manage spending responsibly.

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Source: Canva editor

A lot of people question the logistics of online slots and how they are built to make them fair for everyone. After all, online slots have to be designed to be unpredictable to keep it fun and fair for players. Without that unpredictability, the games would lose the integrity that keeps them trustworthy for players.

While some online slot players argue that certain tricks and patterns can ensure you win the perfect game, the truth is that the technology in how the online slots are designed means that this is untrue. For one thing, this is what allows players to trust that each spin is genuinely independent and not influenced by prior outcomes.

Keeping Online Slots Fair and Unpredictable using RNG

Also, with this kind of system, it enables people to play fairly without any unfair wins, which would undermine trust in the fairness of the platform. In addition, the online gaming industry has to follow certain rules to ensure they stay legal and within the authorities’ rules.

Online slots are built on RNG systems, which are more commonly known as Random Number Generator systems. Here is more information on how these systems work and what it means for the online slots industry.

What is an RNG system?

A lot of the most common online slot companies use this type of software to help them make a fair and legal system for their players. This software generates random sequences of numbers in a fraction of a second. This then gives out the outcome in a matter of seconds. Crucially, it also ensures the result is completely random and can’t be predicted.

This RNG software works continually on the online slots to ensure that there can’t be any prediction or plan on the reel results.

Who makes the RNG system?

The RNG is a software that is built into online games to help randomise the outcome, it is not proprietary to any single company. However, the RNG software is tested to ensure that it is working effectively and is updated to make sure it’s accurate. It is also updated when necessary to ensure it is compliant with the newest laws. This ensures gaming companies don’t run into issues if it’s working effectively.

There are also added security measures that ensure the game is fair and secure for those playing the online games. They are legally required to keep the game fair and responsible, and there can be penalties for game providers if they don’t stick to these rules.

Does the RNG change throughout the day?

While some players believe there are timing tricks or patterns when it comes to online slots, these RNG systems do not change throughout the day. Whether the player enjoys the slots in the morning or the evening, the RNG is completely randomised. Therefore, every result is different from the others. This means that a previous win — large or small — has no bearing on the next result.

Does RNG track previous wins?

There is a lot of misconception that RNG knows when to provide a big win. But it does not track previous outcomes and the results are completely independent. So whether there has been a big or low win does not affect the result.

Bet sizes also do not affect the RNG, and this does not impact the final result. Whether the player goes for a larger or smaller bet, the result is still randomised and can’t be predicted. The same applies to whether a player is brand new or a long-term player. The result for both these players is randomised.

What is the law about RNG?

In most regulated markets, the online gaming industry is required to use a certified RNG system. Operators are required to use RNG implementations that have been independently tested and certified by approved laboratories. They need to use one that has been tested and verified independently. This means it’s been checked and will be accurate and fair for players.

To be used in online games, the RNG system must be proven to be independent and fair for players. If the online industry does use its own system, it could face penalties.

RNG systems are a vital part of online slots to make them fair and fun for everyone. This software ensures that every spin is independently randomised, giving all players a fair experience based on verified, unpredictable outcomes.

Gambling Advisory Notice: Online Gambling involves financial exposure, and results are uncertain. Players should establish limits and manage spending responsibly.

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Greenvolt Next, part of Greenvolt Group, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, has announced it has won the contract to install three solar farm sites across Co. Cork for Amarenco.

Amarenco is an Irish-founded, European renewable energy company employing over 200 people. It invests in long-term energy infrastructure and works to deliver projects that support communities as well as the environment.

The contract will see Greenvolt Next build three state-of-the-art solar farms in Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague on behalf of Amarenco, with all works being managed and delivered by Greenvolt Next. The official ‘sod turning’ ceremony took place in Carrigaline and all three sites are earmarked for completion by the middle of 2027.

Once complete, the three solar farms will have a combined installed capacity of 32MW, generating enough clean electricity to power around 38,000 homes each year. The land remains in local ownership, safeguarded for future generations to use as they see fit.

As part of the solar farms’ development, Amarenco has extensive ecological plans to increase the biodiversity of each location. It will integrate its ECHO soil health monitoring programme across all three sites. Amarenco works with local ecologists taking soil samples to establish exactly what the land needs to regenerate and restore the soil’s capacity to absorb carbon emissions, promote biodiversity and retain water.

Community Benefit Funds will also be established once the projects are operational which will help to support community and sports projects and initiatives in each locality.

Greenvolt Next secured the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract for this project. Working in conjunction with Amarenco, who designed the project requirements, Greenvolt Next is responsible for implementation and delivery across this large-scale project, managing every aspect of the development from construction through to completion.

Owen Power, CEO of Greenvolt Next Ireland and UK commented: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Amarenco that will see Greenvolt Next construct three major solar farm sites in Cork. Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology, Amarenco will benefit from considerable volumes of solar energy, helping it to lead the way in the green energy space. The development of solar farms of this scale offers significant energy security, helping to reduce the impact of energy price volatility while offering stability in terms of business performance.”

Declan Cullinane, Managing Director of Amarenco said: “This is a significant milestone for Amarenco’s business as we move forward with the installation of three large solar farms across our Cork sites in conjunction with Greenvolt Next. Once complete, they will generate enough clean energy from the sun to power the homes of Carrigaline, Cobh and Timoleague combined. A project of this scale meant we needed a partner with the vision, resources and expertise to complement our capabilities. Together with Greenvolt Next, we will deliver a project that sets a new benchmark for large-scale renewable energy development in Ireland. We look forward to working closely with the communities in each area in the years to come.”

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A thought that often comes to me is doing things as a child with my mother. This generally involved helping her in the kitchen. My mother was a wonderful cook. 

One recurring memory I have is of the smell in the house when she baked Christmas cake for her sisters and for us. When it came time to decorate the cake each year, out came the plastic tube with fine nozzle attached and a plunger, allowing her to write “Merry Christmas” on the top of the cakes.

Then the annual question would arise: Is there one R or two Rs in Merry?  

She would then ask me, and I would not be sure either. The solution was to get out some of last year’s Christmas cards and check the spelling; problem solved.

Now looking back, she was probably dyslexic as I am.  I had to look up again how to spell dyslexic as I always get it wrong.

First sales job: 

In my first sales job, in my twenties, every sales report I wrote was returned to me with spelling corrections.

Thankfully, I was good at sales, so my sales manager put up with my poor spelling.

I was not aware that I was dyslexic until I started typing for myself in my forties.

Up to then, I presumed I was just a bad speller or stupid or both!

One simple example, I know the word create has an ‘e’ at the end, but I always leave out the ‘e’.  Another example would be ‘your,’ I always write ‘you’. Before the advent of spell check, I would always have to get someone to read over my articles and other important documents before sending them.

How lucky are people to have the myriads of tools available nowadays to ensure they can focus on being creative while allowing software to support and improve their communications. 

It’s interesting to note that, with all the tools available to us to ensure our communication is understood, many documents, texts, emails, etc., are full of errors and difficult to understand.

Please note that I am not advocating that AI generate all your communications. What these types of tools should be doing is checking, enhancing and also providing advice and support.

In the past when I spoke to audiences, I would on occasion mention my dyslexia, usually by way of apologising for an incorrect spelling on a slide in the time before spellcheck.

What surprised me was that people who would come to me after my talk either to thank me for speaking openly about my dyslexia, or to tell me that they also came to the realisation that they were dyslexic. 

“People who march to the beat of a different drummer”

I first heard this expression when the great singer song writer Harry Chapin introduced his song ‘Flowers are Red’ and explained that a schoolteacher told a parent that their child was painting flowers and leaves the wrong colours.

“But not to worry, I will soon have him marching to the beat of my drum.”

Did we not all experience this type of teacher in the past?

In these times there is an increasing awareness of diagnoses such as dyslexia and thankfully a greater understanding.

People are often out of step with the norm, and this can be a good thing.

In my view, this is the unconventional space where our most creative people reside. 

With the right encouragement and support, the next generation can achieve more than we might have believed possible. 

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie

Dell Technologies and AMD are expanding what’s possible for on-premises AI, helping organisations scale generative and agentic AI deployments within their existing data centre infrastructure.

Starting in July 2026, Dell PowerEdge servers will support AMD Instinct MI350P PCIe GPUs, equipping enterprises with a performant, cost-effective option to scale agentic and generative AI deployments within their existing data center infrastructure with no redesign required. In addition, Dell is enhancing the Dell AI Platform with AMD to help scale AI workloads from pilot to production.

What this means for Enterprise AI

Dell PowerEdge servers equipped with AMD Instinct MI350P PCIe GPUs are designed to simplify AI deployment while delivering enterprise-scale performance. Organisations can deploy the GPUs in standard air-cooled Dell PowerEdge XE7745 and R7725 servers, eliminating the need for data centre redesign. The platform delivers up to 4,600 peak teraflops (MXFP4) and 144GB of HBM3e memory, representing the highest memory capacity currently available in a PCIe accelerator card.

The solution is optimised to support a wide range of AI workloads, including small, medium and large language model inference, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and agentic AI applications. It also benefits from AMD’s open software ecosystem, with support for frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow and vLLM, reducing licensing costs and minimising code rewrites.

Platform Built to Scale with Enterprise AI needs

The Dell AI Platform with AMD’s new modular architecture is designed to provide flexibility, scalability and modularity to all enterprise AI needs. Organisations can start with configurations that meet current workloads and expand compute and GPU density over time without rearchitecting their infrastructure.

Powered by AMD Enterprise AI Suite, AMD ROCm and AMD Inference Server, the platform supports the full AI lifecycle, including training, fine-tuning, inference and agentic workflows, within a validated and secure on-premises environment.

Varun Chabra, Senior Vice President of Infrastructure and Telecom Marketing at Dell Technologies said “AI for enterprise is no longer an option, it’s an imperative. The right on-premises solutions offer a competitive advantage providing better performance, control and security. Dell and AMD are delivering enterprises a better option”

For more demanding workloads, Dell also supports PowerEdge XE9785 servers with AMD MI355X GPUs and EPYC CPUsthat are purpose-built for foundation model development and large-scale inference.

To learn more about Dell AI Platform with AMD and the new modular architecture, visit www.dell.com/en-us/lp/amd-ai.

Ubotica Technologies, the Irish space technology firm pioneering Orbital AI, has announced an $11 million funding round to accelerate deployment of its AI-powered intelligence platform, a breakthrough maritime security service powered by real-time decision-making satellites in the Earth’s orbit.

The round was led by Act Venture Capital and Greencode Ventures, with participation from existing investor Atlantic Bridge.

As industries plan for orbital compute, Ubotica has already proven AI at the orbital edge. Its Orbital AI technology has run hundreds of thousands of AI inferences in orbit, deployed more than 30 Earth observation models on board satellites across multiple missions, and achieved a 100% mission success rate. Working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the European Space Agency, it has delivered a series of world firsts, including the first spacecraft to autonomously identify a target ahead and reorient itself to capture it.

The investment will accelerate the commercial rollout of Ubotica’s Live Maritime Intelligence platform, which enables governments and maritime agencies  around the world to detect emerging threats across vast maritime territories in real time.

The funding comes as nations face growing pressure to protect critical maritime infrastructure, including undersea communications cables, offshore energy assets, pipelines and strategic shipping routes, while responding to increasingly complex activity such as shadow fleets, dark vessels, sanctions evasion and potential sabotage.

Over the past 12 months, Ubotica has seen significant demand for its Live Maritime Intelligence, driven by its ability to enhance maritime surveillance across exclusive economic zones that are often far larger than a nation’s landmass.

Live Maritime Intelligence works by continuously identifying areas of elevated maritime risk, helping operators prioritise surveillance resources.

Rather than relying on fixed satellite collection schedules and post-processing on Earth, the platform combines Orbital AI with autonomous ground-to-orbit tasking to dynamically focus available sensing assets on emerging activity, providing earlier warning and faster operational intelligence back down to Earth.

Monitoring risk from space

While most Earth observation satellites still capture imagery before transmitting it to Earth for processing, Ubotica has fundamentally changed that model.

Orbital AI significantly reduces response times on Earth while making satellite networks far more efficient, by moving intelligence closer to where data is captured.

Ubotica is among the first companies to have proven Orbital AI in operational space missions, amid growing interest and investment around the space sector, in-orbit computing and AI infrastructure in space.

Orbital AI pioneers

“Ubotica has spent years pioneering Orbital AI, and we have applied that knowledge to one of the hardest security challenges on Earth: protecting vast maritime zones and critical offshore infrastructure,” said Fintan Buckley, CEO of Ubotica Technologies. “Live Maritime Intelligence predicts where risk is emerging, tasks the right satellites and sensors, and delivers decision-grade intelligence in minutes, giving security teams the speed and efficiency they need to act. This investment allows us to bring LMI to market at scale.”

“Ubotica has been running inference in orbit for years and transforms static Earth Observation into live intelligence. Nations can’t afford to wait hours for imagery while a vessel goes dark over critical infrastructure. Live Maritime Intelligence proves what on-board intelligence is worth: it turns Earth Observation from a camera into a real-time sentinel, starting with Europe’s waters,” said Andrew O’Neill, Act Venture Capital

“Resilience is a key topic for Europe in the coming years. Securing critical infrastructure in harbors and off-shore is crucial. Ubotica’s edge AI technology enables satellite constellations to detect threats and anomalies early, anywhere across vast ocean areas, creating both a strategic security capability and a compelling commercial opportunity,” said Terhi Vapola, Greencode Ventures.

See more stories here.

A local gift card in Macroom has reached a milestone of €200,000 in sales in 5 months, with over 3,300 in-store transactions in local businesses.

The Grá Macroom Gift Card launched in October 2025 for Macroom and its neighbouring villages. Over 100 businesses in the area accept the gift card, including shops, restaurants, hotels, salons and services.

Consumers and organisations alike have been using the card for gifts, as well as for rewards and incentives in line with the Small Benefit Exemption, with both physical and digital versions of the card available.

Backed by Macroom Business Association, the Grá Macroom Gift Card was introduced to enhance the convenience of supporting local, replacing the previous paper voucher and extending its reach from the town to its surrounding villages in the Lee Valley region,

Cards are available to buy online and in person from Killian Auctioneers Macroom, Cooney’s Garage in Coachford, Connections in Macroom, Dromeys Centra in Ballymakeera and Daybreak in Ballingeary, with a dedicated site for organisations.

The Grá Macroom Gift Card is part of the award winning Town & City Gift Cards initiative, and the first of its kind in County Cork.

The Castle Hotel switched from using Perx gift cards for staff rewards to the Grá Macroom Gift Card, and also accepts the card.

Manager, Rory Buckley, said: “We’ve had fantastic feedback from our customers to the new Grá Macroom Gift Card with around €9,000 of cards spent with us over the past 5 months. In the hotel, people spend their cards on food and beverage or hotel stays, even using it as payment for communions, and they’ll use it at the leisure centre to pay for membership. They find it easy to use and like the ease of checking their balance.

“We used to use Perx gift cards to reward our staff which can be spent anywhere but decided to switch to the Grá Macroom Gift Card to ensure the €13,000 we spent on staff rewards stayed locked into Macroom and neighbouring villages. As the card is eligible for the Small Benefit Exemption, we were able to gift staff up to €1,500 tax free. It was a smooth process and our team were very happy with the choice on offer through the card.”

Henry Murphy from third generation business Matt Murphy’s Pharmacy in Macroom commented: “I’ve experienced the Grá Macroom Gift Card as a proprietor, a corporate purchaser and a recipient and it has been positive all round. People quickly realised how easy it is to buy and spend. Before Christmas, we had people using their card to buy gifts and for bigger ticket items, and post-Christmas they’re using the card for day to day essentials. However they spend it, they see the card as money in their pocket and if they have a small amount left on the card, they can use the balance and pay the remainder with another form of payment, so nothing is wasted.

“As a business, we get paid very quickly when people use their Grá Macroom Gift Card, unlike the old paper vouchers. The fact that there is no commission to accept the card as a business is a refreshing change from the national gift cards. With the Grá Macroom Gift Card, what you see is what you get. We also switched to the card for our own staff gifts at Christmas and it helped them to shop local and even try out new businesses.”

Cooney’s Garage in Coachford is one of the in-person locations to buy the card. Ronan Cooney said: “The cards are very popular and I think that’s down to the convenience of them. People come in especially to buy the Grá Macroom Gift Card, or they’ll remember they have an event coming up and will buy it while they’re at the till. It’s a positive that there is no fee to buy the card. Lots of people spend their cards with us on their day to day items, from diesel to pizza and a bottle of wine. 

“From €0 to €200,000 in sales in 5 months is brilliant and I imagine we’ll see even more organisations moving to their local gift card for rewards and incentives over the coming months. We use it for our own staff, as well as within the business as prizes and so on – it’s easy to use and people really like it.”

Killian Lynch, auctioneer and chairperson of the Macroom Business Association, said: “Macroom and its neighbouring villages have worked together to create this card for the benefit of our local businesses, giving organisations a local option for their rewards and incentives and consumers a gift card that supports local. €200,000 in sales of the Grá Macroom Gift Card in 5 months is a great achievement and we’ll be continuing to build on this throughout 2026 and beyond, so we can unlock the full potential of ‘shop local’ in Macroom.”

Miconex provides the technology for the Grá Macroom Gift Card as part of the wider Town & City Gift Cards network.

Colin Munro is the CEO of Miconex and said: “There are many benefits of the Grá Macroom Gift Card, including the fact that it has to be spent in person, driving real footfall and spent in Macroom and its neighbouring villages, with over 3,300 in-store transactions to date. And not only are people spending the value on their gift card, our research suggests that the majority of people spent over the value of the card and buy additional products and services at the same time.”

See more stories here.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, that operates a global delivery centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Under this engagement, TCS will serve as the Club’s Digital Transformation Partner, delivering advanced solutions across fan engagement, club operations and its broader digital ecosystem.

Tottenham Hotspur is one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent football institutions, with a substantial and loyal fan base across the globe. Their UEFA Europa League victory in the 2024–25 season underscores their ambition to compete at the highest levels while continuing to innovate beyond the pitch.

As part of this partnership, TCS will leverage its industry-leading capabilities in Salesforce and Cybersecurity to support Tottenham Hotspur’s digital operations. TCS will also enable advanced analytics and insights, while driving deeper Fan engagement, helping the Club harness data, modernise systems, and build a future-ready digital platform.

Ryan Norys, Chief Revenue Officer at Tottenham Hotspur said, “Our ongoing digital transformation at Spurs underpins our wider aims to deepen fan engagement and enhance user experiences across our growing range of digital touchpoints. We are delighted to be able to take a true industry leader in TCS on this exciting journey with us – their expertise in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects with some of the world’s biggest brands will be invaluable to us moving forward.”

“We are delighted to partner with Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a rich legacy and a strong global fan following. This collaboration brings together their ambition to enhance fan experiences with TCS’ capabilities in building secure, scalable digital platforms. By combining data, technology, and design, we aim to help the Club deepen engagement with fans, create more connected and intuitive digital experiences across touchpoints”, said Girish Ramachandran, President, TCS Growth Markets.

“Sport and entertainment are becoming some of the most compelling proving grounds for real-world technological impact, and Tottenham are well placed to lead that charge. As a Spurs fan of many decades, I have watched this club build one of the most technologically ambitious stadiums on the planet. What this partnership with TCS represents is the next step: moving from world-class infrastructure to a genuinely connected ecosystem where digital innovation touches fan experience, operations, and performance intelligence in a coherent way. Come on you Spurs.” said Phil Fersht, CEO and Founder of HFS Research

The partnership is a testament to TCS’ commitment to being a trusted innovation partner for leading businesses in the UK. With a 50-year presence, TCS works with over 200 of the nation’s top brands and recently committed to creating 5,000 new jobs across the UK in the next three years. The organisation holds a leadership position in software and IT services and has also been ranked the number one IT service provider for customer satisfaction in the UK in an independent survey of CIOs from the largest IT spending organisations in the country.

By David Stephen

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education [PASSHE], the Chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors, Dr. Cynthia Shapira and the PASSHE Chancellor, Dr. Christopher M. Fiorentino could immediately open an office for artificial general intelligence [AGI] research project, as an effort to capture some value in the humongous economy that AI has created.

No company has built AGI, but most companies with frontier models in AI have skyrocketing value, and the prospect that any company can contribute to, or have a lead, in a segment that could proximate AGI would pull an unprecedented value.

PASSHE should prioritize AGI, workforce growth research Lab

If PASSHE can underscore this, it will be a major case for progress from which the rest of the future can be built. Simply, assuming PASSHE supports a lab that spins off into a startup from one of the universities — that develops a solid architecture for something towards AGI — and the value of that startup hits a trillion [totally possible now], the brand value of PASSHE, given the excellent judgment call; then the stake can be used to fund tens of high-potential startups in the state, creating novel value, jobs, inducing production, exports and securing the future for the Commonwealth.

At no extra budget, PASSHE can immediately put together a team across universities, including computer scientists, mathematicians and neuroscientists. The goal is to dedicate some of their time say, 4 – 6 hours a week, towards designing prospective models for AGI — brain, math, and algorithmic.

Whatever team has something promising can spinoff into a startup and work can take off from there. The ambition is the only cost. Most of the already existing facilities can be used. The goal will be to get there ahead of others, make it safe, make it beneficial to society as well as to get PA some exponential economic value.

This effort can begin as soon as June 29, 2026. It is both urgent, necessary, feasible and future inclined. There is also nothing, per securing tomorrow than going in this line for PASSHE, given how AI is likely to hold the future.

In making the decision, optimism, diligence and exploration would lead. It is possible that some detractors may argue that if the AI corporations are already trying, what is PASSHE to do?

The possibility is to begin with memory. Say a new memory architecture that AGI can be developed. Humans use generalized memory. Humans do not store an individual memory of everything. For example, a blue door, a small door, a big door, an unpainted door and so forth.

Door is stored as a collection. It is this collection that is used to make immediate interpretations for sensory inputs as well as useful for intelligence. Assuming all doors are stored separately, it is possible to have moments to see some doors and not know. And could be so for other things.

Meanwhile, digital stores individual memory of everything. While the deep learning architecture, transformer, is great for prediction, it will be difficult to have generalized artificial intelligence just based on individual digital memory. Simply, a lack of progress in AI, is also linked with how memory is stored. If that is solved, AGI might be closer.

So, the first project for PASSHE AGI research is to work on a generalized memory for digital systems, using math, hardware designs and software as well. The initial concept could be ready by December, 2026.

This innovation could predicate major digital developments for the future. Once PASSHE powers it, the value it will hold will compound through the century.

There are other angles as well, but the goal is to do something, in an important way, in a direction to soar advantage for Pennsylvania.

Other paths exist along the line, but once the project is announced, lots of efforts will go in, division of labor, as well as vision for some near-term results, while medium-and long-term efforts continue.

This theoretical brain science model is based in the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.

Small Business Workforce Growth Research Lab

PASSHE would need to set up small business workforce growth research labs across schools and communities. The objective is growth preparedness, such that what can be helpful to businesses to grow, hire more people and expand is available in a sophisticated way.

This is beyond regular small business tips or support. This is small business growth concerns amid the rise of artificial intelligence. It is basically what to do, with the assumption that a small business owner is competing against AI.

The labs will quickly explore chances for some small businesses as champions, where they have a great market fit, competitive advantage and a solid value proposition. They can be coached for growth-type of the era.

For example, when some manufacturing jobs were lost to offshoring and automation, there was no tactical small business workforce growth research lab to prepare the businesses in several counties for the future or for ways to absorb people or have people adapt. The goal here is to do so as AI rises.

Also, in-state companies can support the objectives, with tailored products and services, to enable small businesses.

For example, there can be labor capital, where loans are used to pay wages directly. This means that instead of giving loans in bulk to the business owner, the loan is used to pay wages directly to workers at the end of an interval.

Simply, there are some special workers a small business might need but not be able to pay. It could be IT, sales, marketing and so on, just to boost advantage over an interval. This type of loan may help, which can be for at most 3 months, and be paid back [say] after 4 months.

There can also be tiered hiring, where multiple people are hired on the same role, but on different tiers, working for capped hours and paid differently. This may ease labor costs, and also provide certain needed skills without full hiring. There are other possibilities that include using large language models [LLMs] to find new market places and so forth.

PASSHE has opportunities with artificial general intelligence and small business workforce growth research lab. The gains are broad, it will depend on the haste of PASSHE to pursue the future for the possibility of these, this June.

There is a recent [June 2, 2026] story on PennLive, Pennsylvania’s economy is among the worst in the U.S., report says, stating that, “A new report has delved into the health of each state’s economy. Pennsylvania, unfortunately, didn’t do so hot.”

“Conducted and published by WalletHub, the report ranked the Keystone State’s economy as the 22nd worst overall in the United States.”

“Researchers at the website determined rankings after analyzing each state plus Washington D.C. across three main categories: “Economic Activity,” “Economic Health,” and “Innovation Potential.” Relevant sub-metrics including “State Gross Public Debt as Percent of GDP” and “Change in Total Civilian Labor Force” were also factored in.”

David Stephen does research in conceptual brain science and served as a visiting scholar in medical entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He did computer vision research at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona.

See more breaking stories here.

A team of Irish founders has committed €8 million to Nvidia Blackwell GPUs, including the latest B300 chips, to launch TensorX, a sovereign AI inference platform designed for Europe’s AI builders, trusted by regulated industries and already generating revenue from paying customers. The company was founded by Shane Morton, is part of the NVIDIA Inception program and is partnering with Dell on sourcing GPU hardware.

At a time when enterprises are racing to adopt artificial intelligence but most remain unwilling to let their data leave European jurisdiction, TensorX offers high-performance inference with zero data retention, running entirely on dedicated hardware in Dublin and Helsinki. TensorX is also in advanced talks around a financing facility to further expand its European footprint, with GPU capacity planned for Ireland, the UK, Germany, France and the Nordics.

The company is already generating revenue across three customer cohorts: large regulated enterprises in finance, healthcare and law that require long-term sovereign infrastructure contracts; partnership channels such as OpenRouter that route developer demand onto sovereign GPU compute; and small-to-medium enterprises building their own AI products on top of TensorX, including APEX:E3, TradeLocker and Cor Prime. Recent weeks have seen considerable growth driven by organic inbound from Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, ahead of the EU AI Act, which will intensify compliance requirements for AI systems across regulated sectors.

AI inference, the real-time computing that powers every chatbot, coding assistant and AI agent, is becoming one of the most valuable parts of the AI stack. But for European enterprises, it comes with a growing risk: sensitive data leaving their control. For companies in finance, healthcare and law, that can mean proprietary data being retained or reused by third-party providers, in direct conflict with GDPR and the EU AI Act. TensorX addresses this by running open-source models on dedicated Nvidia GPUs with zero data retention. Nothing is stored, logged or reused, giving enterprises full control over where their data lives and how it’s used.

The US CLOUD Act lets American authorities compel any US-headquartered cloud provider, including AWS, Microsoft and Google, to hand over customer data regardless of where it physically lives, often under gag orders that prevent the European customer from ever being told.

“European companies don’t want to make a political statement about their AI stack. They want to make a practical one,” said Tim Grant, Executive Chairman of TensorX. “Their data has to stay in Europe, on infrastructure they can trust, under laws they are required to comply with. This is what TensorX was built from, from the chips up. We’re excited to grow this team to power our ambitions to scale rapidly.”

“TensorX turbo-charged the output of our development team and enabled us to deploy our own AI coding assistant,” said Usman Khan, founder of APEX:E3, a London-based capital markets software company. “TensorX is simply the only platform we trust with our most sensitive data which we manage on behalf of regulated institutional financial services companies.”

TensorX was born from a practical problem. Shane Morton built and sold financial trading software before acquiring ICT Services, one of Ireland’s leading data centre infrastructure companies. Through his portfolio of fintech companies, Morton kept hearing the same thing: they wanted to adopt AI but needed certainty that their data would stay within European jurisdiction. Morton has committed €4 million to the latest Nvidia hardware, with €2 million already delivered and a further €2 million on order, leveraging ICT’s long-standing procurement networks to secure allocation on chips in short supply globally.

“Demand for sovereign AI infrastructure is outpacing supply across Europe,” said Shane Morton, founder of Darius Cubed Ventures. “We’re seeing it directly from enterprises in Germany, France, the Netherlands and the Nordics. Our €8m investment is the opening move. There is a far bigger buildout to come, and the infrastructure partnerships we have in Ireland mean we can move at the speed this market demands.”

Demand for sovereign AI infrastructure is accelerating. According to Accenture, 62% of European organisations are now seeking sovereign AI solutions, rising to 76% in banking. Gartner forecasts that by 2030, 75% of European enterprises will move AI workloads to local providers. European AI spending is projected to reach $144.6 billion by 2028 (IDC). This shift is already playing out at company level.

See more stories here.

Robotics and AI comes in many shapes and sizes revolutionising many different sectors. One of these sectors being revolutionised is the commercial cleaning industry, using autonomous cleaning, robotics, and innovation creating efficiency. To find out more about this I spoke to Shane O’Flaherty from CleaningMachines.ie

Shane talks about his background, what CleaningMachines.ie does, robots, AI and more.

More about CleaningMachines.ie:

CleaningMachines.ie have been supplying and servicing the cleaning industry for decades. In that time, they have built up a wealth of knowledge and earned ourselves a skilled and committed team.

At CleaningMachines.ie, they don’t just sell cleaning equipment, they live and breathe it. Behind every scrubber dryer, industrial vacuum, or ride-on sweeper we offer, there’s a story of family, grit, and generations of hands-on experience.

See more podcasts here.

Expleo, the global technology and consulting service provider, has announced the results of its AI Pulse sentiment tracker for Ireland. The May data reveals that while concern regarding AI’s impact on a business level has hit a record high, confidence in AI continues to hold firm.

The research found that almost half (48%) of Irish business leaders worry about how AI is transforming their organisation. At the same time, Expleo’s AI Pulse barometer recorded an overall score of 66 out of 100 – its strongest performance since the research launched in Ireland last February.

This confidence is reflected across the broader survey findings with almost three quarters of Irish business leaders (73%) now trusting their organisation to use AI ethically. This marks a notable shift from previous months in which Ireland lagged behind its European neighbours and puts Ireland on par with France and ahead of the UK.

In addition, almost two-thirds (64%) now perceive AI to be more of a benefit than a risk, a 10% increase since the research began. When asked whether their organisation could demonstrate accountable governance in the event of an AI incident, 69% said they were confident it could.

Despite this surge in confidence, concerns regarding transformation are still rising. While 41% are worried about how AI will impact their job, up 5% since last month, cybersecurity concerns also remain elevated. Over half (59%) have expressed worry about the risks AI poses to their organisations.

Commenting on the results, Phil Codd, Managing Director – Ireland, Expleo, said: “While the results may seem contradictory, the truth is that worry and confidence are not mutually exclusive. The fact that concern is rising alongside trust and optimism suggests that leaders are engaging seriously with AI rather than shying away from it. At Expleo, what we’re seeing on the ground reflects this: excitement, but also a real desire for expertise, consultancy and guidance on governance and successful implementation.”

See more stories here.

Analysis by Iaroslav Belkin, founder of Belkin Marketing, who looks at the challenges of running companies these days. Sources: Microsoft Work Trend Index 2026, Accenture 2026 enterprise AI data, ManpowerGroup 202,6 Global Talent Barometer, HBR/BetterUp Labs/Stanford workslop research, Faros AI Productivity Paradox Report 2025, Product Talk context rot analysis, Markswebb hybrid UI research 2026.

Here is the thought experiment. You hire the most capable consultant you have ever worked with. Reads everything. Thinks fast. Excellent synthesis. The catch: complete amnesia every time they leave the room. Every morning, you re-explain the company, the decisions already made, the things you tried that did not work. Every document you built together vanishes when you close the window.

Running Companies on Chat Windows

That is the state of AI in most organisations in 2026.

Only 32% of organisations have achieved sustained, enterprise-wide AI impact despite 86% of C-suite leaders increasing AI investment, per Accenture’s 2026 enterprise data. The gap between “we use AI” and “AI is making our business measurably better” is the largest it has ever been. In theory, every organisation is now “AI-first.” In practice, its memory of the organisation is a markdown file someone pastes into a chat window and hopes is still current.

The dominant AI interface — the chat window — was designed for a single user having a single conversation at a single moment in time. It was not designed for teams, persistent institutional knowledge, audit trails, or scale. We took the most powerful cognitive tool in human history and gave it the interface of a 2009 messenger application.

The failure modes are structural, not accidental.

Product Talk’s February 2026 analysis of context rot documents that AI systems do not merely lose context between sessions — they degrade within sessions as conversations grow longer, favouring tokens at the beginning and end of input while ignoring the middle. The longer the conversation, the worse the model’s attention to the context you painstakingly accumulated. Users learn to start fresh constantly, which means losing everything built in the previous session.

The workaround that has emerged: the markdown file. A growing document containing everything the AI needs to know about your company, pasted at the top of every new conversation. It works until it contains contradictions nobody noticed, outdated decisions sitting next to current priorities, and no version history a non-technical person can operate. A markdown file is not a knowledge management system. It is the absence of one.

HBR published research in September 2025 on what BetterUp Labs and Stanford called “workslop” — AI-generated output that looks complete but requires significant rework, averaging nearly two hours of rework per instance across 41% of workers surveyed. The reason it spreads: there is no record of how the output was produced. Recipients cannot assess whether it came from a thoughtful process or from someone who typed “write me a report” and sent back the first result.

ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Global Talent Barometer, across 14,000 workers in 19 countries, found regular AI use increased 13% in 2025 while confidence in the technology’s utility fell 18%. People are using it more. They trust it less. Individual wins are not compounding into organisational capability — because the interface was never built for organisational use.

On 14 June 2026, Satya Nadella named the strategic stakes in language a board understands. The model you choose is not your competitive advantage. What compounds instead is the learning loop — your workflows, institutional knowledge, and accumulated judgement, captured as traces that make your AI measurably better over time. He called it “the new IP of the firm.” Own that loop and you can swap the underlying model without losing the expertise built on top of it. Fail to, and the value of everything your people know flows to whoever owns the model.

Big tech has noticed. Four days after Nadella spoke, Perplexity launched Brain, a memory system that builds a living context graph of a user’s work and improves overnight, explicitly designed to remember what worked and what failed rather than just preferences. It is the clearest signal yet that the platforms understand exactly where the value sits. But the fundamental problem survives the upgrade. That memory still lives in their cloud, tied to their model. Your knowledge becomes portable everywhere except out — locked in someone else’s infrastructure, locked to a single AI. Open, model-agnostic standards are starting to change that: engrams, for example, store what your AI learns as a portable, inspectable format that lives with you rather than the vendor, and travels across models. The question is no longer whether AI should remember. It is who owns the memory.

“Every conversation with a chatbot is your knowledge leaving the building and landing in someone else’s cloud, one chat at a time. The model gets smarter. You don’t. And a privacy policy won’t save you because policies change overnight. Architecture doesn’t. The only real moat is intelligence you own: memory that lives where you do, that no vendor can read, revoke, or hold hostage. Own your intelligence, or rent it forever.” (Gregor Žavcer, Swarm Foundation, Plur)

Now look at the failure modes through that lens. Every one is a hole in the learning loop. The amnesiac interface throws away the trace before it can compound. The markdown file is a learning loop maintained by hand, badly. Copy-paste-and-pray leaves no trace to learn from. Fragmented memory across tools means the loop never compounds.

The chat window is not merely inconvenient UX. It is how organisations are prevented from accumulating the one asset that becomes a moat.

Two years into the most consequential technology shift of our careers, most organisations have no learning loop to show for it. The revolution was real. The interface was not built for it.

Iaros Belkin is a founder of Belkin Marketing, a boutique agency serving as Strategic Advisor to Deep Tech, Web3 and AI Founders. Two decades of experience navigating high-stakes global markets and orchestrating everything from grants and key partnerships to VVIP events elevated experience.

See more breaking stories here.

Enoda, a new healthtech start-up, has today announced the launch of a novel platform to deliver real-world mobility data to global pharmaceutical, medtech and clinical research partners. The data will enable them to gain unprecedented insight into how their therapies impact patient mobility in everyday life.

For millions of patients with conditions like Parkinson’s, MS, and COPD, mobility is a vital aspect of health. However, drug development has historically been slowed by the lack of measurement tools that can assess mobility accurately in real-world settings.

Real-World Mobility Data to Enhance Clinical Trials

Enoda’s novel platform, designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern clinical trials, is addressing this critical gap, empowering researchers and pharmaceutical companies with clinically meaningful, high-fidelity data to enhance patient insight and therapeutic development.

Enoda recently spun-out of University College Dublin (UCD) and Newcastle University jointly with the support of NovaUCD and Newcastle Innovations and is an Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) company.

The company has emerged from research led by Professor Lynn Rochester, Translational and Clinical Research Institute and colleagues at Newcastle University and by Professor Brian Caulfield, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science and colleagues at UCD, as part of Mobilise-D.

Mobilise-D, a 5-year €50 million pan-European project which concluded in 2024, was funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) with the focus of transforming how mobility loss is measured in people with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s, MS, and COPD.

The technology has been robustly validated in a technical validation study with c.100 participants across 6 cohorts and a clinical validation study with 2,366 participants across four disease cohorts, as part of Mobilise-D.

“The launch of Enoda as an independent spin-out from UCD and Newcastle University marks a pivotal moment for clinical research and will realise the many benefits real-world mobility data can bring to drug development,” said, Michael McMahon, CEO, Enoda.

“By transforming the groundbreaking €50 million Mobilise-D research into a fully realised, customer-ready Electronic Data Capture platform, we are giving pharma and medtech companies the tools they need to capture accurate and meaningful mobility data.”

“For years, the assessment of mobility in chronic conditions was limited by subjective or insensitive clinical tests,” said, Professor Lynn Rochester, Newcastle University and a co-founder of Enoda.

“Seeing the scientific breakthroughs of the Mobilise-D consortium evolve into a robust, accessible commercial platform through Enoda ensures that our research will have a direct, lasting impact on global drug development and, ultimately, patient care.”

Professor Brian Caulfield, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science and a co-founder of Enoda, said, “Translating the complex, validated data pipelines developed during the €50 million Mobilise-D project into a scalable commercial architecture was a critical hurdle in modernizing clinical trials. Through Enoda, we have established a secure Electronic Data Capture platform that allows pharmaceutical and clinical research partners to integrate validated digital mobility outcomes directly into their workflows, ensuring absolute confidence in data integrity and patient monitoring.”

McMahon added, “We are incredibly grateful to NovaUCD and Newcastle Innovations for the supported received and for the backing of Enterprise Ireland as an HPSU which significantly accelerates our mission to deploy this vital technology to the global market.”

Enoda is currently based at the Cobh Enterprise Centre in Co. Cork.

Enoda delivers clarity through data by measuring what matters in mobility. Born from the landmark €50 million Mobilise-D consortium, Enoda provides an end-to-end platform that generates regulatory-grade, real-world mobility data to accelerate clinical trials and unlock the future of remote clinical care. By replacing outdated measurement tools with 24 sensitive, validated Digital Mobility Outcomes (DMOs), Enoda empowers researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and clinicians to confidently measure disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

The Enoda platform provides a seamless bridge from the lab to real-world settings by integrating high-fidelity wearable sensors, such as the Axivity Ax6, capable of continuous data capture for up to seven days. This hardware is paired with a secure Electronic Data Capture (EDC) system that handles a rich set of patient and clinician inputs, including eCOA and eCRF data, before the data is seamlessly processed and cleaned using a state-of-the-art, validated Mobilise-D algorithm pipeline to produce a comprehensive suite of actionable mobility performance metrics. https://enoda-health.com/

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Solar is now the third highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity to the national grid

Solar is now a key pillar of our electricity supply, from rooftop installations to utility-scale solar farms

Just over 10 years ago there were 2 MW (Mega Watts) of solar in Ireland. Now there are over 2.5 GW (Giga Watts)

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O’Brien today highlighted the continued, remarkable growth being made in the deployment of solar energy across Ireland, and its contribution to a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future for generations to come.

Speaking following today’s Solar Ireland conference in Dublin, the Minister said that Ireland is seeing the benefits of sustained action to accelerate renewable electricity generation. Solar deployment is expanding at pace, alongside significant progress in wind energy.

Positive progress on renewables, Solar Ireland

Solar Ireland also published its ‘Scale of Solar’ report today, which underlines the solar sector’s growing role in strengthening energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and attracting investment across the country.

Commenting, Minister O’Brien said:

“Ireland is making remarkable progress in our renewable electricity acceleration. Across the country we are seeing renewable projects being delivered at scale, and communities participating in our energy transition. A rooftop revolution is underway, as households take up Government grant supports to install rooftop solar.

“We currently have over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network. To put that into perspective, we have added approximately 5 GW of new renewable electricity generation capacity in just ten years. That includes a doubling of our wind energy capacity, along with establishing a strong solar energy supply. Just over 10 years ago there were 2 MW (Mega Watts) of solar in Ireland. Now there are over 2.5 GW (Giga Watts).

“The ‘Scale of Solar’ report – published by Solar Ireland today – reflects how solar energy is now firmly established as a key pillar of our electricity supply, from rooftop installations to utility-scale solar farms. In a few short years solar has gone from a near zero contributor to become a major component of our electricity supply and is now the third highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity to the electricity grid.

“By reducing demand on the grid during daylight hours, solar energy helps to alleviate demands from other energy sources at key times – this supports a more resilient energy system. Evidence shows that both rooftop and utility-scale solar generation are increasingly displacing gas generation during midday periods, particularly at this time of year when solar is at its strongest. This will ultimately help to lower electricity costs for households and businesses.”

The Government has introduced a range of measures to support solar deployment, including the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS), and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). These schemes are helping households, businesses, farms, and communities to participate in Ireland’s renewable electricity transition.

The Minister added:

“The successful solar growth in Ireland has been underpinned by clear Government policy and targeted support schemes and measures. Through initiatives such as the solar PV grant, and our various renewable electricity support schemes, solar deployment is supported at every scale. We are committed to funding the Solar PV grant for the lifetime of this Government, up until 2030.

“The increasing affordability challenges – arising out of recent global events – underline the importance of continuing and accelerating the energy transition. Every megawatt of renewable electricity added to our system helps reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels; this will stabilise prices in the long term and ensure a secure and affordable supply of indigenously produced electricity for Irish households and businesses.

“A diversified renewable electricity mix helps ensure a more stable and reliable electricity supply. Wind and solar complement each other by generating electricity at different times, under different weather conditions.”

The next onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction, RESS 6, is due to commence later this year. It is expected to see strong competition and downward pressure on prices.

Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland’s flagship support scheme for grid-scale renewable electricity generators and has been a key driver of Ireland’s renewables success story so far.

RESS has been instrumental in providing a supportive policy environment for Ireland’s growing renewables sector since the first auction in 2020. The scheme aligns closely with the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce through the range of consumer protection measures included in the auction design, including the two-way contract for difference mechanism, as well as by being the primary means of delivering the long-term energy transition and associated benefits for consumers.

Five onshore RESS auctions have been held to date, with the sixth onshore auction due to commence later this year.

Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS):

The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) offers two different options for renewable electricity projects.

The first option is for SRESS grants that are available for renewable self-consumers above 50 kW and up to 1 MW through SEAI’s Non-Domestic Microgen Grant. This grant is for those who want to install solar panels to power their own business, community building or farm. They use the electricity generated and any excess electricity produced can be stored in a battery or sold back to their electricity supplier through the Clean Export Guarantee.

The second option, the SRESS export phase, is designed for business, community, and farmer export only projects above 50 kW to up to 6 MW. SRESS offers a simpler route to market for those groups, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind, without performance bonds or auctions, aligning more closely to the capacity of those sectors. All export projects up to 1 MW can also apply for what is termed the SRESS export tariff and need not be a SME or farmer owned project.

Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS):

The Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides support to domestic and non-domestic applicants for renewable installations through grants provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

These applicants are also eligible to avail of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff, allowing them to receive payment from their electricity supplier for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value of the electricity. The Department is aware of CEG tariffs ranging from 15c/kWh up to 25c/kWh.

Since 2018, the MSS has supported the installation of Solar PV for over 115,000 homes.

Domestic Solar PV grant:

The first phase of the MSS saw the introduction of the Domestic Solar PV grant on 16 February 2022. Domestic applicants can apply to the SEAI for a grant towards the cost of installing solar PV panels.

Further information on the Domestic Solar PV grant is available at: Solar Electricity PV Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI.

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Four Irish founders are heading to Silicon Valley after being accepted into Y Combinator’s Summer 2026 batch, one of the world’s most influential startup programmes as they build companies in AI-powered financial technology and advanced manufacturing.

Founded by Ryan Morrissey and Bence Redmond, Blueprints lets users express a plain-English conviction about the world and turn it into an automated strategy for trading on prediction markets using AI. The company has secured places in both Y Combinator and NDRC and has processed more than $500,000 in trading volume from over 250 users since entering public beta.

Blueprints traces its origins to Ryan’s internship at Stripe in San Francisco, where exposure to global financial infrastructure and emerging technologies sparked an interest in building products for financial markets. Back in Ireland, he brought Bence on board and the two built the first version of Blueprints while enrolled in the Immersive Software Engineering programme at the University of Limerick. They registered the company in January 2025 before leaving the programme to pursue it full-time.

“Prediction markets reward genuine knowledge. If you have a deep understanding of something, whether that’s geopolitics, sport, or a particular industry, you can put that insight to work in a way that simply isn’t possible anywhere else. We built Blueprints so that people can actually act on what they know.” said Ryan Morrissey, Co-Founder, Blueprints

ProvenMetal builds benchtop X-ray systems that use AI to analyse circuit boards, helping identify faults before electronics are deployed in critical applications such as aerospace, medical devices and defence systems. The founders believe the technology could help strengthen domestic electronics manufacturing by making quality assurance faster and more reliable.

Co-founders Johnny Doyle and Will Carkner were previously building Syncra, a building-management IoT company, but knew its scale was limited. When they applied to Y Combinator, the feedback was blunt: a strong team, but an idea that was not ambitious enough. They had already been weighing a pivot and decided to commit fully to a new thesis in electronics manufacturing, flying to San Francisco to demonstrate their conviction at the first interview.

That interview earned them a second chance. YC invited them back two weeks later for an in-person round, asking for customer validation and an early prototype. They landed a week early, held more than 30 conversations with manufacturers and industry experts, secured five letters of intent, and built a software prototype. They secured a place in the Summer 2026 batch with an entirely new company.

“We were aware that our original idea had a ceiling and had been considering making a pivot. When YC said the same, we decided to make that jump with 100% conviction in the thesis. We booked our flights an hour before the first interview, and as soon as we landed we jammed our calendar full with prospective customers and industry experts. We both want to solve globally critical problems. ProvenMetal is how we are going to do it.” said Johnny Doyle, Co-Founder & CEO, ProvenMetal

The founders of both Blueprints and ProvenMetal are alumni of Patch, the OpenAI- and Stripe-backed community for exceptional young technologists, scientists and entrepreneurs based at Dogpatch Labs.

Both companies will spend the next three months in San Francisco as part of Y Combinator’s Summer 2026 programme before presenting to investors at Demo Day in September. Widely regarded as the world’s most influential startup accelerator, Y Combinator’s alumni include Stripe, Airbnb, Reddit, Coinbase and Dropbox.

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Hasan Saleem is the founder of DSS Media in Dublin. He writes on technology and business for Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, and Benzinga. More of his work sits at hasansaleem.com. Who looks at Optimise for AI Answers.

Almost six in ten Google searches now end without a single click. Similarweb’s 2025 Zero Click Study puts the figure at 58.5% in the United States and 59.7% across the EU. Your customer reads the answer on the results page and moves on.

Optimise your work for AI Answers

AI Overviews caused this. BrightEdge measured them on 48% of all searches by February 2026, up 58% in a single year. Google answers the question before anyone reaches your website.

Some sectors already live in this future. BrightEdge clocked AI Overviews on 83% of searches in education, where buyers research before they ever pick up the phone. If you sell into a research heavy category, assume your prospects read the machine’s summary instead of your homepage.

The damage shows in the click data. Seer Interactive analysed 25 million impressions and found organic click through rate dropping from 1.62% to 0.61% once an AI Overview appears. Same ranking position, 61% fewer clicks.

Ranking first stopped being the prize. Getting named inside the answer is the prize now. SparkToro found that brands cited within an AI Overview earn 35% more organic clicks than the brands left out of it.

The same research recorded a 91% lift in paid click through rate for cited brands. A mention inside the answer lifts your ads as well as your links. One citation pays you twice.

I rebuilt DirJournal, a web directory I have run since 2007, around this single idea. I wrote up that rebuild for Entrepreneur.

Clean structured data beats clever copywriting when a model decides who to quote. Pages that win carry proper schema markup and plain facts a machine can lift without guessing, attributed to a named author.

Write for the question, not the keyword. Put your answer in the first two sentences, then back it with specifics a reader cannot get anywhere else. Vague pages get skipped by Google and by the models reading on its behalf.

Most Irish businesses still judge success by counting sessions in Google Analytics. That number now hides more than half of what is actually happening. When 58% of searches never reach your site, a traffic count measures the wrong thing entirely.

The shift runs past Google too. ChatGPT processes roughly 3 billion prompts every month, and each prompt carries a question you want your business to answer. People ask the machine for a name and act on whatever it returns.

Test your own position right now. Ask ChatGPT and Gemini to recommend a company in your category. If your name never appears, you are invisible to the fastest growing way your customers make decisions.

The fix is not more blog posts. The fix is structure that machines trust. Mark up your pages and give every claim a source a model can verify.

Google still holds close to 89% of search, so none of this means walking away from it. It means feeding the answer engine that now sits on top of it. The companies winning citations today are writing the references that every model will quote tomorrow.

Search itself keeps growing while the clicks dry up. Google handled between 9.1 and 13.6 billion searches a day in 2025, more than the year before. Demand for answers rose, and the traffic those answers used to send you fell at the same time.

Pew Research found that users shown an AI Overview are half as likely to click any link at all. That window narrows every quarter.

Hasan Saleem is the founder of DSS Media in Dublin. He writes on technology and business for Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, and Benzinga. More of his work sits at hasansaleem.com.

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UGREEN’s Prime Day lineup covers a wide range of everyday tech essentials, from fast charging and portable power to smart tracking, productivity accessories, and entertainment devices. The following products will be available with exclusive Prime Day discounts on Amazon.

UGREEN Prime Day Product List

UGREEN 20000mAh 45W Power Bank
A high-capacity portable power bank featuring 20,000mAh battery capacity and 45W fast charging. Designed to keep smartphones, tablets, handheld gaming devices, and even select laptops powered throughout travel, commuting, and busy workdays.

UGREEN Mac Mini M4 Dock
An all-in-one docking station specifically designed for the latest Mac Mini M4. It expands connectivity with additional USB ports, storage expansion capabilities, and high-speed data transfer, helping users maximize productivity while maintaining a clean desktop setup.

UGREEN Nexode 100W 4-Port USB-C Charger
A compact GaN charger delivering up to 100W output across four ports. Capable of charging laptops, tablets, smartphones, and accessories simultaneously, making it an ideal charging solution for professionals and multi-device users.

UGREEN Zapix 15W Qi2 Certified Wireless Charger Pad
A Qi2-certified wireless charging pad that delivers fast, efficient, and magnetic charging for compatible devices. Its slim and minimalist design makes it perfect for desks, bedside tables, and everyday charging needs.

UGREEN FineTrack for iOS (4 Pack)
A set of four Bluetooth item trackers designed to work seamlessly with Apple’s Find My network. Users can easily locate keys, bags, luggage, and other valuables, offering peace of mind both at home and while travelling.

UGREEN FineTrack Slim Wallet Tracker for iOS
An ultra-thin wallet tracker built for Apple Find My integration. Designed to fit discreetly into wallets, card holders, and passport holders, helping users keep track of essential everyday items.

UGREEN 100W 5-in-1 Charger with Smart Display
A powerful desktop charging station featuring five charging ports and a built-in smart display that provides real-time charging information. Delivers up to 100W output while helping users monitor power distribution across connected devices.

UGREEN HiTune Max5c Wireless Headphones
Wireless over-ear headphones featuring hybrid active noise cancellation, long battery life, and immersive audio performance. Designed for commuting, travel, entertainment, and everyday listening.

UGREEN Webcam Lite Full HD 1080P/30fps
A Full HD webcam with built-in microphone, delivering clear video quality for video conferencing, online learning, live streaming, and remote working environments.

UGREEN HDMI Switch 3 In 1 Out 4K@60Hz
A convenient HDMI switch that allows users to connect up to three HDMI devices to a single display. Supports 4K resolution at 60Hz, making it ideal for gaming consoles, streaming devices, and home entertainment setups.

• Flip phones and text message character limits are widely remembered – one in three (33%) people aged 40 plus cited flip phones as their memory of early mobile use, with others reflecting on the evolution of text from the 160-character limits on SMS (29%) to the ‘Please call me’ feature for when they ran out of credit (23%).
• Sizable changes in consumer behaviour – 46% of 40–49-year-olds are using voice notes more often than a few years ago, followed by 24% of 50-64-year-olds and 14% of people aged 65+.
• The research also reveals that just over a quarter (26%) 40+ year olds spend 15-29 minutes on phone calls each day, while 42% spend less than 15 minutes on calls. Almost 60% of people make video calls more often now compared to a few years ago.
• While mobile use is so central to our lives, the need for in-person connection remains strongest. Among those aged 40 or over, meeting face-to-face ranks among the top three ways of staying connected with family and friends (77%), followed by phone calls (60%), text messaging (51%), and video calls (31%).

25-Year Campaign Launch

Value

Linked Finance, Ireland’s leading non-bank SME lender, has passed €400 million in cumulative lending to small and medium-sized businesses since its launch in 2013, and has now backed more than 5,000 Irish SMEs.

The twin milestones cap the company’s strongest start to a year in 13 years, with lending so far in 2026 running roughly 65% ahead of the same period in 2025. The businesses Linked Finance has funded are estimated to have supported 50,000 jobs.

Over 13 years, some of the well-known Irish businesses Linked Finance has supported include VitHit, Cornucopia, Chopped, SchoolBooks.ie, Cloud Picker Coffee and Leo Burdock.

The milestone comes as Irish businesses navigate an uncertain economic environment marked by persistent inflationary pressures, geopolitical instability and global trade uncertainty.

Despite these economic headwinds, the lender has seen a rebound in confidence among Irish SMEs. The strong demand for finance suggests more Irish businesses are moving ahead with investment and expansion plans, even as policymakers warn of slower growth.

Demand rebuilding strongly in 2026

Application activity is holding up well, and lending volumes are running ahead of 2025, as businesses move from planning to investing, according to the lender.

The average loan has grown almost six-fold since launch, from around €18,000 in 2013 to approximately €125,000 today, reflecting the scale of ambition among Irish SMEs and their growing confidence in non-bank finance.

A broadening base of Irish business

Once concentrated in construction and manufacturing, Linked Finance’s lending is now markedly more broad-based. Alongside established demand from retail, professional services and hospitality, the company is seeing strong growth in newer categories – from gyms, data centres and wellness to childcare – a shift that mirrors the changing shape of the domestic economy. Lending also reaches well beyond the capital: almost two-thirds of borrowers are based outside Dublin, spanning every region of the country.

Customer loyalty has become a defining feature of the business, with roughly half of new lending now going to returning borrowers.

“Passing €400 million in lending and backing more than 5,000 Irish businesses are milestones we are enormously proud of. When we started in 2013, the average loan was around €18,000; today it is approximately €125,000, which tells you how much more ambitious Irish SMEs have become and how willing they are to invest in their own growth. With so many banks having stepped back from the Irish market over the past decade, Linked Finance is better placed than ever to back great Irish businesses.” commented Niall O’Grady, CEO of Linked Finance.

“What encourages us most is the momentum we are seeing in 2026 after a weak 2025 . Lending is running well ahead of where we were this time last year, applications are strong, and we are funding businesses in sectors that barely featured on our books a few years ago, from wellness to childcare. We now approve most loans within 24 hours, providing Irish SMEs with the speed, flexibility and certainty they need to invest and grow. That remains our focus as we continue backing ambitious businesses across Ireland.” added O’Grady.

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The All England Lawn Tennis Club and IBM has announced new and enhanced digital fan features coming to The Championships, Wimbledon in 2026. The watsonx AI-powered capabilities are available on the Wimbledon app and wimbledon.com, which have been fully modernised and redesigned to provide a seamless and personalised experience to millions of global tennis fans during the championships. Pairing fan-facing innovation with operational transformation, IBM and theAll England Club are creating a digital foundation to deeply engage the next generation of tennis fans.

New AI Features Bring the Match to Life for Global Fans

The all-new Key Moments tool builds on the popular live Likelihood to Win feature, which continuously calculates each player’s probability of victory based on a comprehensive, AI-powered analysis of current and historical statistics, expert opinion and match momentum.Key Moments provides additional, richer information, explaining which plays influence the direction of a match and why. Available for each gentlemen’s and ladies’ singles match, Key Moments complements theLikelihood to Win probability model, offering greater clarity on the AI reasoning and helping fans better understand the momentum swings that define each contest.

Available for each gentlemen’s and ladies’ singles match, Key Moments complements theLikelihood to Win probability model, offering greater clarity on the AI reasoning and helpingfans better understand the momentum swings that define each contest.

The enhanced Match Chat is an AI assistant that acts as an interactive companion for fans during a match. Rather than searching through statistics or navigating multiple screens ,fans can use natural language and free text prompts to ask a question, such as: “What has happened in the match so far?”

Match Chat provides instant, conversational style responses – with some replies now including relevant photos and video for added context – sourced from an expanded set of live match data, analysis and historical performance information. Built on watsonx Orchestrate, Match Chat leverages a collection of AI agents and fit-for-purpose models, trained on Wimbledon’s editorial style and the language of tennis.

A New Digital Platform, Built with IBM Bob

These fan-facing innovations are powered by a comprehensive modernisation ofWimbledon’s digital platforms. Informed by data analysis and research into how the range of fans, players, broadcasters, media and more engage with Wimbledon’s digital ecosystem, the outcome is a redesigned experience which utilises improved data architecture, and which provides more streamlined us er journeys and tailored experiences for audiences.

Among the most significant outcomes was the extraction of Wimbledon’s content archive toa new architecture, including more than 15,000 digital assets such as articles, videos, photographs, and the metadata relationships connecting them.

IBM Bob, an AI-powered development accelerator, was used to build a knowledge graph mapping content relationships and develop AI-driven workflows that translated the entire structure into the new platform. As a result, a mapping project that could traditionally require a team of four to five IBM specialists working for months was completed by a single engineer within 4 weeks, with the targeted 15,000 assets extracted in just 47 minutes.

“It’s our priority every year to remain at the pinnacle of sport and deliver the best possible guest experience of The Championships – both to those walking through the gates of Wimbledon and the hundreds of millions following the action digitally around the world,”added Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing and Commercial Director at the All England Club.“Our technology partnership with IBM enables us to do just that, delivering meaningful experiences which harness the latest innovations to create richer ways to engage, inform and excite our global audiences.”

“Our partnership with the All England Club extends far beyond delivering match scores andstatistics for the website and app,” says Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President ofMarketing and Communications at IBM. “The new fan experiences, combined with the modernisation of Wimbledon’s platforms using IBM watsonx and IBM Bob, are an example of how organisations can use AI not only to deepen engagement, but also to accelerate innovation and unlock new levels of operational efficiency.”

From the launch of the Wimbledon website in 1995 and the mobile application in 2009, to the first integration of enhanced AI-powered solutions in 2017, IBM and the All EnglandLawn Tennis Club have partnered for more than 35 years to make The Championships more accessible and engaging. In 2025, AELTC reports these efforts contributed to a 16% year-on-year increase in engagement across all platforms, with a 39% growth in those registered to myWIMBLEDON in the past year.

The Championships, Wimbledon will run from Monday 29 June – Sunday 12 July 2026.Fans can access these, and other features, via the IBM Slamtracker which is available on the Wimbledon App and on wimbledon.com.

A Dublin-based medical device start-up has completed a major regulatory milestone in its bid to transform treatment for chronic migraine sufferers across Europe, advancing a minimally invasive implantable system that could reduce the cost of neurostimulation surgery.

Capri Medical, a smart medtech company founded in Dublin, is a lead partner in the EU-funded TARA consortium, which has announced completion of product development. The platform has now been cleared for First-in-Human clinical trials, a pivotal step in bringing the technology to patients.

The announcement comes during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, a timely backdrop for a breakthrough that could meaningfully expand access to specialist care for a condition the World Health Organisation classifies among the most disabling illnesses — comparable to dementia and quadriplegia. Approximately 2% of the global population lives with chronic migraine.

What Capri Medical Has Built

At the heart of the platform is a delivery system, the LUNA-INJECT, developed by Capri Medical in Ireland. It reduces a procedure that has historically required a surgical theatre, a specialist surgeon, and three hours under general anaesthetic to a several minute outpatient intervention under local anaesthesia.

The significance is commercial as much as clinical. Conventional neurostimulation implantation costs in the region of €10,000 per procedure. The LUNA Platform is designed to significantly reduce costs by eliminating the need for surgical infrastructure and optimising manufacturing for scale.

Fergal Ward, CEO and founder of Capri Medical, said the company set out to disrupt a market that has long been out of reach for most patients and physicians alike.

“Neurostimulation is a last treatment option, despite often being more effective than pharmaceutical alternatives. The highest-penetrated neurostimulation market today serves only 10% of patients. We’re building a platform to disrupt that care continuum and enable more physicians to treat more patients.”

The LUNA-INJECT system is projected to unlock access for an estimated 90% of physicians who have been unable to offer neurostimulation therapy to date, with the potential to increase patient throughput sixfold.

The Platform in Full

The LUNA Platform comprises four proprietary components developed across the consortium:

• LUNA-AIR: A miniaturised implantable pulse generator that delivers targeted neural stimulation
• LUNA-INJECT: A single-handed delivery system, enabling outpatient implantation in minutes
• LUNA-CONTROL: A wearable device that wirelessly powers the implant
• LUNA-App: A patient-facing mobile application for biometric visualisation, and migraine diary tracking, developed by Ukrainian consortium partner Skein

The LUNA App uses AI to build a personalised diagnostic model based on each patient’s unique physiological profile. Participants in the diagnostic study reported that the app helped them better understand their condition, with many expressing a desire to continue using it after the trial period ended.

An Irish Company in a Growing European Bioelectronics Market

Capri Medical’s role in the TARA project is emblematic of the broader trajectory of Ireland’s medtech sector. Ireland is now the largest employer of medtech professionals per capita in Europe, with more than 48,000 people working directly in the sector and Irish life sciences and health tech companies raising a decade-high €491.3 million in venture capital in 2024.

The TARA project itself received €4.5 million in funding through the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme, part of a wider effort to strengthen Europe’s position in the emerging bioelectronics market.

For the millions of migraine patients for whom medication has failed to deliver adequate relief — or who experience serious side effects from current treatments, the LUNA Platform represents a new clinical pathway: targeted, drug-free therapy delivered outside the hospital, at a fraction of current costs.

About Capri Medical

Capri Medical is a Dublin-based smart medtech company developing minimally invasive bioelectronic devices for neurological conditions. The company is a lead partner in the EU-funded TARA consortium and the developer of the LUNA-Air delivery system.

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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning consumers to be alert to scam messages seeking customs payments, as new charges come into force on Wednesday 1 July.

The CCPC is also advising shoppers who hope to escape the charges by ordering before 1 July to scrutinise delivery dates to avoid being hit with an unexpected bill.

Expected increase in frauds and scams

Deliveries shipped from outside the EU and valued at or under €150 are no longer exempt from customs charges, with a €3 fee applied to each unique item in an order.

Texts from scammers posing as delivery services are common. As more deliveries are subject to customs charges, more consumers may be at risk of falling for scam payment links.

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications, said:

“We saw a spike in scams when Brexit customs changes came in and we expect to see the same with these new changes. Scammers will look to exploit the situation and use it as an opportunity for fraud. All online shoppers should be alert for scam texts and emails.

“Any requests for payment that claim to be from Revenue will definitely be a scam. These charges are never paid directly by consumers to the Revenue Commissioners. An Post has also advised that they will never send you a click through link to pay charges.

“As consumers, we are most vulnerable to scams when we’re busy or distracted. Treat any text about customs charges with extreme caution. Take your time and don’t rush into paying anything.

“If you pay through a scam link, you’re handing your card details to scammers so you could lose much more than that first payment.”

Unexpected charges

The CCPC is warning online shoppers that purchases made now are subject to the new charges if the package reaches Ireland after 30 June.

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications, said:

“There is a very real risk that consumers may mistakenly think the changes apply to purchases made from 1 July. This is not the case. Any package that reaches Ireland from midnight on 30 June will be subject to the new rules. It is important that online shoppers understand this and carefully check expected delivery dates when purchasing online.

“If customs charges are not paid in advance, then consumers will also have to pay an administrative fee to the delivery company, pushing the overall cost even higher. We are warning consumers to be very careful shopping online this week, and in the coming weeks, to avoid being stung with an unexpected bill from the delivery company.”

New CCPC awareness campaign

The CCPC has launched a new social media campaign to increase public awareness of the new charges and an information hub at ccpc.ie/customs.

See more stories here.

Amazon has announced Prime Day 2026 will return to Amazon.ie from June 23 to June 26, offering Prime members access to deals from top brands spanning all categories including Home & Kitchen, Beauty & Self-Care, Tech & Electronics, Fashion, and Garden — helping customers get everything they need for summer projects, outdoor adventures, and evenings spent with family and friends.

As the Summer Solstice approaches on 21st June and Ireland prepares to enjoy its longest day of the year, new research commissioned by Amazon.ie reveals how ‘the grand stretch’ is shaping Irish routines — from exercise habits and home-improvement spending to shopping behaviours. Amazon.ie has partnered with broadcaster and comedian Carl Mullan to celebrate one of Ireland’s most beloved cultural traditions and encourage people to make the most of the longer, brighter evenings.

Irish consumers are embracing the brighter evenings

New research commissioned by Amazon.ie reveals that brighter evenings have a significant impact on how Irish adults spend their time and money. The nationally representative study of 1,000 Irish adults found that almost 7 in 10 (69%) spend more time outdoors during the brighter months. When it comes to how the grand stretch changes behaviour, the findings are clear:

• Spending more time outdoors (69%)
• Exercising or walking more (50%)
• Taking on gardening and DIY projects (40%)
• Spending more time with family (29%)
• Spending more time with friends (26%)

The research also reveals a major seasonal shopping shift. More than half (58%) of Irish adults say they are more likely to purchase garden and outdoor living products during spring and summer, while almost half (47%) are more likely to invest in DIY and home improvement products. Fashion and seasonal clothing purchases also increase, with 41% saying they are more likely to refresh their wardrobes for summer.

Four in 10 Irish adults say they prefer shopping online during spring and summer so they can spend more time enjoying the brighter evenings — showing that longer days don’t just improve mood, they actively change how Irish people want to spend their free time.

Commenting on the findings, Carl Mullan said:

“The grand stretch is one of those uniquely Irish things that everybody understands. The minute we get a bit of sunshine and a few extra hours of daylight, everyone wants to be outside making the most of it. Whether it’s getting out for a walk after work, having friends over, firing up the BBQ or tackling a few jobs around the house, there’s something special about those summer evenings.

“For me, it’s all about making the most of that extra time and enjoying it with family and friends, so it’s great to partner with Amazon.ie to celebrate The Grand Stretch and help people get everything they need for the summer ahead. Prime Day is a great opportunity to pick up those bits you’ve been meaning to get for the garden, the house or your summer plans and get back to enjoying the brighter evenings.”

Alison Dunn, Country Manager for Amazon in Ireland, said:

“Prime Day is about helping customers get great value on the products they need for summer, while spending less time shopping and more time enjoying the season ahead. Our research shows that brighter evenings are shaping how people across Ireland spend their time, whether that’s getting outdoors, tackling projects around the home, or spending time with family and friends. The grand stretch is one of Ireland’s great traditions. It’s wonderful to see how people make the most of those longer evenings, and we’re delighted to help customers discover great value, including from Irish brands featured in our Brands of Ireland store.”

Prime Day Deals: Save Big Across All Categories

During Prime Day (June 23–26), Prime members can save across hundreds of thousands on deals, including:

Beauty & Self-Care: Save on favourites from NIVEA, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Rimmel, Max Factor, and BetterYou across skincare, make-up, and wellness essentials, plus health and wellbeing tech from Beurer and OMRON

Home & Kitchen: Deals on Philips Domestic Appliances, Joseph Joseph, Brabantia, and Krosno, plus top coffee brands including Tassimo, L’OR, and Kenco

Tech & Electronics: Deals on top brands including new additions to Amazon.ie Shark/Ninja, Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Bang & Olufsen, JBL, Sonos, Philips, Logitech, Garmin, HUAWEI, reMarkable, and more

Fashion: Deals on brands including Cricut, Ion8 and more

Garden: Deals on outdoor and garden essentials from Kärcher and more

Devices: Discover amazing deals on a selection of Amazon devices. Save up to 45% on Echo devices, including Echo Dot Max, up to 35% on Kindle, up to 55% on Fire TV devices, and up to 30% on eero mesh Wi-Fi systems.

This Prime Day, to enhance the shopping experience, customers can shop personalised recommendations, making it easier for customers to find deals that match their interests. Shoppers will see customised deal lists such as: ‘recommended deals for you’, ‘deals related to your lists’, ‘4+ star deals for you’ and ‘deals related to items in your cart’.

How to Get Ready for Prime Day

Prime Day deals are available exclusively to Prime members. Membership costs €6.99 per month and includes free fast delivery options on millions of eligible items, access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming, unlimited digital photo storage with Amazon Photos, and exclusive deals year-round. New members can join here https://www.amazon.ie/prime.

Amazon.ie offers customers great value year-round. While Prime Day deals are exclusively for members, all customers on Amazon.ie benefit from everyday low prices across millions of products.

See more stories here.

Solar Ireland says continued collaboration across policy, planning, grid infrastructure and skills development will be essential to sustain growth

Ireland’s solar sector has experienced one of the fastest periods of renewable energy growth in the country’s history, with total connected solar capacity reaching 2.7 GW by the end of May 2026, an increase of almost 300% since 2023.

Ireland’s Solar Power Capacity continues to grow

The figures are published in Solar Ireland’s annual Scale of Solar 2026 report, which was launched by Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD. The report highlights how solar is becoming an increasingly important contributor to Ireland’s electricity system, supporting energy resilience, emissions reductions and growing electricity demand.

The report shows that in the 12 months to the end of May:

Solar generated more than 1.17 TWh (terawatt hours) of electricity across the Ireland

Utility-scale (solar farms) capacity surpassed 1.5 GW

Micro-generation capacity reached 805MW

Small scale capacity reached 58 MW

The equivalent of 460,000 homes were powered by Ireland’s total connected solar capacity

Total connected solar capacity increased by nearly 1 GW in a single year

During May solar achieved 37.1% peak instantaneous contribution to electricity

The document also demonstrates how the geographical spread of solar facilities is developing:

When it comes to rooftop solar adoption:

Clare is leading the way on a county-by-county basis, with 51 rooftop solar systems per 1,000 people

190,000+ homes and businesses are now generating their own electricity

For utility-scale (solar farm) generation:

Meath remains the leader, with 441GWh generated in 12 months to the end of May

Wexford is in second place with 174 GWh generated

Cork generated 110GWh in the period

Ireland’s total connected solar capacity is now predicted to exceed 3.3 GW by year end. Minister Darragh O’Brien said the findings highlight both the progress achieved and the opportunities ahead:

“The growth of solar energy in Ireland is one of the clearest examples of how our energy transition is moving from ambition to delivery. In just 12 months, Ireland added 1 GW of solar capacity, helping to strengthen Ireland’s energy resilience, reduce emissions and increase the share of domestically generated renewable electricity on our system.

As electricity demand continues to grow, driven by electrification across homes, transport and industry, investment in renewable energy infrastructure will be essential. Solar is already making an increasingly important contribution to Ireland’s electricity system and will continue to play a key role in supporting energy resilience, economic competitiveness and a sustainable energy future.”

CEO of Solar Ireland Ronan Power says this year’s figures represent a true milestone:

“Ireland’s solar story is no longer defined solely by ambition. It is increasingly defined by delivery.

In the past year alone, Ireland added almost 1 GW of solar capacity, while solar generation and deployment records have continued to be broken across the country. Solar is now making a meaningful contribution to homes, farms, schools, businesses and communities nationwide.

Maintaining this momentum will require continued collaboration across industry, Government, regulators and system operators. Grid infrastructure, planning processes, workforce capacity, market design and public participation will all play a critical role in determining how quickly Ireland can continue scaling solar generation.

The progress achieved to date demonstrates what is possible when policy, investment and delivery align. The opportunity now is to build on that foundation and ensure solar continues to play a growing role in Ireland’s energy future. ”

Thomas Foody, Head of Connection Projects South at Eirgrid says his organisation reached a key milestone in recent weeks: “In April, grid-scale solar generation exceeded 1 GW for the first time, enough to power over 500,000 homes. This reflects sustained progress in connecting large-scale solar to the national grid and marks a step change in Solar’s contribution to Ireland’s generation mix. The continued integration of grid-scale solar on the transmission system will be critical to enabling the electrification of the economy and supporting future growth in demand”.

Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director, ESB Networks paid tribute to the collective effort achieving so much in the solar industry:

“The continued rapid growth in both utility-scale solar projects and rooftop solar installations over recent years is a powerful reflection of the contribution individuals, communities and renewable project developers are making to supporting our climate goals. The electricity network now supports 2.7 GW of solar generation, from large utility-scale developments to domestic rooftop systems. Each year, approximately  50,000 new solar installations are completed across homes, farms, businesses and communities throughout the country. Sustaining this momentum will help realise our climate ambitions and help shape a cleaner, resilient and electrified future for all.”

The Scale of Solar 2026 report can be viewed in full here.

See more breaking stories here.

By Marie Ryan, who is a marketing and AI trainer based in Ireland. 

Over the last two years, AI has gone from something most people had barely heard of to something almost everyone has tried at least once. Tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are now part of everyday business conversations, and most business owners have experimented with them to see whether they can save time, improve productivity or generate new ideas. However, many people walk away disappointed after their first few attempts.

Optimal ways to use AI

When I ask those business owners what they actually typed into the AI tool, the answer is usually something quite broad: “Give me marketing ideas”, “Help me write a social media plan”, or “What should I do about payroll?” They then receive a generic answer and decide that AI isn’t particularly useful. In reality, the issue isn’t the technology. The issue is that the AI has almost no information to work with.

AI doesn’t know whether you’re a sole trader in Sligo, a growing SME in Tipperary or a company with 80 employees. It doesn’t know who your customers are, what products you sell, what challenges you’re facing or what you’ve already tried. When you ask a general question, it can only provide a general answer.

One analogy I often use in training is to think of AI as a new employee. Imagine hiring someone and, on their first morning, telling them to “sort out the marketing” before walking away. They would have no idea where to begin. You would normally explain what the business does, who the customers are, what success looks like and what has already been tried. Only then would you expect useful work from them. AI works in much the same way. The quality of the output depends heavily on the quality of the information you provide.

I also compare the process to painting a wall. If you’re changing a dark blue wall to bright yellow, you don’t simply paint yellow over the top and hope for the best. You prepare the surface first. AI requires similar preparation. Before asking it to solve a problem, you should provide context about your business, your customers, your products and your goals. The more relevant information you give it, the better the results become.

One technique I regularly recommend is asking the AI to interview you before making recommendations. A prompt such as “Before making any recommendations, ask me 10 questions about my business” works surprisingly well. Within a few minutes, the AI develops a much clearer understanding of your situation, which allows it to provide advice that is tailored to your business rather than generic advice that could apply to anyone.

The businesses getting the best results from AI aren’t necessarily using the most advanced tools. They’re simply using them differently. They provide context, ask specific questions and treat AI as a capable assistant rather than a magic answer machine. They understand that AI can help generate ideas, draft content, analyse information and improve efficiency, but that it still requires direction and human judgement.

Most business owners don’t need a different AI tool. They simply need to use the one they already have more effectively. By providing more context and asking better questions, they can dramatically improve the quality of the answers they receive and unlock far more value from the technology.

Author Bio

Marie Ryan is a marketing and AI trainer based in Ireland. She works with SMEs and professionals through Local Enterprise Offices and UCD Professional Academy, helping organisations use AI, SEO, LinkedIn and digital marketing more effectively. Find out more: marieryan.com

See more breaking stories here.

Ireland’s Green and Digital Transition, Dargan Forum

Artificial intelligence, regional development, digital trust, tourism, offshore energy and public service innovation may seem like very different topics. Yet all will feature at Dargan Forum 2026, which takes place in Dún Laoghaire on 24 and 25 June.

“At a time when the pace of change is accelerating and the future is increasingly uncertain, the Dargan Forum provides a focal point,” says Eoin Costello, Executive Director of the Dargan Institute.

That practical focus runs throughout the programme. From the use of AI to analyse public consultation submissions to discussions on Connected Hubs, digital communities, tourism innovation and offshore renewable energy, the emphasis is on sharing examples of what is already working and what lessons can be applied elsewhere.

Attendance is free, with participants able to register for individual sessions or attend multiple events across the two-day programme.

See the Dargan Institute website: https://www.darganinstitute.ie

Main event and programme information:

https://www.darganinstitute.ie/#dargan-forum-main-event

Why the Dargan Forum Matters

The Dargan Forum brings together people working on many of the issues currently shaping Ireland’s future. Across the two days, discussions will cover topics ranging from artificial intelligence and digital trust to regional development, tourism, offshore energy and public service innovation.

The value of the Forum lies in hearing directly from people delivering projects and programmes rather than simply discussing ideas. Businesses, sole traders and community organisations can hear what’s working in the delivery of Ireland’s green and digital transition.

Sustainability, Resilience and Prosperity

The main event on Thursday morning is organised around three themes: Sustainability, Resilience and Prosperity. Speakers include Olympian Annalise Murphy, Lorraine Heskin of Gourmet Food Parlour, Frank Curran of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Professor Martin Curley of Maynooth University, June Butler of Bank of Ireland, Maurice Murphy of Amgen, Vanessa O’Connell of RWE Dublin Array, Michael Power of Iarnród Éireann and Theresa Cloonan of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council.

Together they will explore how organisations are responding to technological, environmental and economic change, and what those changes mean for communities, businesses and public services.

Artificial Intelligence in Action

Artificial intelligence is a recurring theme throughout the Forum. One example comes from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council, which is working with Microsoft on an AI-enabled consultation process designed to help analyse large volumes of public submissions. A recent active travel consultation generated around 5,000 responses, creating a significant administrative burden for council staff.

The new approach aims to automate the analysis and categorisation of submissions, allowing specialists to spend more time on assessment, engagement and decision-making.

The topic will be explored further during the AI and Innovation session hosted by Theresa Cloonan, Head of Information Systems at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council, who will be joined by public sector and technology leaders to discuss how innovation can improve services for citizens.

Connected Communities

Ireland’s Connected Hubs network has become one of the most visible examples of regional digital development in recent years. The network now includes more than 400 hubs across the country, providing remote working, co-working and enterprise facilities in towns and villages nationwide.

The Connected Communities session, hosted by Seán Tobin of .ie, will examine digital trust, online identity, digital inclusion and the role technology can play in supporting communities and SMEs. The discussion brings together enterprise, education and community development perspectives at a time when trust and credibility online have become increasingly important for organisations of all sizes.

The Forum seeks to bring together people working across different sectors but often facing similar challenges, creating opportunities to learn from one another’s experiences and approaches.

Regional Development in Practice

Regional development is another major theme running through the Forum.

Seán Tobin will also host the Playbook for Regional Development session, bringing together practitioners involved in enterprise, innovation, skills development and community regeneration. The emphasis is on sharing lessons from projects already underway rather than discussing policy in isolation.

The session reflects one of the Forum’s central ideas: that many of the challenges facing towns, communities and businesses are interconnected and benefit from collaboration across sectors.

Tourism, Heritage and Technology

One of the more distinctive sessions in this year’s programme asks whether tourism, heritage and technology could combine to create Ireland’s next major growth opportunity.

Hosted by Eoin Costello, the discussion will explore how digital tools, skills development and innovation can help heritage attractions, tourism providers and hospitality businesses improve visitor experiences and competitiveness.

The session will consider how technology can help indigenous businesses capture new opportunities while showcasing Ireland’s cultural and heritage assets.

Respecting the Past, Embracing the Future

The relationship between heritage, regeneration and sustainable development will be explored further during “The Value of Urbanism – Respecting the Past, Embracing the Future”.

Hosted by Andrée Dargan, County Architect with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council, the session will bring together architects, planners, regeneration specialists and community development practitioners to examine how towns and communities can evolve while retaining their unique character and heritage.

The discussion reflects growing interest in the role that good design, heritage-led regeneration and sustainable planning can play in creating attractive and resilient places to live, work and visit.

Marine Innovation and the Blue Economy

Hosted by Paul Kennedy, Director of Planning, Economic Development, at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council, this session will examine opportunities arising from offshore renewable energy, marine innovation and coastal development.

Speakers will discuss how projects such as RWE Dublin Array, together with research institutions, local authorities and industry partners, are helping create new opportunities around Ireland’s coast.

The discussion reflects growing interest in how offshore energy, marine research and coastal communities can contribute to Ireland’s future economic development.

Learning What Works?

Whether the interest is AI in public services, regional development, digital trust, tourism innovation or offshore energy, the Forum offers an opportunity to hear directly from people working on these challenges across Ireland.

Earlier this year in Irish Tech News, Eoin Costello and John O’Shanahan discussed the opportunities and challenges surrounding AI adoption. Many of the themes raised in that conversation will feature throughout this year’s programme. For earlier article read AI adoption by Irish SMEs .

The Dargan Forum is run in association with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council and supported by Bank of Ireland, Connected Hubs, .ie, RWE Dublin Array, Iarnród Éireann, Dún Laoghaire Business Association, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber of Commerce and Whelehan Wines.

About Billy Linehan

Billy Linehan is a freelance writer covering innovation, tech for good and entrepreneurship, and a regular contributor to Irish Tech News. He leads Celtar Advisers, working as a business mentor with SME and startup founders, and co-founded StartUp Ballymun, Dublin’s longest-running entrepreneurship series.

See more breaking stories here.

Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company®, has trialled its first-ever deployment of a Hydrogen Power Unit for data centre critical back-up systems in Ireland. The trial installation is in collaboration with ESB and GeoPura. It marks a significant step in the exploration of hydrogen as a back-up power resource for large energy users (LEUs), which could potentially replace diesel and gas generators in future.

The initiative comes at a critical time for Ireland’s economy as ongoing grid capacity constraints in parts of the Dublin metropolitan area continue to challenge digital infrastructure growth. The trial represents a first for Equinix in Ireland, with no other data centre currently operating hydrogen power at this scale in a critical live environment. It is also a first of its kind for Equinix’s 280+ data centre footprint worldwide.

As part of a 12-week pilot, two hydrogen-powered generators – developed by clean energy company GeoPura and one of which is owned by ESB – have been installed onsite at Equinix’s DB3 data centre in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Each housed in shipping container-sized units, the generators are currently being used to support cooling systems within Equinix’s DB3 facility and have helped Equinix to bring its power use effectiveness (PUE) in that data centre to below 1.3*.

GeoPura is supplying Equinix with hydrogen from renewable sources for the project. The two units, running in parallel, are designed to provide a zero direct onsite emissions alternative to traditional diesel or gas generators, which helps to reduce operational emissions at the point of use. Powered by green hydrogen and using advanced PEM fuel cell technology, the system produces clean, silent energy. Through uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the Hydrogen Power Units can respond in real time to changes in grid capacity and ‘switch on’ when needed, providing up to half a megawatt of continuous power.

Equinix and ESB will gain valuable data insights into carbon reduction potential, along with operational, safety, commercial and grid peak-shaving potential, which could be used by policymakers and universities to assess the best deployment solutions for Ireland.

The use of hydrogen power in this context could also extend beyond data centres, offering a viable lower-carbon alternative for construction sites and other temporary power needs traditionally reliant on diesel generation.

Utilising green hydrogen supplied by GeoPura and produced using renewable electricity, the units store and transport energy for use wherever and whenever it is needed. This enables grid-constrained sites, such as data centres, to operate with a reliable, critical back up solution that produces zero direct onsite emissions form the electricity it produces. Hydrogen fuel units such as these are scalable up to 50 MW to support both backup and prime power applications. The hydrogen fuel cell system produces only water and heat as byproducts at the point of use.

The waste heat could potentially be used to support future district heating projects and the water can be recycled into the on-site cooling systems to offset mains water use and help improve operational efficiency.

Minister Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, said: “Hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable energy system. Projects such as this provide valuable opportunities to test emerging technologies in real-world environments and deepen our understanding of how they can support future energy needs.

“It is encouraging to see companies operating in sectors that are critical to Ireland’s economic growth exploring innovative approaches to reducing emissions. Trials like this help build knowledge, foster collaboration and contribute to the wider conversation about how new energy solutions can support Ireland’s climate ambitions.”

Peter Lantry, Managing Director of Equinix Ireland, said: “This is a landmark research project that could be part of the solution to Ireland’s grid constraints and the challenge of accessing clean energy. Ireland is already making serious moves on hydrogen and how it can be stored at scale here. What we’re doing with ESB is a different piece of the same puzzle: proving that hydrogen can work as a practical, zero direct onsite emissions alternative to diesel and gas in a live environment. If this pilot delivers what we expect, it adds real momentum to Ireland’s decarbonisation story.”

Paul Lennon, Head of Asset Development, ESB Generation Trading, said: “The deployment of hydrogen fuel cells at Equinix data centres is another important step in demonstrating how zero direct onsite-emission technologies can support critical infrastructure. As data demand continues to grow, solutions like hydrogen power units offer a reliable, clean alternative to traditional backup generation. At ESB, we see green hydrogen playing a key role in enabling resilient, low-carbon energy systems, and we’re proud to partner with forward-thinking organisations like Equinix to bring these solutions into real-world operation.”

Andrew Cunningham, CEO, GeoPura, said: “As demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, operators are facing increasing pressure to secure reliable power, reduce emissions and minimise the impact on local communities. This trial shows how hydrogen can help address those challenges today. By combining hydrogen fuel cell technology with battery systems and uninterruptible power capabilities, we’re delivering reliable zero direct onsite-emission power that can respond instantly when required.

“Working alongside Equinix and ESB, this project is demonstrating that hydrogen can support both backup and prime power applications in a live data centre environment, showing how hydrogen can strengthen energy resilience, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support the continued growth of critical digital infrastructure.”

See more stories here.

By David Stephen

In the brain, there are ion channels, synaptic vesicles opened at the cleft, there are also receptors. If certain ion channels are inhibited or induced, there would be functional or experiential affect. If receptors are blocked because some other molecule binds there first, or somehow vesicles are impeded, there will also be experiential or functional affect.

Simply, electrical signals [derivative of ions] and chemical signals [mostly neurotransmitters] pass through channels. If somehow, they become more or less, due to inducing or inhibition of the channels or receptors, then alterations in outcomes could become evident.

SAMHSA using electrochemical psychiatry against addictions, homelessness?

This is a major part of the story of addictions, mental disorders and so forth. This means that in trying, at a foundational level, to explain mental disorders, addictions and so on, the goal is to postulate aggressively on electrical and chemical signals.

Simply, if influencing electrical and chemical signals result in changes in experience, then electrical and chemical signals must be key configurators for functions — or say it is the assembly of electrical and chemical signals, in certain ways that decide functions, hence experiences.

There should be no greater priority for mental health advances — for the HHS, the HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the White House Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery Kathryn Burgum, SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Christopher D. Carroll, the National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] and the Acting Director of the NIMH, Andrea Beckel-Mitchener — than drilling aggressively into explaining the brain by electrical and chemical signals, to measure the mind for mental disorders and addictions.

For example, mental health, conceptually, is defined as the zone — within certain averages, per moment of the collection of all the electrical and chemical signals, with their interactions and attributes, in sets, in clusters of neurons, across the central and peripheral nervous systems — with a functional balance of mind and experiences, for social and occupational objectives.

Attributes have measures — within sets and overall — that can be used to place stages of risks and prepare more tailored therapies.

There is a recent [June 11, 2026] announcement SAMHSA Announces $40 Million in Funding Opportunities to Prevent Addiction, and Address Child Trauma, Suicide, Mental Illness, stating that, “The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced $40 million in funding opportunities for eight grant programs that will advance President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative by preventing addiction, strengthening the behavioral health workforce, and supporting efforts to address mental illness and prevent suicide.”

“The opportunities announced today support communities addressing trauma, mental illness, substance use prevention, addiction treatment, and strengthening the behavioral health workforce”

“$9.2 million for Behavioral Health and Community Safety Partnerships Grants.”

“$9 million for the Tribal Behavioral Health Substance Use Prevention program.”

“$8 million for the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program.”

“$8 million for the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress – Category I”

“$1.9 million for the Adult Suicide Prevention program.”

“$1.9 million for the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.”

“$1.8 million for the Statewide Consumer Network Program.”

“$600,000 for the Providers Clinical Support System – Universities (PCSS-U) program.”

ARPA-H

There was a recent [Apr 21, 2026] announcement, ARPA-H announces first research teams for $139 million initiative to transform behavioral health and bring new, more precise and effective treatments to Americans, stating that, “EVIDENT solicited proposals through four technical areas (TAs) designed to answer four core questions that the field currently cannot reliably answer.”

“What should we use for objective measurement? (TA1)”

“What is happening during treatment? (TA2)”

“Who will respond to what treatment? (TA3)”

“What is our shared data foundation? (TA4)”

Among those selected, there was no team that was studying electrical and chemical signals, as the basis of functions. Electrical and chemical signals cover, for the most part, TA1 and TA2.

How does depression work? What can be done to ease or solve it, in the brain? This question and even the conditions in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision [DSM-5-TR] are at least connected directly with electrical and chemical signals.

HHS

Even where the side-effects or withdrawal effects of psychoactive medications are perplexing, where to look to at least get answers beyond labels are electrical and chemical signals.

This can be a collective department wide effort for the HHS, towards major results before the end of July, 2026. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health [ARPA-H] and the ARPA-H Director Alicia Jackson can also explore to move forward on this, as well.

Psychiatry is mature enough to move beyond labels and descriptions. Also, what can someone who has an addiction understand about what goes on in the brain, to at least be able to mass more willpower, seek alternatives or step away from triggers? Addictions include problem gambling and much else.

Solving Homelessness

There is a new [June 17, 2026] announcement, Secretary Kennedy Announces Over $700 Million in New Funding to Address Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness, stating that, “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today announced the posting of a $96 million funding opportunity for the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program, along with $612 million in funding opportunities for additional behavioral health programs. These announcements, which drive forward President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative, were made during a press conference following the Secretary’s visit to the Easterseals MORC Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).”

There are a few central necessities to reduce the magnitude of being unhoused: where to sleep at night, where to go or pass the day, where to maintain basic hygiene, where to keep larger bags or possessions and a fair mental health. How can these be provided at scale, starting from a city or a state, to the rest of the United States?

In a community, many of these can be offered by different facilities, in a way to ensure a normal return to society, for individuals. Also, how does the lack of one of the above, result — for some — in devolving into addiction, or the interest to crash and burn?

It is possible to prospect the mental health part and the addiction one, with intense mind displays predicated in electrochemical psychiatry.

There is already an extensive explanation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.

David Stephen does research in conceptual brain science and served as a visiting scholar in medical entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He did computer vision research at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona.

See more breaking stories here.

NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, opened its new Dublin office earlier in the week and I attended the opening. Whilst I was there I interviewed Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Marianne Checkley, CEO Kinia and Professor Dan Kilper, Director CONNECT Centre Trinity College Dublin. 

I spoke to Minister Burke about NTT DATA being good for the Irish economy. I then spoke to Marianne Checkley about the excellent stem work Kinia is doing and how NTT DATA is helping them. Lastly I spoke to professor Dan Kilper about the great work the Connect Centre in Trinity College Dublin is doing with NTT DATA.

See more podcasts here.

Are you out of contract or looking for a better deal for your mobile phone? If so, there are some great SIM Only deals available in Ireland right now with huge savings to be made over long contract plans.

We’ve teamed up with Switcher.ie, the free and impartial price comparison and switching service, to find the best SIM Only deals available every month.

Check back regularly to stay informed of the latest deals and offers, and visit the Switcher.ie website to order one of these great packages.

Best SIM Only Deals

Available exclusively through Switcher.ie, you can sign up for LycaMobile’s National Unlimited Plan for a limited time only. For a monthly top-up of only €10.99, this prepaid plan includes unlimited calls and texts along with 100GB of data.

Clear Mobile offers another low-cost SIM-only choice. Their plan features 10,000 texts along with unlimited calls and data for €12.99 per month on a 30-day rolling bill-pay contract. This plan includes a 23GB roaming allowance for use in the EU and UK. Additionally, new subscribers can currently take advantage of a promotion offering your first month free.

With 48’s prepaid, SIM-only deal, you’ll get unlimited data, plus 5000 minutes and texts, for a monthly top-up of €12.99.

(If you’ve come across this article after some of these deals may have expired, check out our main SIM Only category page to find the latest offers.)

NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, has announced the opening of its new Dublin, Ireland office. The office will support the continued growth of NTT DATA’s Ireland client base and represents part of a €16.5 million investment in the local economy. The commitment is primarily directed toward AI and digital services R&D, in association with business and academic institutions, alongside job creation. NTT DATA has created 100 jobs in Ireland since January 2025 – expanding its Ireland-based workforce by nearly 50% – and continues to expand, with plans to recruit another 50 staff over the coming six months.

Ireland has become one of Europe’s most advanced technology hubs, with a thriving digital economy and highly-skilled workforce. As an innovation-driven business with operations in 70 countries, NTT DATA views Ireland as an important market and has a growing client base that includes insurance companies, banks, and telecoms firms such as Three Ireland and eir. The new Dublin office illustrates the company’s commitment to supporting Ireland’s businesses with the latest research and technologies, expanding enterprise use of AI responsibly and at scale.

The official opening is marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Dublin today, attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke and His Excellency Miyagawa Manabu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ireland.

The event features a series of technical demonstrations showcasing NTT DATA innovations, including a presentation by the company’s R&D partner Trinity College Dublin on IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) that can generate 100× power efficiency, 125× capacity at 1/200 of today’s end?to?end latency – enabling sustainable growth of data?intensive services without proportional increases in energy consumption.

A further demonstration from Kinia, an education-focused social enterprise and a partner of NTT DATA in Ireland, highlights NTT DATA’s focus on investing in AI skills for young people.

The new office opening follows NTT DATA’s acquisition of Northern Ireland-based Alchemy Technology Services in October 2025, which strengthened the company’s global insurance technology capabilities and its offer to clients in the specialty insurance market.

Niccolo Spataro, Executive Managing Director, UK&I at NTT DATA, who attended the opening ceremony, said: “Ireland has a growing economy and a well-established and dynamic tech sector. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to Ireland. The organisations that move decisively on AI will define their industries for years to come, and we intend to be the partner that helps Ireland’s leading enterprises do exactly that.”

“I warmly welcome NTT DATA’s continued investment in Ireland and the opening of its new Dublin office. This €16.5 million commitment, alongside the creation of high-quality jobs, is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland’s position as a leading global technology hub. Investments like this not only support innovation and research but also contribute to the development of critical skills and opportunities across our economy. I look forward to seeing NTT DATA continue to grow its presence here and play an important role in Ireland’s digital future.” said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of Ireland.

Michael Lohan, CEO of inward investment agency IDA Ireland, said: “NTT DATA’s new Dublin office and investment of €16.5 million is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland and a clear sign of the company’s long-term commitment to growing its presence here. A key part of IDA Ireland’s strategy is to support Ireland as a global location for next-generation technologies, including AI, and to help companies scale high-value capabilities from Ireland for international markets. NTT DATA’s focus on research and development strengthens the wider technology ecosystem – deepening collaboration with Irish talent and academia, and driving innovation that will benefit businesses and communities across the country.”

An Irish Tech News podcast with interviews recorded at NTT DATA’s new Dublin office opening will be published later today.

See more stories here.

Epomaker have sent us their TH80 V2 mechanical keyboard to take a look at, and we have been putting it through its paces for everyday work, typing and general desktop use and of course, gaming, over the last few weeks.

The TH80 V2 sits in that increasingly popular middle ground between a compact keyboard and a full-sized desktop keyboard. It uses a 75% ANSI layout, which means you retain the function row and useful navigation keys, while still saving a good amount of desk space compared with a traditional full-size keyboard.

For anyone who spends a lot of time at a compact or cluttered desk, this type of layout can make a lot of sense. You get a more compact footprint, more room for your mouse, and a cleaner setup, without feeling like too many useful keys have been sacrificed.

What’s in the Box?

Inside the box, along with the keyboard, you get:

—  1 x Epomaker TH80 V2 Keyboard

—  1 x 2-in-1 Keycap-and-Switch Puller

—  Some Extra Switches

—  1 x 2.4GHz Wireless Receiver, stored under the keyboard kickstand

—  1 x Detachable USB-A to USB-C Cable

—  1 x Summarised Manual

—  1 x Product Card

TH80 V2 Keyboard Design and Features

The TH80 V2 is a 75% mechanical keyboard with 79 keys and a programmable rotary knob. In hand, it feels like a really well-constructed keyboard for the price, with a compact but still practical layout.

The design is aimed at users who want something that works well across productivity, gaming and general day-to-day use. It is not as stripped back as a 60% or 65% keyboard, but it is still much smaller than a traditional full-sized keyboard.

Some of the main features include:

—  75% ANSI US layout with 79 keys and 1 rotary knob

—  Tri-mode connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired USB

—  8000mAh battery

—  Battery life of up to 200 hours with RGB off and 40 hours with RGB on

—  Mac, Windows and Android compatibility

—  Gasket-mounted structure

—  Flex-cut PC plate and PCB

—  5-layer sound-optimising system

—  PBT double-shot keycaps

—  Cherry-profile keycaps

—  Factory-lubed mechanical switches

—  Hot-swappable support for 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches

—  Dynamic RGB backlighting with south-facing LEDs

—  Programmable keys via the Epomaker Driver

—  Adjustable typing angles of 6°, 8° and 10.5°

The version we were sent came with “Sea Salt Silent V2” switches. These are factory-lubed mechanical switches, and the keyboard is hot-swappable so users can replace the switches in future without soldering.

This is one of the appealing parts of keyboards like this. You can buy it, use it as supplied, and never change a thing. Or, if you get more interested in the mechanical keyboard hobby, you can experiment with different switches and keycaps over time.

Build Quality and Layout

The TH80 V2 uses an ABS plastic case, a PC plate, and PBT double-shot keycaps. The keyboard weighs around 0.9kg, so it has enough weight to stay planted on the desk without feeling overly heavy or awkward to move.

The first impression when you pick it up is that the keyboard is solid. It feels really well constructed in hand, and the materials all feel premium. There are no flex or cracking sounds as you handle it, and it feels densely packed.

You have to remind yourself that this is a very affordable mechanical keyboard, as it feels more premium than you would expect for the price.

The 75% layout is likely to be a good compromise for most users. It keeps the keyboard compact, but still includes the function row and a useful selection of navigation keys. For people moving from a full-sized keyboard, the adjustment should be much easier than jumping straight to a 60% or 65% sized keyboard.

I didn’t miss having the number pad during normal office use, and the keyboard was generally easy to get used to.

I did find the shift key located under the return key to be a little smaller than what I am used to with full-sized keyboards, and it took a little time with touch typing to get used to it.

The rotary knob, when I connected the keyboard to my Linux PC, controlled the volume. I found this to be useful instead of having to go to a menu to change the system volume.

Typing Experience

The TH80 V2 uses a gasket-mounted design, along with several layers of sound-dampening material. Epomaker describes this as a five-layer sound-optimising system, using PORON foam, IXPE switch pad, sound enhancement pad, PORON latex switch socket pad and bottom silicone.

The goal here is to reduce unwanted resonance and produce a smoother, more refined typing sound.

On that front, it certainly achieves all of that. It is nearly silent to type on and is incredibly smooth.

I know from working in a busy office that the sound of people typing can annoy people around them, so this keyboard would be ideal for those situations. It is well-suited for use in the living room, where you may not want a clicking noise interrupting your movie or basically anywhere where you don’t want sounds intruding.

The keycaps are PBT double-shot keycaps in Cherry profile. PBT is generally preferred over cheaper ABS keycaps because it tends to feel better over time and is more resistant to shine from long-term use.

The keys are well constructed and well finished, and there is no hint of wobble.

For day-to-day writing, email, editing, browsing and general computer use, the TH80 V2 feels like the kind of keyboard that should appeal to people who want something better than the basic keyboard bundled with a PC, but who do not necessarily want to spend enthusiast-level money.

Connectivity and Battery Life

One of the biggest advantages of the TH80 V2 over some more gaming-focused keyboards is its tri-mode connectivity. You can use it wired over USB-C, wirelessly with the included 2.4GHz receiver, or via Bluetooth.

This makes it a flexible option if you want to move between a desktop PC, laptop, tablet or even multiple devices. Epomaker says the keyboard can remember up to five devices, which is useful if you regularly move between work and personal machines.

We tested the keyboard connected to multiple devices using all 3 of the connection methods available. For desktop PCs and gaming, we always used the USB-C connection, and I think a lot of users will connect this way too, but the other options offer a lot of flexibility.

I connected the keyboard to an Android TV box using the 2.4GHz receiver, and it worked flawlessly. The receiver is stored neatly in the keyboard under one of the adjustable legs.

I connected to laptops and tablets using Bluetooth without issues, but for gaming, the USB-C connections clearly will have a lot less latency. I didn’t experience any dropouts using the wireless connection methods, and lag isn’t really an issue for normal typing or office work, etc.

The 8000mAh battery is another major feature here. Epomaker claims up to 200 hours of use with RGB switched off, or around 40 hours with RGB switched on. During our testing with a mix of uses, we never worried about having to charge the keyboard and having the built-in battery just adds more flexibility of where you can use the keyboard.

RGB Lighting

The TH80 V2 includes dynamic RGB backlighting, with south-facing per-key LEDs and RGB side lighting. The result is a keyboard that can be made to look quite understated or much more colourful, depending on your setup and preferences.

The colours are vibrant but tastefully implemented. It’s not over the top but clearly visible and the colours are vivid.

The lighting can be adjusted in terms of effect, brightness and speed, so users who like RGB will have plenty of room to customise the look.

Software

The TH80 V2 is programmable via the Epomaker Driver, which allows users to adjust key functions, lighting and other settings.

This is useful if you want to remap keys, set up macros, change lighting effects, or customise the keyboard to better suit your own workflow.

The software is available for both Mac and Windows and is quite comprehensive.

We covered a lot of it’s features in our HE68 Lite review so take a look at that article for more details.

The software is intuitive, easy to use and has nice customisation options. Again, given the price of the keyboard, this is a really feature to have. It is good to see software support available rather than relying only on onboard shortcuts. For more casual users, the keyboard works fine out of the box, but the software adds extra flexibility for people who want to customise it further.

Gaming Performance

Although the TH80 V2 is not a Hall Effect gaming keyboard like the HE68 Lite, it still offers features that will be useful for gaming, including 1000Hz polling over USB and 2.4GHz wireless, full anti-ghosting, and low latency figures.

Epomaker lists latency at 2ms wired, 5ms over 2.4GHz wireless and 11ms over Bluetooth.

For most users, the 2.4GHz wireless mode is likely to be the best balance between convenience and performance. Bluetooth is useful for tablets, laptops and general productivity, while wired mode is there for anyone who wants the most stable connection.

During our testing (and I include my teenage son in this), the consensus was that while it was quite smooth to use, that smoothness meant it was a little slower to use than HE68 Lite, for example. It was possible to rapidly press keys more frequently with the more dedicated gaming keyboard. The TH80 V2 performed well, but if you are serious about your gaming (like my son!), then the HE68 Lite was more suitable.

Who Is It For?

The TH80 V2 is likely to appeal to users who want a compact mechanical keyboard that still feels practical for everyday use. The 75% layout makes it more versatile than smaller compact boards, while the tri-mode connectivity makes it useful across several devices.

It could be a good fit for:

—  People who want a better keyboard for home office use

—  Users who want a compact setup without losing the function row

—  Gamers who want a wireless mechanical keyboard without going fully “gamer” in appearance

—  Mac and Windows users who want one keyboard for multiple systems

—  Anyone curious about mechanical keyboards but not ready to spend enthusiast-level money

—  Users who like the idea of future switch or keycap upgrades

Conclusion

The Epomaker TH80 V2 is a well-featured 75% mechanical keyboard that brings together a practical layout, tri-mode wireless connectivity, a large battery, RGB lighting, hot-swappable switches and a more refined typing structure than you might expect at this price point.

It is well built and will stand up to heavy usage. The keyboard is super smooth to type on, and you won’t be disappointed with its quality.

The big difference compared with the HE68 Lite is that this is less of a specialist Hall Effect gaming keyboard and more of an all-rounder. It is better suited to users who want one keyboard for work, typing, casual gaming and multiple devices.

Overall, the TH80 V2 is another strong value option from Epomaker. It gives users a lot of features for the money, while still leaving room for customisation later on. For anyone looking to move beyond a basic keyboard and into something more enjoyable to use every day, it is well worth considering.

You can find out more about the keyboard on the Epomaker site. The keyboard is currently available for $62.09.

Seven major new Research Ireland centres – comprising an overall investment of €460million – has been announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.

As part of this announcement, an enhanced national research network, Rinn* – has been launched, under which each of the seven new Rinn centres will operate over the next eight years. This unified network reflects the step change in the scale and breadth of collaboration, governance, and funding, supporting a more coordinated and internationally engaged research system with the aim of delivering national and international impact.

Seven new Rinn Research Ireland centres

Spanning Advanced Therapies, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Medical Devices, Pharma & Biopharma, Quantum and Semiconductors, the seven new Rinn will support 577 research positions, develop over 800 PhDs, and involve 17 research-performing organisations in a coordinated, collaborative national effort of unprecedented scale.

The seven Rinn have additional funding of €500 million to be leveraged from industry and other sources, with support from over 200 industry partners comprising over 100 multinational corporations and almost 100 SMEs.

Making the announcement, Minister Lawless said: “The scale and scope of this €460 million investment is a powerful statement of Ireland’s ambition in research and innovation. Research Ireland centres have, over the last 13 years, fundamentally reshaped our innovation landscape – turning excellent and innovative research into real-world societal and economic impact. Our higher education institutions and enterprise collaborators have been critical to that success. With these seven new Rinn, we are building on this progress by supporting talent, strengthening industry partnerships, attracting foreign direct investment, advancing indigenous industry growth, promoting regional development, and enabling Ireland to remain internationally competitive.”

Speaking at the announcement, CEO of Research Ireland, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, said: “The Rinn network is about excellent multidisciplinary research, radical collaboration and deep connectivity at scale across 17 research performing institutions, industry, Government, public sector bodies, and the broader higher education and research system. Each Rinn will develop world-class talent, drive enterprise engagement with research, and reinforce Ireland’s international standing by creating a unique research and innovation ecosystem of international significance and scale. A key action in our recently launched strategy is the delivery of an enhanced Research Ireland centres programme that will enable the development of national centres of international scale in areas of key strategic importance. Rinn firmly sets that action in motion.”

The 7 new Rinn are:

1. Rinn Advanced Therapies – Research & Innovation in Personalised Immune Cell Therapeutics: €51,057,588
2. Rinn Artificial Intelligence – Research & Innovation in Data Science and AI: €121,752,497
3. Rinn Energy – Research & Innovation in Energy System Decarbonisation: €51,785,397
4. Rinn Medical Devices – Research & Innovation in Medical Devices: €64,488,000
5. Rinn Pharma & Biopharma – Research & Innovation in Making Medicines: €60,324,450
6. Rinn Quantum – Research & Innovation in Quantum Information Science and Technology: €39,621,376
7. Rinn Semiconductors – Research & Innovation in Heterogeneously Integrated Semiconductor Systems: €70,979,936

The 17 Rinn Participating Research Performing Bodies are: Atlantic Technological University, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Economic and Social Research Institute, Munster Technological University, Maynooth University, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, South East Technological University, Trinity College Dublin, Tyndall National Institute, Technological University Dublin, Technological University of the Shannon, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Limerick and University of Galway.

The 7 Rinn have direct links to the Programme for Government, National Development Plan, Impact 2030, Quantum 2030, our ‘Silicon Island’ National Semiconductor Strategy, and the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. Rinn Artificial Intelligence and Rinn Quantum support the commitments under Ireland’s new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland, to establish a leading AI Research Centre of scale and a Quantum Centre of Excellence. This investment will play a key role in the delivery of the research and innovation goals and objectives set down in these strategies by Government.

The announcement of the seven Rinn follows an open competitive process, where proposals underwent a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process by independent international experts.

The 7 Rinn will officially commence their activities on July 1st 2026.

The 17 Rinn Participating Research Performing Bodies are: Atlantic Technological University, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Economic and Social Research Institute, Munster Technological University, Maynooth University, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, South East Technological University, Trinity College Dublin, Tyndall National Institute, Technological University Dublin, Technological University of the Shannon, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Limerick and University of Galway.

The 7 Rinn have direct links to the Programme for Government, National Development Plan, Impact 2030, Quantum 2030, our ‘Silicon Island’ National Semiconductor Strategy, and the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. Rinn Artificial Intelligence and Rinn Quantum support the commitments under Ireland’s new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland, to establish a leading AI Research Centre of scale and a Quantum Centre of Excellence. This investment will play a key role in the delivery of the research and innovation goals and objectives set down in these strategies by Government.

* Rinn: The Irish word for a point, tip or headland.

See more breaking stories here.

Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned telecoms provider, has announced new research which shows that 74% of adults are in favour of a social media ban for under-16s. The research is part of Pure Telecom’s Connected Lives 2026 survey and comes as the UK this week announced plans to ban social media for under-16s.

Pure Telecom’s independent research, conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 adults in Ireland, explores internet usage and trends in Ireland today. The survey found that men are more likely than women to get behind a ban, with 78% saying they support it, versus 69% of women. Among parents of children aged 16 and under, 80% support a ban. This rises to 88% among parents of six-to-eight-year-olds.

While the vast majority support a ban, there are significant doubts over the practicalities of such a move. Some 50% of adults believe it is impossible to stop under-16s, regardless of any ban or parental controls, from accessing social media. What’s more, 31% believe that the responsibility ultimately lies with parents, not the Government. A larger proportion (39%), however, believe parents need Government intervention to help keep children safe.

The majority of adults also believe that social media companies themselves should bear more responsibility. Some 57% say they should be legally responsible for protecting children online.

Despite the widespread support for a social media ban for under-16s, 43% of adults admit that they think social media can be a positive outlet for some children. And, many believe that education must be a part of the solution. The majority (58%) believe schools should be teaching children how to use social media safely, if they are not already doing so, while 44% believe digital literacy would be more effective than a blanket ban.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “Our research shows that this is a topic that adults in Ireland care deeply about, but there are mixed opinions on whether an outright ban can be effective, or if it is enough on its own. For example, 18- to 24-year-olds are the least likely age group to support a ban, but the most likely to advocate for social media safety to be taught in schools. Older adults, meanwhile, are more likely to support a ban and less likely to call for schools to be involved.

“Regardless of people individually, our research shows that a whole-society approach – which includes Government, teachers, parents and children – is the one that is preferred by the large majority.”

See more stories here.

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, has announced the results of new research which reveals that 69% of Irish adults believe that the Government should ban public sector organisations from paying ransoms to cybercriminals – therefore deterring them from targeting critical public services.

This follows a move by the UK Government to introduce such a measure in an effort to reduce the value of public sector organisations to hackers. Despite this, more than a third (36%) of adults in Ireland would support public sector organisations paying ransoms when cyberattacks put citizens’ sensitive data at risk.

The research, commissioned by Ekco and carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 1,000 adults in the Republic of Ireland on their perceptions about how cybersecurity is impacting the public sector.

It found that 59% admit that the digitisation of public services makes them worry about the safety of their personal data, and some sectors are causing more concern than others among citizens when it comes to keeping their sensitive information safe. Ekco’s research found that consumers say they trust the healthcare sector the least (17%) to protect their personal data, followed by the sales, media, and marketing (15%) and finance sectors (11%).

However, overall trust is high when it comes to the public sector. More than half (54%) of consumers believe that their data is safe with the public services that they engage with or avail of, such as passport or driving licence authorities. The survey also found that 48% trust that the public sector is transparent with citizens when it comes to cyberattacks and cybersecurity.

In terms of practical supports, more than three-quarters (76%) of those surveyed believe that the Irish Government should make cybersecurity awareness training freely available to the public. Many feel that the public sector could be doing more to protect against rising cyber threats, and 65% would support increased Government spending on cybersecurity in public services.

Pat Larkin, President, Ekco Security, said: “It’s clear from our research that increasing digitisation, growing cyber threats, and a perceived lack of supports in the public sector is making citizens nervous about the security of their private data – and its value to cybercriminals. Trust in Government and the services that it provides is the backbone of society, so it’s encouraging, however, that many people feel safe when engaging with critical public services.

“The public sector needs to prioritise open communication with citizens about national cybersecurity measures, increase public awareness of the defences that are in place, and highlight the cybersecurity tools and resources that are available to the public. Citizens will feel more informed and secure which, in turn, will further enhance public trust in vital Government services.”

See more stories here.

The broadband market in Ireland is now flooded with providers all offering a myriad of deals. We know it’s hard to find the perfect deal that suits your needs, but we’re here to help.

We’ve teamed up with Switcher.ie, the free and impartial price comparison and switching service, to find the best broadband deals available every month.

Check back regularly to stay informed of the latest deals and offers, and visit the Switcher.ie website to order one of these great packages.

Best Broadband Deals

New eir customers can access great value with their Fibre Broadband, Talk – 24 Month Discount package. This 24-month contract plan costs €34.99 monthly and features unlimited broadband at speeds reaching up to 500Mb, as well as unlimited off-peak calls to national and local numbers. Furthermore, those who sign up to this plan by 22/06/2026 will also benefit from even more savings with a €100 credit applied to their eir broadband bill.

For those looking for long-term value, Vodafone 500Mb Full Fibre Broadband – 24 Month package is an exceptional option. This plan delivers unlimited data with speeds of up to 500Mb. Pay a discounted rate of €25 per month for the first six months, which then moves to €40 per month. A major advantage of this plan is that it avoids the large “thereafter” price hikes commonly seen after a contract ends, ensuring consistent savings. Plus, as a limited-time bonus, new customers signing up by 30/06/2026 will have €75 credited to their Vodafone broadband bill.

Check out Virgin Media’s 500Mb Broadband – 24 Month plan. Enjoy unlimited broadband with speeds up to 500Mb for just €40 per month. This plan is a competitive choice for households looking for high-speed connectivity at an affordable price. Plus, new customers who sign up before 30/06/2026 will receive €105 off their Virgin Media broadband bill, providing significant savings.

(If you’ve come across this article after some of these deals may have expired, check out our main Broadband Deals category page to find the latest offers)

Cyber-attacks are costing Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) up to €3.4 billion annually, but the greatest impact is not from major one-off breaches. Instead, repeated day-to-day cyber disruption is driving many losses, according to new research from eir business.

The report, The Hidden Cost of Cyber Risk, which was supported by Microsoft and Dr. Mauricio Perez-Alaniz from the Kemmy Business School (KBS), University of Limerick, finds that SMEs lose more than 7.2 million working days every year due to cyber incidents, with affected businesses experiencing multiple incidents annually. For individual firms, this equates to nearly three working weeks lost each year.

While the financial impact of any single incident can be significant, the analysis highlights that it is the cumulative effect of repeated disruption, downtime, lost productivity and operational interruption, that creates the greatest economic cost, amounting to approximately €50,000 per SME annually. Crucially, the findings show that much of this impact is avoidable.

SMEs with stronger cyber preparedness experience fewer incidents, lower overall losses and significantly less disruption. Organisations with higher levels of preparedness reduce annual downtime from more than 30 days to around 5 days, while structured data management significantly lowers the likelihood of experiencing an attack.

In response to these findings, eir business is announcing the launch of Cybersecurity Assurance, a first-of-its-kind subscription service designed to help SMEs strengthen their cyber resilience through ongoing support, planning and rapid response capability. The service includes named vCISO (virtual Chief Information Security Officer) governance, regularly updated business continuity and incident response plans, ongoing advisory, and access to critical incident response teams when needed.

Businesses with structured data management processes are far less likely to experience a cyber-attack, with incident likelihood falling from 40% to 24%. The gap between low and high preparedness is also stark, with annual disruption falling from more than 30 days for poorly prepared organisations to around 5 days for the most prepared.

Minister of State Alan Dillon said: “Small and medium-sized enterprises are central to the Irish economy, and ensuring they are resilient in an increasingly digital environment is critical. This research highlights the real and growing impact that cyber risk is having on businesses across the country, not just in financial terms, but in disrupted operations and lost productivity.

“However, with the right support, guidance and focus on practical measures, businesses can strengthen their resilience and reduce their exposure. Supporting SMEs to build that resilience is an important priority in maintaining Ireland’s competitiveness and supporting sustainable economic growth.

“Our National Cyber Security Centre is already providing targeted cyber security supports to SMEs to do this, the most recent initiative, being the launch of a new dedicated website aimed at providing SMEs with practical, accessible and free guidance on strengthening their cyber security awareness, preparedness and response capabilities.”

Susan Brady, Managing Director eir business, said: “This report shows that cyber risk is not just about rare, large-scale attacks. For most SMEs, it is the cumulative impact of everyday incidents, from phishing emails and ransomware attempts to service disruptions, that drives significant loss of time and productivity. These risks affect not just individual businesses, but supply chains, customers and the wider business ecosystem. That’s why we are launching Cybersecurity Assurance, to help SMEs manage the full spectrum of cyber threats in a practical and sustainable way.”

Dr. Mauricio Perez-Alaniz, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, Kemmy Business School (KBS), University of Limerick, noted the importance of cyber-risk and welcomed the attention to this critical issue. He said: “While SMEs are increasingly being reminded about the potential productivity and sustainability gains that can arise from the adoption of digital technologies, the issue of cyber-risk, and the associated costs of cyber-attacks, require more attention.

“This report seeks to do just that. It provides an intuitive approach to quantify the costs of cyber-attacks in terms of direct economic costs, and more importantly, potential costs associated with downtime. It is important to keep in mind that fully quantifying such costs is difficult. While the estimates presented by the report are necessarily high-level and resting on a set of assumptions, they offer important insights into the scale and nature of the issue.”

The full report is available here: www.eirbusiness.ie/news

See more stories here.

UGREEN have sent us two of their new MagFlow Air magnetic power banks to test: the 10,000mAh model and the ultra slim 5,000mAh model.

We previously reviewed UGREEN’s Qi2 25 watt MagFlow wireless charging devices, including the 10,000mAh MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank and the MagFlow 2-in-1 Wireless Charger, both of which impressed us with their design, build quality and everyday usefulness.

This time, the focus is on portability. The MagFlow Air range is designed to be thinner, lighter and easier to carry, while still offering magnetic wireless charging for compatible phones.

The two models are very similar in concept, but they are aimed at slightly different users. The 10,000mAh version is the one to choose if you want more battery capacity and extra flexibility, while the 5,000mAh version is the more pocketable option for quick top-ups during the day.

UGREEN MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 10,000mAh

The larger of the two models is the UGREEN MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 10,000mAh. Despite the higher capacity, UGREEN has managed to keep the design relatively slim at 13.9mm thick.

That is the main appeal here. A 10,000mAh power bank is usually something you throw into a bag rather than keep attached to your phone, but this model is designed to be slim enough to use while still attached magnetically to the back of your device. So while it has the “larger” capacity, it is by no means a large device in hand and is considerably smaller than the previous model we linked to above (see comparison photos below).

The 10,000mAh version supports Qi2 15W wireless charging, so for compatible iPhones and other Qi2 devices, you can attach it magnetically and start charging without needing to line anything up manually.

It also includes an integrated USB-C cable, which is a very useful addition. This cable supports up to 30W fast charging and can be used to charge your phone or recharge the power bank itself. There is also an additional USB-C port, meaning the 10,000mAh model can charge up to three devices at once through wireless charging, the built-in cable and the USB-C port.

Like all of these recent accessories from UGREEN, there is a real sense of quality to the fit and finish of the power bank. The materials used feel high-quality, and the design is sleek.

The body uses an aluminium alloy design, which gives it a more premium look and feel, while also helping with heat dissipation. UGREEN also includes multi-layer protection against issues such as overheating, overvoltage and short circuits.

I am a big fan of the built-in cable. It means you don’t need a separate cable to charge the power bank, and you can also use it to charge a device that doesn’t have magnetic charging. It feels robust, and it secures tightly in the device, so you can use this to hook the powerbank onto something like a backpack if needed.

The 10,000mAh model will provide enough juice to charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max around 1 and a half times, and you can recharge the powerbank in around two hours using a 30W input.

UGREEN MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 5,000mAh

The slimmer model is the UGREEN MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 5,000mAh. This is the one designed for maximum portability.

At just 8.6mm thick and 127g, it is much lighter and thinner than the 10,000mAh version. It is the model that makes most sense if you want something you can keep in your pocket and use for quick top-ups without adding too much bulk to your phone.

Like the larger model, it supports Qi2 15W magnetic wireless charging. UGREEN says the magnets can provide around 8kg of holding force, which should help keep the power bank securely attached while charging.

In day-to-day use, those magnets attach securely, and there is no sense of the power bank detaching by accident. The clever design means the powerbank fits perfectly on the back of an iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone Air.

With the power bank attached to my iPhone 17 Pro Max, it was still really easy to hold the phone, and the extra weight doesn’t unbalance the phone in your hand. Nor does it interfere with using any of the phone’s functions, such as taking photos.

It is hard to see batteries using this technology getting much smaller or lighter, so this is about as good as it is going to get when it comes to ultra-slim and mobile power banks.

The 5,000mAh version also supports wired USB-C charging, with 20W input and output. It has one USB-C port rather than the built-in cable and extra charging flexibility of the larger model.

That makes it a simpler device, but that simplicity is part of the appeal. It is smaller, lighter and less obtrusive, and for many people, that will matter more than having the extra capacity.

The 5,000mAh model uses a soft-touch silicone finish, which should help protect the back of your phone from scratches while attached.

I mainly used this power bank to top up my phone during a heavy day of usage. Even though it has less capacity, I found myself grabbing this powerbank more than the larger one, as you can easily fit it with the phone in a pocket, and you barely notice the extra weight. When I knew I would need to charge earbuds or my watch too when on the road, the extra capacity and functionality of the larger model were ideal.

Design and Portability

Both units support Qi2 15W wireless charging speeds so the real difference is capacity, size and how you are likely to use them.

The 10,000mAh model is the more versatile travel option. It gives you more battery capacity, a built-in USB-C cable, faster 30W wired charging and the ability to charge more devices at once.

The 5,000mAh model is the more discreet everyday option. It is much slimmer and lighter, and is the one you are more likely to leave attached to your phone while walking around, travelling or using your phone normally.

For day-to-day use, this distinction matters. A power bank can have impressive capacity, but if it is too bulky to carry, you will leave it at home. The 5,000mAh model is the one that feels most like a “just in case” device, while the 10,000mAh version feels more like something you would bring when you know you will be away from a charger for longer.

Comparison with the Previous MagFlow Power Bank

The previous UGREEN MagFlow Magnetic Power Bank we reviewed suppors 25W wireless charging and also has a useful built-in USB-C cable. It was an excellent all-round device and felt like one of the stronger UGREEN products we had tested to date.

The new MagFlow Air models are slightly different. They step down to Qi2 15W wireless charging, but the focus is clearly on making the devices thinner, lighter and easier to carry.

In most cases, the slimmer models will win out, even if they are slightly slower charging. There is a noticeable difference in charging speeds between the 15W and 25W chargers, but the extra portability of the slimmer models is often more important for most use cases.

For most users, though, it will come down to how they actually use a power bank. If you want the fastest wireless charging and do not mind a slightly chunkier device, the previous 25W MagFlow model still has obvious appeal. If you want something slimmer and more pocketable, the MagFlow Air models make more sense.

Conclusion

UGREEN’s MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Banks are another strong addition to the company’s growing range of charging accessories. They take the convenience of magnetic wireless charging and package it into slimmer, more portable designs.

The 10,000mAh version is the more capable and versatile of the two. It has more capacity, faster wired charging, a built-in cable and the ability to charge multiple devices at once. It is the better choice for travel, long days out and heavier phone users.

The 5,000mAh version is the more elegant everyday option. It is thinner, lighter and easier to carry, making it ideal for quick top-ups and casual day-to-day use.

Overall, both models continue UGREEN’s recent run of well-designed, practical and good-value charging products. The best choice depends on whether you prioritise capacity or portability, but both are easy to recommend for iPhone users and anyone with a compatible Qi2 magnetic charging device.

You can find out more about both models on the UGREEN website.

A misdiagnosis refers to any situation in which a medical condition is not correctly identified in due time. The physician may mistake the symptoms for those of a different condition, take longer than usual to confirm a diagnosis, or miss out on key signs. Typically, this means that the patient doesn’t receive the treatment they need in a timely manner. If your condition was something mild and you were diagnosed with something more serious, the severity of the treatments can take their toll on you, and you may end up developing additional conditions as a result.

If your actual condition is serious and you were misdiagnosed as dealing with something mild, your illness might become much more challenging and expensive to treat as a result of its progression. In extreme cases, it might even end up putting your life in jeopardy.

The different types of diagnostic errors

Not all forms of misdiagnosis were created equal. There are several different types out there, and if you want to pursue legal action for the harm you had to deal with, then you will have to know exactly which situation applies to you. A wrong diagnosis occurs when you are evaluated, but the doctor comes to an incorrect conclusion regarding your condition. A missed diagnosis is when your healthcare provider doesn’t identify underlying medical conditions and even dismisses some of the symptoms. Lastly, there’s the delayed diagnoses, which means that the correct diagnosis is made eventually, but only after a lot of time has passed and the condition has become worse as a result.

Filing for compensation

If you are dealing with a serious condition, such as being misdiagnosed as a result of a misread scan or biopsy, you are well within your rights to wish to file for compensation. Working with an expert solicitor is preferable since the intricacies of the law can be quite difficult to understand in this situation, and you need someone who can guide you through the entire process. You’ll have to be able to provide proof, including that the delay caused avoidable harm, that the resulting health problems led to you experiencing a lot of physical, mental, and emotional distress, and that you had to deal with large expenses as a result of the additional treatments as well.

The statute of limitations says that Irish patients have two years from the date of knowledge in order to start their claim. Having an independent re-read as part of your proof can add further weight to the fact that much of the harm could have been avoided if you had received the correct diagnosis from the very beginning, so definitely consider including it.

The most common examples

Misdiagnosis can occur for pretty much any condition since many illnesses have similar symptoms. Some conditions tend to be more susceptible to diagnostic errors, though, since they can present in many different ways depending on the patient. For instance, some people may be seriously ill with appendicitis but only experience mild abdominal pain, while others deal with severe vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, and fever. As a result, the latter category of patients is much more likely to receive a diagnosis faster, while the former might remain undiagnosed until the appendix ruptures, a dangerous scenario that can lead to additional health issues.

The symptoms of strokes and heart attacks are often mistaken for issues that are far less critical, like indigestion, vertigo, or panic attacks. This is particularly concerning because both these conditions are health emergencies that require treatment right away in order to minimise the likelihood of death or lifelong disability. In the case of strokes, treatment needs to be administered in the first few hours after they occur. Missed diagnosis means that the patient can be left with long-term complications like paralysis, aphasia, permanent balance issues, and cognitive decline.

Delaying the administration of treatments after heart attacks similarly worsens long-term health outcomes. Permanent muscle damage will decrease your heart’s pumping ability, you could be left with dangerous irregular heartbeats, or develop congestive heart failure over time. Lastly, malignant tumour growth can sometimes be identified as benign cysts.

Why does misdiagnosis occur?

There are many reasons why misdiagnosis takes place. The important thing to remember is that these errors are only very rarely intentional. Doctors don’t set out to harm their patients or be dismissive of their pain. The most common reason is that there’s a certain degree of overlap between diseases, especially in the earliest stages. Early on, even the conditions that can be life-threatening and which have the potential to be catastrophic if not treated quickly might present with very mild signs.

That makes it difficult for doctors to come up with a more serious diagnosis because there was simply nothing there at the time to indicate that the patient had something else. Incomplete assessments are another problem. Rushed examinations, incomplete reviews of your medical history, and misread test results are all part of this category. Then there’s the systemic pressure that healthcare workers frequently have to deal with. Many doctors and nurses report being overworked and fatigued, making them more likely to miss out on essential clues.

Time constraints, especially in emergency settings, are of concern too. Since the doctors don’t get to spend more time with the patients, it means that they also don’t communicate as much as they would otherwise. As a result, they don’t get to learn more information and details about the patient’s symptoms that could have enabled them to find the correct diagnosis.

The bottom line

If you’ve been misdiagnosed, you need to start the treatment for your actual condition as quickly as possible. It is the only way to protect your health and minimise the risk of long-term damage. Talking to a solicitor about your case will help you move on from the event as well as have the peace of mind you need to focus on recovery without an additional burden weighing you down throughout the process. Give yourself time to heal and prioritise your well-being above everything else during this time.

Tech Tee Up, Ireland’s leading tech community charity sports and networking event at Elm Park Golf & Sports Club, brought together a record number of attendees from across Ireland’s technology, startup and investment sectors, with fundraising set to exceed last year’s total of €75,000.

Speaking on the success of the event, Venture Partner at Elkstone, Barry Brennan said “Today was about bringing people together for good causes. The sports played a key role albeit it remained about participation and networking of course! We are thrilled to support TechTeeUp and the three incredible causes, and to share the stage with the likes of Olympic sailor Annalise Murphy and Kilkenny hurler Richie Hogan and our moderator Hugh Cahill. It was a super occasion.”

The growth of Tech Tee Up reflects the strong support behind the initiative and its mission to combine sport, community and fundraising for good causes. In just two years, the event has established itself as the fixture on the charity sporting calendar, with organisers  looking ahead to building on this momentum in 2027.

Returning Sponsors and New Partnerships

Tech Tee Up 2026 was supported by a strong line-up of returning sponsors, who helped to make last year such a success: Eisner Amper, Elkstone, Philip Lee LLP, Amplifi, eDesk, Needl and Stripe. Their support has enabled the event to grow year-on-year, attract more participants and generate increasing support for its charity partners.

In addition, the Business Post joined this year’s event as its official media partner.

Supporting important causes

At the heart of Tech Tee Up are its charity partners: Children’s Heartbeat Trust, Just ASK and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services. Funds raised through the event will help these organisations continue delivering essential care, support and services to those who need them most, ensuring the impact of the day extends far beyond the sporting competitions.

This year’s event is also set to significantly exceed last year’s fundraising efforts for the causes in a hugely successful day for both participants and charities alike.

“We are hugely grateful to Tech Tee Up for its ongoing support. This support helps us to future-proof our service provision to both patients and their loved ones. We very much appreciate it.” – Susie Cunningham, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the organising committee, sponsors, and everyone who attended, all coming together with a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and young people with heart disease across Northern Ireland.” – Lynn Cowan, Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

2026 Competition Winners

Golf Champions:

1st: A&L Goodbody

2nd: Elkstone

Padel Champions:

1st: CKS

2nd: Browne Jacobson

Tennis Champions:

1st: Patrick & Ellen Pinchmidt

2nd: Paul & Lyndsey McMillan

See more stories here.

The design of a product plays a decisive role in consumer purchases across the European Union, according to new findings from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). However, as design becomes an increasingly important factor in consumer decisions, European creators and businesses also face growing risks from counterfeiting.

The results of a new EU-wide survey show that 72% of European consumers consider product design important when deciding what to buy. Around one third (31%) say that design is very or extremely important when buying a product. Moreover, half of EU consumers value a good design, and nearly 3 out of 4 (73%) are willing to pay more for a product with a better design.

New research from EUIPO

Design matters particularly to younger consumers: 80% of those aged 18 to 24 say it is an important factor in their purchasing decisions. Young people are also more likely to be willing to pay higher prices for better-designed products and to associate design with positive emotions.

Looking at sectors, data reveals that design is especially influential in the furniture and fashion industries, with 76% of EU consumers considering it very important when buying furniture and 66% when buying clothing and accessories.

While quality and price remain the most important purchasing factors, design plays a role in shaping consumer preferences, particularly among younger generations.

But the value of design also makes it vulnerable to counterfeiting and unauthorised copying, which remain widespread across key sectors such as fashion, furniture, electronics and other consumer goods.

The Executive Director of the EUIPO, João Negrão, said:

“European design is one of our greatest competitive strengths. It shapes the products we trust, value and enjoy every day while helping businesses stand out in the global market. Research confirms that consumers, especially younger generations, recognise the value of good design. Protecting designs gives creators the confidence to innovate and businesses the edge to compete – generating the growth and competitiveness on which Europe’s economy relies.”

Counterfeiting, a threat to European design

Counterfeit products that mimic the appearance of genuine products have become widespread, fuelled by the expansion of e-commerce and the influence of social media. Around 13% of Europeans report having intentionally bought counterfeit products, a figure that rises to 26% among younger consumers aged 15-24.

According to the EUIPO data, the fashion and clothing industry, closely linked to design, suffers estimated annual losses of €12 billion, while counterfeit handbags, jewellery and watches cost genuine manufacturers around €2.7 billion in lost sales every year across the EU. In Ireland, counterfeiting causes annual losses of €349 million in the clothing sector and €10 million in the handbags sector.

SMEs are particularly vulnerable to this type of infringement, as they often rely on a small number of distinctive product designs and have limited capacity to monitor and enforce their design rights.

Beyond the economic impact, counterfeit products can pose serious health and safety risks for consumers and for the environment, as they often do not comply with safety and quality standards. Research also shows that the trade in counterfeit goods is linked to organised criminal networks and, in some cases, to labour exploitation.

Design as a strategic business asset

Design-driven industries represent a substantial share of EU economic activity and employment. They employ around 28 million people, accounting for approximately 13% of EU employment, and generate over 16% of the EU GDP.

EUIPO studies further show that small businesses that register their designs generate almost 30% more revenue per employee and pay almost 25% higher wages than those without registered intellectual property rights. Yet despite these benefits, only around 1% of SMEs in the EU hold registered design rights.

The EUIPO actively promotes design protection and enforcement, particularly for SMEs. These include financial support schemes such as the SME Fund, advisory services including IP Scan and enforcement tools such as the IP Enforcement Portal. In addition, the EUIPO works closely with other organisations such as Europol and Frontex as well as law enforcement authorities from Member States to counter intellectual property crime across the EU, including large-scale, coordinated actions targeting counterfeit products.

The EUIPO also organises the DesignEuropa Awards, an EU design award competition which recognises outstanding designs and their creators, from established pioneers to emerging innovators, while also reinforces the importance of design protection. The Awards, which celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2026, also highlight Europe’s rich design legacy and its significant contribution to culture, creativity and everyday life.

A recent legislative reform modernising EU design law has simplified procedures, reduced costs and made design protection more accessible, including new ways for representing innovative and animated designs.

Registering an EU design gives businesses fast, cost-effective protection across the entire EU market through a single application filed online with the EUIPO. The application fee starts at €350. Registered EU designs are enforceable in all 27 EU Member States and can be renewed every 5 years for up to 25 years.

ABOUT THE EUIPO

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is one of the largest decentralised agencies of the European Union, based in Alicante (Spain) since its foundation in 1994. The EUIPO manages the registration of EU trade marks, designs, and craft and industrial geographical indications, all of which are intellectual property rights that cover the 27 EU Member States. The EUIPO also carries out cooperation activities at EU and international level to create a level playing field in the world of IP and is responsible for the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights. In 2025, the EUIPO was ranked as the most innovative IP office in the world.

Link to the EUIPO Spring Campaign video: here

See more breaking stories here.

Daon®, The Digital Identity Trust Company, founded by Dermot Desmond has announced that it has achieved ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS). The certification, awarded following an independent audit, recognises Daon’s governance of the full lifecycle of AI systems, including risk assessment, model documentation, human oversight, performance monitoring, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across its digital identity and fraud prevention solutions. The certification applies across Daon’s global operations, including locations in the United States, Ireland,Serbia, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

ISO/IEC 42001 is the world’s first international management system standard specifically focused on artificial intelligence. As organisations increasingly deploy AI within critical digital infrastructure, the standard establishes requirements to identify, assess, mitigate, monitor, and document risks associated with AI systems while maintaining full transparency accountability.

Daon is one of the first digital identity companies to achieve the new certification at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping fraud prevention and customer onboarding. Financial institutions, governments, and enterprises are increasingly relying on AI-powered technologies to combat deepfakes, synthetic identities, account takeover attempts, and sophisticated impersonation attacks. While organisations face increasing scrutiny around AI governance, the certification helps provide confidence that these controls are operating within an internationally recognised framework.

“We’re long past the point where innovation is the primary focus concerning AI,” said Tom Grissen, CEO at Daon. “The technology now sits at the centre of critical identity and fraud prevention decisions. Organisations need confidence not only in the effectiveness of AI-powered identity systems, but also in how they are governed, monitored, and continuously improved over time. The fact that our AI management system meets this new standard reflects the seriousness with which Daon approaches responsible AI management across our business.”

Daon’s AI capabilities are embedded across its digital identity platform, supporting functions including biometric matching, liveness detection, fraud prevention, document verification, orchestration, and risk analysis. Each AI capability is governed through documented model-level and system-level controls, including model information sheets, risk assessments, lifecycle documentation, monitoring requirements, and transparency artefacts designed to support accountability and customer assurance.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is working with Daon to leverage their technology within the IATA Timatic Doc Scan solution.  This enables passengers to capture or upload their travel documents and verify them before arriving at the airport – all within the airline’s existing app or desktop check-in process.  This ensures passengers meet all the immigration regulations before their journey begins.

“Artificial Intelligence will play a critical role in simplifying passenger processing at airports, leading to a much improved passenger experience while at the same time enhancing safety and security.”, said Frederic Leger, SVP Products and Services at IATA. “However, we have to ensure that we put passengers’ rights at the center any time we use AI. Daon also shares this vision, which is one of the reasons IATA is happy to collaborate closely with them to support our travel document security solutions.”

The certification builds upon Daon’s established foundation of internationally recognised standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701, ISO/IEC 27017, and ISO/IEC 27018, further strengthening the company’s commitment to robust information security, privacy protection, and secure cloud practices in the context of emerging AI technologies.

“Daon’s AI systems are purpose-built for identity verification, authentication, and fraud prevention, using advanced machine learning models rather than generative AI technologies,” continued Grissen. “While Daon’s solutions are classified as limited-risk under the EU AI Act, we have implemented the highest level of trustworthy AI governance because our goal is not simply compliance, it is industry leadership, instilling our clients with the highest level of confidence in how our systems are developed, deployed, and managed.”

See more stories here.

Guest post by Ivor Buckley, Field CTO at Dell Technologies Ireland and Northern Ireland

Enterprise data has long been a key focus for cyber threats, but AI is changing the scale, concentration and velocity of that data. As AI workloads draw on more information across the business, the storage environments that hold and protect that data are becoming even more important.

That shift is already visible in breach cost data. A study from Cybersecurity Ventures, predicts that ransomware costs will reach $74 billion annually. The risk is particularly relevant in Ireland, where cyber threats continue to intensify. According to Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ransomware remains one of the country’s top cyber risks, with increasing concern around attacks targeting critical infrastructure and interconnected supply chain.

As threats become more sophisticated and targeted, AI is both raising the stakes and changing the defence, making the integrity and recoverability of enterprise storage one of the most important questions in enterprise security.

AI changes enterprise storage security structurally. It increases the value of the data held in storage, accelerates how that data moves across systems and places new demands on visibility and control. For businesses, this makes secure, resilient and well-governed storage, a critical foundation for AI adoption.

This aligns closely with Ireland’s National Digital and AI Strategy which places significant emphasis on secure digital and AI infrastructure, strong cybersecurity posture and robust data governance as national priorities. The strategy explicitly highlights the need for resilient data foundations to support safe AI deployment across both public and private sectors.

The pressure on organisations to strengthen storage resilience is also increasing from a regulatory perspective. The EU’s NIS2 Directive, now being implemented across Ireland, places greater accountability on organisations to demonstrate robust cyber resilience, governance and recovery capabilities.

First, AI brings data together in new and powerful ways. AI systems aggregate information from across organisation into training datasets, inference pipelines and knowledge layers that unlock deeper insights. With the right storage foundation, businesses can securely harness this consolidated data to drive more accurate, real-time intelligence.

Second, AI enables more dynamic and connected data movement. Data now flows continuously between storage, compute and inference layers, creating opportunities for faster decision-making and innovation. When supported by intelligent storage visibility and control, this movement can be managed securely while delivering performance at scale.

Third, AI is accelerating the shift towards strong data governance at the storage layer. As AI adoption grows, organisations are prioritising visibility into how data is accessed and used by AI systems. With the right infrastructure controls in place, businesses can confidently govern their data, close visibility gaps and embed security into their storage architecture.

What Does Cyber-Resilient Enterprise Storage Look Like in an AI Environment?

Visibility becomes the foundation that requires continuous insight into how data moves across businesses storage environment and which systems access which datasets. Yet according to Dell Technologies’ Innovation Catalyst research, while 82% of IT decision-makers recognise that data is the differentiator for AI integration and must be used and protected accordingly, only one in three say they can turn that data into real-time insights. That gap starts at the storage layer, and without closing it, governance frameworks and policy controls cannot function effectively.

Immutable storage architecture ensures that critical data cannot be modified or deleted even by a compromised internal account.

This approach remains one of the most effective controls against ransomware in AI-adjacent environments. This was also highlighted the NESC recent paper, which states that “trustworthy and ethical practice” in AI systems reinforces the importance of resilience and integrity in underlying data infrastructure as essential to maintaining public and organisational trust in AI outcome

AI workloads should never have unrestricted access to the full enterprise data estate. Segmenting AI-accessible data from operationally critical and sensitive data, helps organisations contain the impact of a breach, limiting the risk from any single point of compromise.

Zero Trust takes that principle further, by assuming that any access points can be compromised and designs controls accordingly. In an AI-enabled storage environment, this means enforcing least-privilege access across all workloads, requiring continuous verification, rather than perimeter-based trust.

Finaly recovery architecture must be tested against AI workload requirements specifically. The question is not whether a business can recover, but how quickly it can restore the specific data dependencies that AI systems require to operate, and whether that recovery can be clearly tested, proven and repeated.

In Summary

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in the enterprise, storage security can no longer be treated as a back-end IT issue. It needs to be designed into the architecture from the start before risks emerge. For AI to scale safely, enterprises need storage foundations that are secure, resilient and governable. Businesses that address this now, will be better positioned to protect critical data, support compliance and build trust in their AI systems as business needs continue to evolve.

Enterprise Ireland hosted its annual Food Innovation Summit at Croke Park, bringing together hundreds of food and drink companies, researchers and industry partners for Ireland’s only dedicated event focused on innovation in the sector.

The Summit follows another year of growth for the sector. Enterprise Ireland‘s three key sectors all saw steady, positive growth in 2025, with Food, Drink, Nutrition and ClimateTech exports reaching €16.98 billion, up 5%. The sector employs almost 70,000 people in towns and villages right across the country.

Food Innovation Summit returns

Now in its fourth year, the Summit comes at a demanding time for the industry. Companies across the food and drink sector are managing significant cost pressures — from rising input and raw material costs to wider global volatility — that are testing businesses of every size. The Summit focuses on what food and drink companies can control: investment in innovation, AI and skills and capability needed for the sector’s next chapter. It also explores major shifts in global consumer demand, including the accelerating impact of GLP-1 weight-loss medications on demand for high-protein, high-fibre, low-sugar and portion-controlled products.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, said:

“Ireland’s food and drink sector is one of the cornerstones of our exporting economy and a major source of regional employment. Supporting these businesses to scale is central to the Government’s enterprise agenda. In a more volatile global environment, our long-term competitiveness rests on what we can control: the investment we make in innovation, in research and development, and in the skills of our workforce.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, said:

“Our food and drink companies continue to perform strongly in international markets, built on the quality and integrity of the entire chain from primary production through to export. Consumer expectations are evolving – on transparency, on sustainability, on innovation – and Irish producers are responding. Food Vision 2030 sets the direction for the sector, and today’s Summit is an important part of delivering on it. However, success today is no guarantee of success tomorrow. We cannot view research and innovation as a ‘nice to have’.

“As a sector, we must constantly question are we sufficiently utilising the huge range of supports that are available. We are also seeing many of the high skilled graduates from our public food research system being recruited by other sectors of the economy – this is a massive lost opportunity. Government is creating the conditions for innovation. We are investing in research, infrastructure, skills and support programmes. But ultimately, innovation requires businesses to make the investment and to prioritise R&I if we are to realise the future growth potential of this critically important indigenous sector.”

Jim Woulfe, Chairman, Enterprise Ireland, said:

“This is a challenging time for food and drink companies, and we don’t underestimate the pressures they are under. But it is precisely in moments like this that innovation matters most. Today is about meeting companies and establishing where they are — listening to what they need, and connecting them with practical supports that help them invest in their future competitiveness. Enterprise Ireland, alongside our partners, will be with them every step of the way.”

Summit Highlights:

• Opening address from Jim Woulfe, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland and former Chief Executive of Dairygold Co-Operative Society
• Keynote: ‘Navigating the Now: Staying Strong, Leading and Innovating in a Changing Food Landscape’ – Enda Buckley, Director of Sustainability, Carbery Group, in conversation with Tom Cusack, Enterprise Ireland
• Expert panels on practical R&D for food innovation; using AI to improve planning, profit and performance; and developing skills and capability to remain competitive
• Innovation pitches from high-potential start-ups Key2Biotics, Ryse Chocolates, Talio and Gigi Supplements
• Speakers from across the sector including Kerry Group, Dawn Meats, Marigot, Killowen Yogurts, IRDG and Skillnet Ireland

A new feature of this year’s Summit is a Discovery Zone, running alongside the main programme. The interactive space gives companies a hands-on introduction to the supports available to begin and sustain their innovation journey.

The event is also supported by Enterprise Ireland’s partners across the food innovation ecosystem, including Bord Bia, Teagasc, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Ireland’s third-level institutes, Food Technology Centres and Food Technology Gateways.

See more breaking stories here.

Post-quantum readiness has become one of the most talked-about challenges in cyber security. The problem for many organisations is that they are being asked to prepare for the future before they fully understand the risks that exist today.

Encryption underpins everything from customer transactions and cloud services to critical business operations. Yet many organisations lack visibility into where cryptography exists across their environments, what data it protects, and how exposure could affect resilience, compliance, or future transformation programmes. The threat of harvest now, decrypt later is already a present risk.

In addition, EU Commission and member states’ endorsement of a defined post-quantum cryptography (PQC) roadmap alongside NIS2 mandates for cryptographic inventories, crypto-agility, and national PQC transition policies is increasing pressure for organisations to get serious about the challenge. Failing to plan for PQC is increasingly hard to defend in a NIS2 audit and DORA supervisors are now treating quantum risk awareness as part of ICT risk management with expectation of EU roadmap alignment.

To help organisations address that challenge, cyber security specialist Integrity360 has partnered with quantum security platform Venari Security. The partnership combines Integrity360’s cyber resilience, managed security and advisory expertise with Venari’s Adaptive Cryptographic Intelligence Platform, helping organisations gain a clearer understanding of cryptographic assets, dependencies and risk across complex environments.

Together, Integrity360 and Venari will support organisations in moving beyond one-off discovery exercises and towards a more continuous approach to cryptographic risk management. This includes helping clients:

• Discover and understand cryptographic assets and dependencies across their environments
• Identify weak, legacy or potentially non-compliant cryptographic implementations
• Build visibility of cryptographic exposure and resilience over time
• Integrate cryptographic risk into wider security, governance and resilience programmes
• Develop practical transition plans for post-quantum cryptography

Richard Ford, Chief Technology Officer at Integrity360, said: “The conversation around post-quantum security is accelerating, but many organisations are still at the stage of understanding where cryptography exists, what it protects, and which systems matter most. Before you can plan for the future, you need visibility of the present. By partnering with Venari Security, we can help organisations build that understanding and take a structured approach to managing cryptographic risk over time.”

Tom Millar, Chief Executive Officer at Venari, said: “Organisations are drowning in cryptographic data and have no idea what to do with it. Discovery alone is no longer sufficient. The question CISOs are being asked by their board is: what do we fix, in what order, and how do we do it safely without breaking the business? That is the entire game. Partnering with Integrity360 means we can now answer that question at scale, combining the intelligence layer Venari provides with the advisory depth and managed security capability that turns insight into action.”

The need for greater visibility has become a recurring theme in discussions around post-quantum readiness. As regulatory expectations evolve and organisations begin planning for a quantum-safe future, the ability to continuously assess and manage cryptographic risk is becoming an increasingly important component of cyber resilience.

Through this partnership, Integrity360 and Venari Security will help organisations take practical steps today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

See more stories here.

Irish company SIS Pitches’ advanced sports pitch technology is in action on football’s biggest global stage this summer.

It is contributing to high-performance playing surfaces across nine of the 16 host stadiums at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico — including the venue for the final.

SIS Pitches was set up in 2001 by Sligo man George Mullan who is currently Chairman of the global company. The company has been involved in projects at some of the country’s most high-profile grounds including at the homes of Leinster Rugby at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin and Munster Rugby at Thomond Park in Limerick as well as a full-pitch construction of Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.

This summer’s tournament sees 48 teams compete across a diverse range of climates and venues in the three host nations. SIS Pitches’ technology will play a crucial role in maintaining consistent, world-class playing conditions throughout the tournament, despite the potential for extreme weather and the demands of an expanded fixture schedule.

The Sligo-headquartered sports field specialist has contributed different combinations of its SIS Grass Hybrid reinforced turf system, and subsurface drainage and aeration systems to nine of the host venues, one of which had its full pitch constructed by the company last summer. This builds on two decades of involvement in the World Cup which first saw SIS Pitches’ technology used at the 2006 tournament in Germany and has been featured more recently in both Russia and Qatar.

SIS Grass Hybrid is in action at stadiums in San Francisco, Miami, Kansas City, Toronto, Monterrey and host for the final, the New York New Jersey Stadium. The hybrid system sees synthetic fibres stitched into the surface across the entire field to provide increased durability enhanced root growth. This will help each hybrid pitch recover and perform consistently across different climates and grass types, from bluegrass to Bermuda grass.

SIS Pitches’ DrainTalent system is being used in Guadalajara, Seattle and Vancouver. Importantly for the world’s biggest football tournament, the system provides vacuum drainage to quickly extract excess water from the pitch in storm conditions to avoid delays or disruption to play. Where required, DrainTalent also has the ability to offer a subsurface irrigation function, delivering water directly to the rootzone from below. This promotes deeper root development and improves water efficiency, ensuring irrigation and drainage management can be delivered from a single platform.

The pitch in Monterrey was designed and constructed in full by SIS Pitches’ expert team in 2025 and then also maintained in peak condition during CF Monterrey’s regular season. It features SIS Grass Hybrid alongside the company’s SIS Heat Core undersoil heating and SIS Air Core subsurface aeration systems, with the latter promoting healthy growing conditions for the grass while also deploying powerful vacuum drainage to minimise disruption in the event of extreme rain.

With each venue presenting unique challenges ranging from high temperatures to the expectation of extreme rainfall, SIS Pitches’ technologies will play a crucial role in ensuring playing surfaces remain consistent for the duration of the 39-day tournament.

SIS Pitches’ sports surface expertise and technology have been combined with the capabilities of other specialist companies to deliver elite-level playing surfaces, including some built over stadiums’ existing synthetic pitches. This transition was made possible thanks to the knowledge and commitment of the American, Canadian and Mexican grounds teams who have worked tirelessly to ensure every stadium was fully prepared ahead of the tournament start.

George Mullan, Executive Chairman and Founder at SIS Pitches says:

“Seeing our technology present at nine of the 16 stadiums being used this summer is a huge moment for SIS Pitches and a reflection of the reputation it has around the globe. Having been heavily involved in the previous two tournaments in Russia and Qatar, and also involved in Germany, we understand how important it is that our technology works alongside that of other partners to ensure each pitch system performs as intended. For this tournament in particular, expert grounds teams and the best companies in the industry have come together across the stadium network to transform multi-use NFL and MLS venues into high-quality hybrid surfaces for the world’s best players.”

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In partnership with Heineken Ireland, AssistiV, wants to bring life changing technology to the hospitality sector that will support growth in the trade by helping fill job vacancies and foster inclusivity. To find out more about this I spoke to

Barbara Anne Richardson, Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager at Heineken Ireland and Alan Craughwell, AssistiV Ireland CEO. Barbara and Alan talk about their backgrounds, what AssistiV does, Heineken’s partnership with AssistiV, Heineken’s  and AssistiV’s rollout across the company and more.

More about AssistiV :

AssistiV is an assistive technology platform that supports people with intellectual disabilities, autism, and learning disabilities to complete workplace tasks independently through step-by-step guidance.

it offers personalised prompts, routine reminders, and guidance whether preparing breakfast, packing a bag, or catching the bus.  By removing barriers to employment like numeracy and literacy challenges, AssistiV levels the playing field and makes it easier for people with disabilities to work. To date, AssistiV is already supporting people with intellectual disabilities in hospitality and in other sectors – with aim to support 1,000 jobs within 5 years.

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A  new EV Marketplace has been launched, the first of its kind in Ireland.  Developed in partnership with Nevo – Ireland’s only dedicated EV platform, designed to help drivers research, compare, and transition to electric motoring – the new digital marketplace aims to make it radically simpler and quicker for consumers to switch to electric vehicles.

The launch comes as the consumer drive towards EVs accelerates.  Bank of Ireland’s EV lending grew by 46% in 2025, with the pattern of growth continuing in 2026.  The Bank’s 16 motor brand partnerships accounted for 43% of all new EV sales YTD May 2026.

New Irish EV Marketplace

Accessible via the Bank of Ireland website, the new EV Marketplace offers a seamless, end-to-end journey for customers considering switching to electric. The new platform brings together:

• Trusted EV education to demystify ownership
• Vehicle discovery tools to compare models and options
• Integrated Bank of Ireland finance solutions to support affordability

• The ability to arrange a test drive with your local car dealership on the marketplace

Bank of Ireland’s latest credit and debit card spending data for May reveals a significant increase in spend on EV charging and usage of charging stations year on year. Spend on EV charging for May 2026 showed an increase of 84.53% when compared to the same period last year, signalling strong growth in electric driving.

Susan Russell, CEO, Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland: “Our electric vehicle lending figures and the consumer spend on EV charging all point in one direction – the drive towards electric vehicles is accelerating. Our unique Electric Vehicle Marketplace is about maintaining that momentum, giving customers the tools, knowledge and financial support to make the switch with confidence.

“This launch will also help us play an even stronger role in building a more sustainable future. As part of our strategy, we have set a target to reach €30 billion in sustainable lending by 2030.  Getting there will require innovative solutions and unrivalled financial choice, that meets our customers’ needs now and for generations to come.

“This market first, one-stop shop for customers to explore, compare and finance electric vehicles strengthens our leadership in sustainable finance, deepens customer relationships, and positions us at the centre of Ireland’s electric vehicle ecosystem”.

Breaking down barriers to adoption

Nevo’s Q2 National Electric Vehicle survey just launched, highlighting that:

• One in three consumers cite recent fuel price increases as a key driver for switching
• The upfront cost of Electric Vehicles remains the biggest barrier

The Electric Vehicle Marketplace has been designed specifically to tackle these challenges, combining education, transparency and flexible financing to make switching more accessible.

Simon Anadreucetti, Managing Director, Nevo

“Two in five Irish consumers plan to buy an electric vehicle within the next two years, and battery electric vehicle registrations are already up over 50% in 2026 alone. The appetite is clearly there. The barrier has always been confidence; confidence in understanding the costs, the finance options, and which vehicle is right for the customer. That’s exactly what the Bank of Ireland and Nevo partnership solves.

The Bank of Ireland Electric Vehicle Marketplace, powered by Nevo, together with the new finance application flow now available on both Nevo.ie and the Bank of Ireland Electric Vehicle Marketplace, are firsts for the Irish market. Together, they give consumers the tools to browse new vehicles from every brand, view real monthly pricing across PCP and HP products, and complete their finance application seamlessly, all in one place. Nevo is proud to partner with Bank of Ireland to launch these first-to-market digital solutions, making going electric more accessible and more straightforward than ever before. This is another step in our commitment to sustainable mobility for both of our customers”.

To find out more, visit Bank of Ireland Electric Vehicle Marketplace .

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The beauty and wonder of Ireland’s night sky takes centre stage as the public are asked to vote for their favourite photo in the 2026 Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition. Organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) the shortlisted images in this year’s competition are from 10 counties across the island of Ireland, and offer a breathtaking window into the cosmos, combining moments of natural beauty with extraordinary technical skill.

From the Moon rising in alignment with the Poolbeg Chimneys and the Milky Way arching over Ireland’s rugged coastline, to aurora lighting up the Poulnabrone Dolmen, alongside comets, distant galaxies, star trails, and detailed views of the Moon’s surface, the collection highlights just how rich and varied Ireland’s night skies truly are.

Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition

Members of the public are invited to view the shortlisted images and vote for their favourite as part of the Public Choice Award. The full exhibition is available to view online at www.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition where visitors can take their time exploring the images before casting their vote. Voting is open until 5pm on 13th July 2026 and is limited to one vote per person, giving everyone an equal chance to support the image that captures their imagination.

Speaking about this year’s entries, Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “Each year the submissions to Reach for the Stars exceed all expectation in their creativity and technical ability, and this year the standard has been raised once again. It is fantastic to see so many submissions from across Ireland, and I would encourage everyone to visit the website and have your say in voting for the image that stands out to you!”

Alongside the Public Choice Award, overall winners of the competition will be selected by an expert judging panel, bringing together experience from science, media and public engagement. The panel this year includes Dan Dennison, Visual Editor, The Irish Times; Dr. Donnacha O’Driscoll, President of the Irish Astronomical Society; Professor Peter Gallagher, Senior Professor and Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics at DIAS; and Dr Niamh Shaw, Scientist, Engineer, and one of Ireland’s leading Science Communicators.

The winning photographers in the ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’ categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes:

1. Publication of their images on the DIAS and The Irish Times websites;
2. Passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne;
3. A €500 voucher for photographic equipment; and
4. A digital subscription to The Irish Times.

The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, and the winner of the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’ category will each receive a voucher to the value of €250 for photographic equipment, along with passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne.

Two runner-up prizes from each of the Out of this World and Back on Earth categories will also be awarded vouchers to the value of €250 for photographic equipment and passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.

Winning and highly commended images will also be included in exhibitions at DIAS Headquarters, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 and at DIAS Dunsink Observatory later in 2026. Furthermore, all shortlisted images will be included in an online exhibition on the competition website reachforthestars.ie.

DIAS’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ competition is being run in partnership with The Irish Times and is sponsored by MKC Communications and The Astronomical Observatories of Ireland. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters. For more information, to view the shortlisted images, and to vote visit www.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition

DIAS Reach for the Stars:

Photographs taken between 03 June 2025 and 10 May 2026 were entered in three categories:

1. Night Sky in Your Hand – Images taken with a smartphone only, without telescopes, capturing an astronomical scene.
2. Out of this World – Images of astronomical objects, including the Sun, Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies.
3. Back on Earth – Images that depict astronomical features alongside landscapes, landmarks, nature, buildings, or heritage sites.

DIAS’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ competition is being run in partnership with The Irish Times and is sponsored by MKC Communications and the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS):

As the world’s second and Ireland’s only, Institute for Advanced Studies, DIAS is a globally recognised research institution, attracting scholars and academics from around the world.  It conducts and publishes advanced research across three areas: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics (encompassing Geophysics, and, Astronomy and Astrophysics). DIAS also leads Ireland’s participation in a number of international research endeavours and infrastructures. It is the custodian of Dunsink Observatory, the first building on the island of Ireland specifically constructed for scientific research, which was built in 1785.

www.dias.ie

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Farmers, researchers, chefs, and food producers are heading to Stradbally, Co. Laois, on June 22 and 23 for the inaugural Farming for Nature Festival.

Hosted at Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery on June 22 and 23, the lively two-day festival will celebrate nature-friendly farming by bringing together more than 65 sustainable farming experts and practitioners to share practical ideas, host workshops, and showcase farming methods that restore nature, reduce chemical fertiliser use, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Farming for Nature Festival, Ballykilcavan Farm, June 22-23

The Farming for Nature Festival is a farmer-led event created by Farming for Nature, an international network of farmers who promote regenerative farming and food production practices that protect soil, water, wildlife, and the climate.

Delivered in partnership with BASE Ireland and the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS), the festival kicks off on Monday, June 22, with a solstice-inspired evening featuring a shared meal made from sustainably produced food, as well as music, wine and beer tasting.

The main programme on Tuesday, June 23, begins at 9:30am and runs throughout the day, offering a wide range of farmer-led sessions designed to help peers to farm more sustainably regardless of their level of knowledge or expertise. From entry-level discussions to in-depth technical sessions, the programme focuses on practical topics such as soil health, biodiversity, water resilience and farm finance.

Alongside scheduled talks, attendees can take part in field demonstrations and drop-in workshops focused on developing practical skills which can they can then apply on their own land. The day will conclude with fireside chats, followed by a night of food, music and entertainment.

Leading figures in food, farming, and advocacy will be on hand to provide insights at the event, including celebrity chef and founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School Darina Allen, Patrick Holden of The Soil Association UK, and farmer and nutritionist Dr Steve Collins.

One-day festival tickets are priced at €50, while the price of a Solstice Evening and Festival Pass is €75. Booking fees are included in the price. Further information, including ticket details and accommodation options, is available via the event’s website (www.farmingfornaturefestival.ie).

The Farming for Nature Festival 2026 is supported by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, the Lifes2Good Foundation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Karl Colton, farmer and BASE member, says:

“I’m so excited to kick off the first ever Farming for Nature Festival in Stradbally on June 22. The festival is a chance for all of us who want a more secure food system to come together to share knowledge and learn new skills which will help keep farms healthy and productive for future generations.

“As festival organisers, our mission is to champion practices that minimise fertiliser use and restore nature. We also want to celebrate those who have transitioned to more nature-friendly farming and encourage others to follow suit. The Farming for Nature Festival gives farmers, food producers, and food lovers space to come together to show solidarity and share knowledge in a positive and inclusive atmosphere.”

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The award will support pioneering research projects led by Prof. Dimitra Psychogiou (Tyndall/ University College Cork) and Dr Daniel O’Hare (Tyndall), with a focus on next-generation semiconductor technologies and advanced communication systems.

The John L. Ocampo Endowment Fund was established by Susan Ocampo in honour of her late husband, John L. Ocampo, a renowned innovator in the compound semiconductor industry. The fund aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application while fostering the next generation of engineering talent.

The funding will directly support two Masters of Engineering Science (MEngSc) research projects:

• New Design Techniques for Highly Miniaturized RF Circuits supervised by Prof. Dimitra Psychogiou, will explore advanced miniaturization, RF co-design methods, to enable multifunctional, high-performance RF components.
• AI-Assisted Design of RF Circuits, led by Dr Daniel O’Hare, will develop novel artificial intelligence-driven workflows for RF integrated circuit design. This research will leverage both commercial and open-source CAD tools.

These projects reflect a growing convergence between RF engineering and artificial intelligence, positioning Tyndall at the forefront of innovation in semiconductor design.

Prof. John O’Halloran, President, University College Cork, welcomed this transformative investment, noting: “The Ocampo family’s extraordinary commitment will have a lasting impact on global research and innovation. This fund not only honours John Ocampo’s remarkable legacy but also strengthens the pipeline of talent and discovery that will shape the future of RF/microwave and Photonics engineering for generations to come.”

Kerry Bryson, CEO, Cork University Foundation, commented: “At Cork University Foundation, we see this as a powerful endorsement of the critical role that engineering talent plays in driving global technological progress. This is a truly impactful philanthropic investment in the people, ideas, and research at University College Cork and Tyndall National Institute.  We are immensely grateful to the Ocampo family for their support.”

Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Ocampo family for their investment in our researchers who are at the forefront of RF/microwave and photonics engineering. This support will enable cutting-edge innovation with the potential to deliver transformative societal impact.”

Prof. Sarah Culloty, Head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, UCC, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Ocampo family for their investment in our researchers who are at the forefront of RF/microwave, and photonics engineering. This support will enable cutting?edge innovation with the potential to deliver transformative societal impact”.

John L. Ocampo was widely recognised for his contributions to high-speed communications through his work in RF and compound semiconductor technologies, spanning applications in cellular, aerospace, defence, satellite, and data centre systems. Through this endowment, his legacy continues to inspire innovation and excellence in engineering research worldwide.

The grant strengthens Tyndall’s role as a key hub for semiconductor research and industry collaboration, deepening engagement with global technology leaders and supporting the development of highly skilled graduates to drive the future of communications technology.

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Fifty Shades Greener, the leading sustainability training and certification, has revealed that it has saved Irish businesses just over €2M in energy costs in 2025 through workplace sustainability training. Building on this momentum, the company is now launching LeafMark, a new sustainability accreditation programme targeting carbon-intensive sectors to drive meaningful change across Irish business.

Organisations operating in carbon-intensive sectors, such as hospitality, IT and healthcare, can often struggle to reduce their carbon footprints. Fifty Shades Greener, established in 2017 by Raquel Noboa, works with businesses across Ireland to embed sustainability into their business operations by training and green-upskilling staff. In 2025 alone, the company partnered with over 30 businesses including the Fitzwilliams Hotel, Clayton Hotel Galway, Highfield Healthcare, and Climb Channel Solutions, saving each business on average €66,000 in energy costs – a reduction of 27% per business.

With businesses increasingly turning to sustainability to reduce costs and contribute to a lower carbon future, Fifty Shades Greener has seen a 25% growth in its customer base in the first quarter of 2026. Driven by these results, the company is now launching LeafMark – a three-tier, people-first sustainability certification programme. With consumers, investors, and regulators demanding greater transparency and genuine environmental commitment, LeafMark provides a clear, actionable pathway to more responsible and resilient industries.

Accessible to all organisations of any size and sector, LeafMark reflects how deeply sustainability learning has been embedded across an organisation’s workforce. One leaf recognises organisations that have laid the foundations for a sustainability-aware culture. Two signals that an organisation has moved beyond awareness into practical action, with a focus on applying sustainability skills directly within its operations. Three leaves, the highest LeafMark level, celebrates organisations that are leading the way in sustainability, equipping them with the advanced in-house expertise needed to drive and steer sustainability across the entire organisation.

Dublin’s Mespil Hotel, located alongside the Grand Canal, is the first organisation in Ireland to achieve three LeafMarks, followed by Highfield Healthcare. Both organisations were rewarded for integrating sustainability into its strategy, culture and everyday decisions.

Raquel Noboa, Founder, Fifty Shades Greener, said: “Without a doubt, sustainability has become a key driver of consumer purchasing decisions. The problem is that genuine choice remains scarce. Very few providers involve their teams in their sustainability journey, and many don’t realise what they stand to gain by empowering their employees with green skills.  

“Through accreditation and training, providers can achieve significant savings on energy costs, which is particularly compelling given today’s uncertain economy. But the benefits extend well beyond the bottom line; LeafMark enables businesses to build a culture where knowledge, awareness, and action sit at the heart of how an organisation operates.

“The fact of the matter is that sustainability is a win-win for everyone involved. It not only gives organisations a competitive advantage, but it also drives real cost savings. Eco-conscious consumers get exactly what they are looking for and perhaps, most importantly, the planet doesn’t pay the price.”

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Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) today opens the ESA Phi-Lab Ireland Open Call 2026, the latest Open Call for Proposals under the six-year European Space Agency (ESA) programme which positions Ireland as Europe’s hub for the development and manufacture of next-generation space-bound hardware.

Phi-Lab Ireland Open Call

As Ireland’s national platform for space technology development, ESA Phi-Lab Ireland funds cutting-edge research in advanced materials and manufacturing, across the entire life-cycle of space-optimised hardware from materials discovery and testing, to the scaled production of components engineered for the unique and challenging environment of space. For Open Call 2026, IMR is joined by a new delivery partner, the South Eastern Applied Materials (SEAM) Research Centre at South East Technological University.

Open Call 2026 follows exceptional demand for the programme’s first Open Call in 2025, which drew strong interest from across the Irish industrial base, and saw leading space companies MBRYONICS and Ubotica Technologies successfully incubated within the Irish Phi-Lab. Building on last year’s momentum, Open Call 2026 again offers ESA Innovation Seed Funding of up to €400,000 for projects of up to 24 months, alongside expert mentorship and training, access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and comprehensive networking opportunities.

Commenting on the launch of Open Call 2026, Dr. Ken Horan, Director of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IMR and Head of ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, said: “Ireland already has world-class manufacturing and materials capabilities – what has been missing is a dedicated front door into the space sector. That is exactly what ESA Phi-Lab Ireland provides, and as the national platform for space technology development, it sits at the very centre of our national effort to support companies seeking a role in the global space economy. Open Call 2026 is an open invitation to ambitious Irish companies, whether or not they have ever worked in space before, to build the products and the expertise that will define the next decade of this industry in Europe”.

Dr. Ramesh Raghavendra, Director of the SEAM Centre at SETU, added “We are delighted to be partnering with IMR as part of ESA-Phi Lab Ireland. This partnership provides SEAM the opportunity to expand its research centre offerings to Irish-based companies interested in space sector activities from materials development to characterisation. To achieve space-optimised technology development cycles at speed and at scale, collaboration and innovation is indeed essential, and we look forward to playing our part through this partnership with IMR”.

In Europe, the sector’s defining challenge is industrialisation – moving from bespoke, largely manually manufactured spacecraft, to the high-volume manufacturing that today’s satellite constellations demand. The sector is also held back by specialised low-volume processes, limited materials supply chains, and the major cost of qualifying new materials and methods. These are precisely the problems ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is built to solve. Closing this industrial gap is central to Europe’s ambition to lead – not just compete – in the commercial space era.

Evelyn Kerschbaumer, Commercial Officer at the European Space Agency, said: “The space economy is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and Europe’s future competitiveness depends on a strong base of innovative companies in every Member State. Through ESA Phi-LabNET we are building that base region by region, and Ireland’s focus on space-optimised hardware brings a distinctive strength to the network. We look forward to seeing Irish companies turn Open Call 2026 into real technologies with genuine global reach”.

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland was officially launched in February 2026 at IMR’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab in Mullingar by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, marking the programme’s formal establishment within Ireland’s fast-growing space ecosystem. The launch underlined strong Government backing for the initiative and for Ireland’s wider ambition to become a recognised hub for advanced manufacturing and materials innovation in the global space sector. Key research areas supported by Open Call 2026 will include Advanced Materials Research, Additive Manufacturing, Structural Analysis and Simulation, and Integration of Smart Materials.

Conor Sheehan, Irish Delegation to ESA, concluded saying: “ESA Phi-Lab Ireland shows what is possible by combining IMR’s leadership in advanced manufacturing with SEAM’s applied materials expertise. The programme gives Irish companies an accelerated, world-class route into one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and by leveraging the Technology Centres and Gateways Network in this way, strengthens Ireland’s contribution to the wider ESA ecosystem”.

Companies interested in applying to ESA Phi-Lab Ireland’s Open Call 2026 can do so from today by visiting www.esaphilab.ie.

About ESA Phi-Lab Ireland

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland enables research into next-generation upstream space-related science and technologies, with clear market alignment and scaling potential. As part of ESA Phi-LabNET – an expanding pan-European network of locally hosted Phi-Labs, each addressing a regionally important thematic area – ESA Phi-Lab Ireland facilitates the connections needed to accelerate the future of space through transformative innovation, and to boost Ireland and Europe’s competitiveness, sovereignty and leadership in the global space economy. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a structured “under one roof” centre covering the full lifecycle from materials development and characterisation, to design and large-scale manufacturing. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a programme of the European Space Agency delivered by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR). https://www.esaphilab.ie/

About IMR

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is a leading Research and Technology Organisation providing a portfolio of research, training, and consultancy services to Industry across the following four thematic pillars: Digitisation, Sustainable manufacturing, Design for Manufacturing, and Robotics and Automation. As an Enterprise Ireland IDA Ireland Technology Centre, IMR works with leading global and indigenous brands to demystify and derisk new and emerging technologies, and to deliver high impact collaborative research and services to enable advanced manufacturing for a broad range of clients across Ireland’s manufacturing network. https://imr.ie/

About SEAM

SEAM (South Eastern Applied Materials Research Centre) is an Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway based at South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford. Established in 2009, SEAM is an industry-focused applied research centre providing innovative materials engineering solutions – spanning materials characterisation, metal additive manufacturing, non-destructive 3D X-ray and CT analysis, finite element and computational fluid dynamics modelling, and failure analysis – to companies across the medical device, pharmaceutical, micro-electronics, precision engineering, energy and industrial technology sectors. https://seam.ie/

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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced that 337 primary schools across Ireland have received a Research Ireland Curious Minds Award for 2026.

Funded by Research Ireland, the Curious Minds Awards recognise schools that adopt a   hands-on, inquiry-based approaches to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in their teaching. The initiative is open to all primary schools and supports educators and students at every stage in their STEM teaching and learning journeys, from those starting out, to those adopting whole-school approaches.

2026 Curious Minds Awards

Announcing the 2026 Curious Minds Awards, Minister Lawless said:  “I am delighted to announce that 337 schools have won Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards this year. What makes these awards so special is their focus not just on what children learn, but on how they learn. Through Curious Minds, schools across Ireland are helping young people to ask questions, explore ideas, and develop the confidence to experiment and problem-solve. I want to thank the teachers and school leaders whose passion and dedication are inspiring the next generation to engage with STEM in creative and meaningful ways. Their commitment is helping to foster a lifelong curiosity in our young people. Congratulations to every school recognised this year on this wonderful achievement.”

Commenting on the awards, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said: “The Curious Minds Awards showcase the enthusiasm and creativity of school communities across Ireland. The programme is built on a simple but powerful belief – that every child is born curious and every teacher can nurture that curiosity into a lifelong love of science, technology, engineering and maths. By supporting teachers and embedding these curiosity-centred approaches in everyday learning, the programme is making a real difference in helping to develop skills that will benefit students both now and into the future.”

Through the programme, students are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Across participating schools, students explored STEM through practical activities including biodiversity studies, chick hatching projects, experiments exploring forces and materials, programming and coding, and design-and-make activities. These awards highlight the work of teachers and the wider school communities in creating learning environments where curiosity and exploration are at the core.

To mark the announcement, a Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards Ceremony is taking place this morning online in hundreds of classrooms throughout Ireland, hosted by TV presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil Smyth, to celebrate the awardees.

Schools participating in the Curious Minds Awards initiative apply for one of three award tiers:

• The?Silver Award: for schools beginning their STEM journey, involves a minimum of two classes.

• The Gold Award: for schools further along their STEM journey, involving at least half of the classes in the school.

• The Platinum Award: for schools that have already achieved the Gold Award and want to further integrate STEM into their school culture.

This year,?24 schools received the Silver Award,?295 schools received the Gold Award, and 18 schools received the Platinum Award.

For more information about the Research Ireland Curious Minds programme, the Awards, CPD and inquiry-based resources, please visit https://www.researchireland.ie/curious-minds/ or contact the team at curiousminds@researchireland.ie.

Award summary (2026):

• Total number of schools awarded in 2026: 337

• Platinum Awards:?18

• Gold Awards: 295

• Silver Awards: 24

• DEIS Schools: 95

• Gaelscoileanna: 12

• Special Schools: 4

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OpenText (NASDAQ/TSX: OTEX), a Waterloo, Ontario, Canada headquartered global leader in data management for enterprise AI, announced a €105 million investment that will create 400 new jobs across the company’s sites in Ireland over the next three years. The commitment, which doubles OpenText’s investment in Ireland, will significantly expand the company’s agentic AI, cybersecurity, sovereign cloud, and digital operations capabilities in service of European, Middle East & African (EMEA) economies and public sectors.

New jobs with OpenText

This is the single largest investment into Ireland by a technology company headquartered in Canada, supported by the Irish government through IDA Ireland. The €105 million investment is directed at operations and R&D across three areas foundational to trusted enterprise AI — agentic AI, sovereign cloud, and cybersecurity — that will create high-skilled roles at OpenText in Cork and Galway. Irish-based developers and researchers will design, deploy, secure and operate these AI & cloud capabilities for EMEA markets.

OpenText announced the investment today in Dublin alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, marking a significant milestone in Canada-Ireland technology and economic collaboration.

“OpenText’s investment in Ireland is a strong endorsement of the deep and growing economic partnership between Ireland and Canada,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin. “It reflects the strength of our longstanding relationship and will help create new opportunities for innovation, trade and high-value job creation between our two countries. Furthermore, as Ireland prepares to take up the EU Presidency, investments of this scale underline our role in shaping Europe’s competitiveness in AI, digital infrastructure and innovation and reflect the kind of international partnership that will be central to Europe’s future growth and resilience.”

“Organisations across Europe are looking for trusted partners that can help them deploy AI securely, govern it responsibly, and operate with confidence across increasingly complex digital environments,” said Shannon Bell, EVP, Chief Digital Officer and CIO, OpenText. “This investment expands our EMEA R&D and operations capacity to deliver the trusted AI, cybersecurity, and cloud capabilities our clients already rely on globally, while giving European organisations greater regional support and flexibility across the cloud environments of their choice.”

Speaking of the announcement Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said, “AI is one of the most significant growth drivers in the global economy today, and OpenText’s decision to invest in Ireland reflects our strength as a strategic location for world-leading companies seeking talent, innovation and a trusted environment in which to scale international operations. Particularly welcome is the creation of high-skilled roles across two regional locations, which highlights the depth of talent available throughout the country. This investment will strengthen Ireland’s leadership in AI and transformational technology and IDA Ireland looks forward to continuing to work closely in partnership with OpenText as it grows its business in Ireland and deepens its European presence.”

Scaling Trusted AI Operations for EMEA
OpenText’s expanded European operations will increase regional capacity for organisations operating in highly regulated and mission-critical environments, including organisations requiring greater control over data governance, cyber resilience, and cloud deployment models.
The investment is part of OpenText’s cloud-of-choice strategy to enable clients with the flexibility to operate across hybrid public cloud, private cloud, and sovereign cloud environments based on their operational, regulatory, and security requirements.

Investing in AI Innovation and Europe-based Talent
For more than 35 years, OpenText has helped organisations manage, protect, and innovate with their most important human, machine and transactional data. The Ireland expansion represents a significant step in the company’s global strategy to support trusted enterprise AI through secure data management, cybersecurity, sovereign cloud, and operational resilience.
OpenText intends to explore opportunities for university and research collaboration in Ireland as part of its long-term innovation and talent strategy, including potential partnerships focused on AI, cybersecurity, and secure digital operations.

R&D Across Three Foundational AI Areas
In agentic AI, OpenText research will advance how agents are orchestrated and governed including multi-agent collaboration, system boundary enforcement, and knowledge sharing across sovereign zones.

In data sovereignty, developers will build continuous compliance mechanisms that give organisations verifiable control over where data lives and how it is governed as AI environments become more dynamic.

In cybersecurity, research will focus on threat detection and response built natively for regulated environments, including federated intelligence sharing that strengthens collective resilience without exposing sensitive operational data across jurisdictions.

About OpenText
OpenText is a global leader in data management for enterprise AI, helping organisations protect, govern, and activate their data with confidence. Our technologies turn data into information with context to form the knowledge base for enterprise AI. Learn more at www.opentext.com.

About IDA Ireland
IDA Ireland is the national investment development agency responsible for attracting multinationals and high growth scale-ups.  We partner with companies worldwide to provide financial assistance, on-the-ground support and no-cost advice to help them establish and transform their operations in Ireland.  With over 75 years of experience, the agency supports more than 1,800 client companies which directly employ over 300,000 people.

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By David Stephen 

When electricity was nascent, there were people who were saying that it did not show up in productivity gains or had much value. The same for automobiles, and several technologies in the past.

By the time many of those technologies matured, the naysayers had already produced lots of casualties — people or firms who refused to pivot, taking them at their word.

Can Human Intelligence counter AI?

The assessment to make of any technology is how much it can do in a production cycle. Simply, capability. Now, for those it would displace, what novelty is available in the economy to absorb people elsewhere? Also, what exactly is machine replacing, human motion, or an ability beyond humans — heavy lifting?

If the economy is mature, almost to saturation in the 21st century, where it is not so easy to make entire new industries, to train and hire people at scale, there are capabilities that a machine might have, that could be detrimental to societal balance and survival.

Also, humans have already adjusted to economics. If the price of a quantity is low enough for a good enough quality, chances for commerce there is likelier, even if an acquaintance may have the same product at a higher price.

Competitiveness of machines against human intelligence is an impending unknown, regardless of rights, morality, ethics, empathy or welfare considerations for other humans.

Human Intelligence is extremely excellent, yet the source, the brain, handles other process, including emotions, feelings, regulation of internal signals that it is not possible to solely run intelligence purpose, in the brain, in any minute.

This means that what should be priority for the American Medical Association [AMA], National Medical Association [NMA], American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP], American Psychological Association [APA], American Psychiatric Association [APA], Society for Neuroscience [SfN] and others is to have an affiliated society for human intelligence, to push forward the possibility for progress for human intelligence, by components and mechanisms in the brain.

Although there is the International Society for Intelligence Research [ISIR]; and there was the 1st International Online Conference on Human Intelligence from March 25–26, 2026, with the theme “Measurement, Theories and Applications of Human Intelligence”; it is almost as though ISIR does not exist and that the IOCHI2026 did not happen, given how they were not significant, amid the emergency that human intelligence might be replaced and they appear as quiet, as weak and as if they have no value to offer.

This means that exploring possibilities for an American Academy of Human Intelligence, dedicated to competitiveness against artificial intelligence, would be pivotal.

Climate Change

When the risk of global warming became more apparent, what did the world do?

Several things, which included new goals of massive reforestation. This means that while it may not just be possible to totally cease the consumption of fossil fuels, it was possible to work from the direction of nature for prevention.

So, forward and backward passes of the effects to things that the scientific method established. If something is changing, what element made it so? If the use of that element is reduced and then a further element [reforestation] is added, could it be possible to hit some mitigation targets?

Now, there is progress and a lot of awareness in both directions, such that even with the extending war in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz almost completely closed, oil places held steady around $100, in the last month or so, showing the diversion of dependency against oil across purposes.

The effort is not just safety within technology, like electric vehicles, alternative energy and so forth, but safety with nature — reforestation.

What is safety with nature in the era of artificial intelligence? Human intelligence.

Math in AI

There is a recent [June 8, 2026] spotlight in The New York Times, They Spent Years on a Math Problem. Then They Were Scooped by A.I., stating that, “Artificial intelligence is mastering the kinds of projects that have long helped to build the careers of young mathematicians. What does that mean for their future?”

“While A.I. is popularly associated with stumbles in arithmetic (like ChatGPT’s meme-worthy failure to correctly count the number of R’s in the word strawberry), technology companies have poured vast resources into reasoning systems that can solve open math problems. Recent progress has turned into an arms race between A.I. competitors eager to show off machine intelligence through success in a field that is often held up as the pinnacle of human intellect.”

“For the thousands of graduate students in the United States currently envisioning their futures in pure math, and who learn the craft through many of the same skills and problems that A.I. is beginning to master, dire prognostications can be hard to avoid.”

“One way to think about the situation faced by young mathematicians is as a warp-speed version of the automation affecting work in other industries, bringing both opportunities and fears of obsolescence.”

American Academy of Human Intelligence? 

There are so many lay opinions that machines will not replace human intelligence. There is just an assumption that humans are too dominant or have been able to improve things, and that machines will be unable to come close to the prowess of humans.

The problem is that economics has made just a few ranges of intelligence too valuable. Also, human society has pivoted many aspects of processes — social and productivity, to digital.

So, even if a robot cannot navigate the environment or complete simple tasks or maybe machines have what they call jagged intelligence — like incomplete capabilities, machines that can do coding, write, solve math, do analysis, produce reports, show care, form friendships, assists in relationships and so forth, are primed to partition human intelligence ranks.

Wherever there is digital, machine intelligence will likely be infused.

Whatever AI can do, faster, cleaner and good enough, for tasks may also out-compete human intelligence. For example, with Math, some people cannot solve math at a certain level, if they cannot also do any work, of the same standard, in another field, it is unlikely that AI will simply be dismissed because human intelligence should be respected.

This makes it important to have the American Academy of Human Intelligence, with a lot of prioritizing to ensure that human intelligence is solved in the brain, even conceptually.

It is no longer enough to keep assuming that human intelligence cannot be replaced. However, economics and digital could let artificial intelligence keep the important parts, while humans retain others.

Yes, human creativity, inventiveness, and innovation are pristine, they do not just come every day, or available enough to produce value everywhere, every time.

This implies the commonality of operational intelligence, not improvement intelligence which means that if artificial intelligence can operate several valuable processes — competitively, it may cancel out what parts of society, may have to offer.

June, 2026 is Brain Awareness Month. It would have been excellent to have this professional association start up. It can be based on the postulation in Conceptual Biomarkers and Theoretical Biological Factors for Psychiatric and Intelligence Nosology.

There is a recent [June 4, 2026] report on The Transmitter, Exclusive: Brain and spinal cord institute halts research, citing funding problems, stating that, “Research operations have ceased at the Burke Neurological Institute (BNI) in White Plains, New York, The Transmitter has learned. The last day of research operations was 22 May.”

“The BNI is “the only research institute in the U.S. dedicated to finding treatments to repair the brain and spinal cord,” according to its website. It is a nonprofit research institute affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine and supported by the Winifred Masterson Burke Foundation. It receives funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and grants from numerous private funding sources, including the Dana Foundation and Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, according to the BNI website. (It is not affiliated with the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, which was purchased by Montefiore Health System in 2016.)”

David Stephen does research in conceptual brain science and served as a visiting scholar in medical entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He did computer vision research at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona.

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Guest post by Declan Goodman, who is a digital transformation consultant, speaker and creator of the Digital Mythology

In a world of AI agents, copilots and rapid tech change, staying on course has become harder than ever. In this article, I explore what the Forty-Seven R?nin, Odysseus and the Tao can teach us about principles, distraction and maintaining direction when the pressure to change course is everywhere.

After nearly 30 years working in digital transformation across different cultures, I’ve learned that successful transformation is more about people than it is about technology. This has become especially difficult in the Age of AI. Every week seems to bring a new platform, a new capability or a new promise of transformation. Vendors are constantly competing for our attention, priorities are changing and stakeholders are being presented with AI opportunities that often appear too good to ignore (in many cases they are).

How Mythology Can Help Us

The challenge today is no longer deciding what to invest in, rather it’s deciding what to ignore.

This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Across cultures and centuries, myths have helped people navigate uncertainty and competing priorities. They remind us that success is less about pace and more about focusing on what matters most.

Here are three examples of how mythology can help us stay on course when there are a thousand distractions.

Example 1: The Way (The Forty-Seven R?nin and Bushid?)

In Japanese legend, the Forty-Seven R?nin became famous not because they were the strongest warriors, but because of their deep commitment to a shared code of honour, discipline and loyalty. Their story became one of the most enduring examples of Bushid? “the way of the warrior” – where values, conduct and principles mattered just as much as skill itself.

Even during times of uncertainty and high pressure, the group remained aligned around a common framework that shaped how they acted, how they made decisions and how they ensured trust remained intact. It was their shared Way that kept them united when times became very difficult.

This is a powerful lesson for digital transformation. Modern organisations also need a shared way of working. For example, in an AI strategy, the common Way will appear as principles, governance models, AI guardrails, design standards and decision-making frameworks that help teams stay aligned as the transformation journey evolves.

Over the years, I have seen many organisations begin transformation programmes with strong principles and good intent, only for those principles to gradually lose their influence over time. Sometimes they become difficult to measure – or they are repeatedly waived (or ignored) under delivery pressure. A good tell-tale sign of this happening is when you notice a guiding principle gets constantly waived, and in time, is forgotten about.

The lesson here is that your Way must remain visible and relevant. It should help people make decisions when uncertainty emerges, rather than becoming another poster on the wall.

Practical ways to apply the Forty-Seven R?nin Bushid? philosophy to AI adoption include:

• Define a small set of clear principles that genuinely guide decision-making
• Create AI guardrails and governance models before major adoption begins
• Reinforce principles through behaviour and decision-making, not just communication

Example 2: The Sirens (Odysseus and Distraction)

In Greek mythology, Odysseus knew that the journey home to Ithaca would take him past the Sirens, whose songs were so alluring that sailors would abandon their course and steer directly towards destruction. Knowing the danger that lay ahead, Odysseus instructed his crew to tie him to the mast and ignore any future tempting pleas to change direction.

The lesson here is not that temptation should be avoided, rather, it’s that temptation should be anticipated before it even arrives.

This feels particularly relevant in the Age of AI. Every week there appears to be a new tool, a new agent or a new promise of transformation. Recently, several LinkedIn users embedded hidden instructions into their profiles which caused AI-powered recruitment tools to address them as “My Lord” and communicate in Old English. While amusing, the incident revealed something more fundamental about organisations – that they are increasingly rushing to deploy AI agents and automation tools, yet still learning where the limitations and unintended consequences are.

Much like Odysseus listening to the Sirens, leaders must learn to distinguish between genuine opportunity and distraction. Not every new capability deserves a place on the roadmap, nor does every new innovation. Otherwise we are just pursuing new tech for tech’s sake. Sometimes the most important decision is not what to pursue, but what to ignore.

Practical ways to apply this myth include:

• Regularly revisit the original business outcomes that the transformation was designed to achieve.
• Evaluate new opportunities against strategic objectives rather than hype.
• Create governance processes that prevent short-term distractions from derailing long-term goals.

Example 3: The Tao (Following the Way)

In Taoist philosophy, the Tao, or “The Way”, is not a rigid path that must be forced into existence, rather it’s a principle of alignment that helps people move forward in harmony with the world around them. The Tao teaches us that progress comes through letting go of ultimate control and instead applying understanding and balance.

This offers another valuable lesson for digital transformation. Many organisations attempt to force change through mandates and deadlines. While structure is important, lasting transformation depends on people understanding the principles behind the journey and making decisions that support it. When teams understand the Way, they need less control because they can navigate uncertainty for themselves. Rather than constantly seeking approval, they can make autonomous decisions confidently because they understand the values, principles and guardrails that guide the transformation.

This is especially important in modern digital environments where decisions must be made quickly and often with incomplete information. Teams that understand the Way can move forward with confidence because they know the boundaries within which they can operate.

Practical ways to apply this myth include:

• Help people understand the purpose behind governance and standards.
• Use principles to guide decisions rather than relying solely on approval processes.
• Create a culture where teams can innovate confidently within agreed guardrails.

Staying the Course

Mythology can make digital transformation more human by helping people understand how to navigate complexity, uncertainty and distraction.

The Forty-Seven R?nin teach us the value of shared principles. Odysseus reminds us that distractions are inevitable and must be anticipated. The Tao teaches us that progress comes from alignment rather than brute force.

Together, these myths remind us that successful transformation is not simply about having a destination, rather it’s about having a way of working that helps people make good decisions in challenging situations.

When people trust the Way behind the transformation, they are far more likely to stay aligned when complexity, uncertainty and pressure inevitably emerge.

In the end, digital transformation is not about technology. It is about people. When there are a thousand distractions competing for your attention, principles matter, guardrails have real purpose and adapting rather than forcing wins the day.

It’s time to embrace the power of mythology and define your principles, set your guardrails, stay the course.

Declan Goodman 

Helping leaders make sense of digital transformation through story, myth and meaning | Gartner Symposium Speaker | Founder, Digital Mythology®

Declan Goodman is a digital transformation consultant, speaker and creator of the Digital Mythology® framework, which uses mythic storytelling to help leaders explain complex change in a more human way. With nearly 30 years’ experience across digital strategy, transformation and enterprise architecture in Ireland, Europe and Australia, he hosts the Digital Mythology® podcast and delivers masterclasses on storytelling, leadership and digital transformation.

www.declangoodman.com | Socials | Digital Mythology® | declan@declangoodman.com

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By Iaros Belkin and Philip Cripe for Irish Tech News

Monaco does not do things quietly. The second edition of the Summit took place just days after the Grand Prix gifted us sophisticated race experience at Hôtel de Paris VVIP reception and had packed the streets of principality with absolutely unique crowds from all over the globe. Wisely, WAIB Monaco organizers decided to harvest that and packed most of the Race visitors into their chambers at One Monte Carlo for two days of AI and Web3 dialogues. The event managed to pack serious industry conversations, a beach party with a European Commissioner, and a 24-hour AI film hackathon into the same building. You came expecting a sun-soaked networking junket but you left having actually learned something very insightful.

WAIB Summit Monaco 2026

The regulatory picture was one of the more striking moments from the main stage. Forget MiCA 2.0. What is now being discussed in European policy circles is MIDA, a signal that regulators are moving beyond the original framework and trying to get ahead of a market that keeps outrunning the rulebook. A dedicated panel on regulation and compliance drew genuine debate from people with actual skin in the game.

The stablecoin conversation was equally blunt. Bank representatives on one panel made the case that crypto is not eliminating intermediaries, it is reshaping who they are and what they do. The argument was straightforward: the industry needs the liquidity that traditional banks carry, and no amount of decentralisation changes that math. It was a refreshingly honest exchange in a space that sometimes struggles to acknowledge its own dependencies.

Investors were equally direct about where their patience ends. Vibe coding and the current ease of spinning up proof-of-concept work has made both banks and VCs more cautious about early-stage projects. The message from the room was consistent: come back when your technology is further along. A demo that works on a laptop in a coworking space is no longer enough to get a serious meeting.

Kucoin, Kraken, and a range of project founders were present across both days, with conversations spanning tokenisation, AI infrastructure, and blockchain applications. The mix of large established players and smaller builders made for useful hallway conversations, which at an event this size often matter more than the panels themselves.

The social side of WAIB Monaco lived up to the setting. A dinner at the yacht club the evening before the summit opened the week on a civilised note. The first evening of the conference itself moved to a beach party where, depending on where you stood, you might find yourself talking to the European Commissioner, a family office investor, or the head of AI for Alibaba Europe. That range of people on one beach is what justifies the trip.

Inside One Monte Carlo, Alibaba Cloud was also the engine behind the AI Film Festival, which ran alongside the main summit in what became one of the more unexpected highlights of the two days. The festival opened with a marathon screening of short films, followed by sessions on craft and technique. Attendees learned how to build compelling short films using AI tools, with Alibaba Cloud’s technology at the centre of the workflow.

The hackathon gave participants 24 hours to produce a short film using AI. The standard was remarkable. One team lit up when their cat video came to life, the animal turning toward the smell of food in a moment of simple, genuine delight. The three winners went further. Each film went straight for human emotion: life and death, a disease slowly erasing identity, the quiet struggle to feel valued. Raw, fast, and effective. Twenty-four hours is not long, but it was enough to make the room feel something.

About the Authors

Iaros Belkin is the founder of Belkin Marketing, a boutique team that helps with Strategic Advisor to Deep Tech, Web3 and AI Founders. Two decades of experience navigating high-stakes global markets and orchestrating everything a good venture team needs: from grants and key partnerships to VVIP events elevated experience.

Philip Cripe is the founder of CripeHub Solutions LLC, a technology and political advisory company providing geopolitical analysis, business and technology advisory, and fractional C-suite services to clients across Europe and North America. Two decades of experience navigating complex international markets, with a documented track record spanning government advisory, blockchain business development, and high-stakes geopolitical forecasting.

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Swappie, Europe’s leading online destination for high-quality refurbished electronics, has announced that it has achieved EBITDA profitability of €2.5 million for the full year 2025. This milestone marks a significant turning point in Swappie’s journey to build a viable, long-term business that is good for both customers and the environment. While the company remained profitable across Europe, locally Swappie’s profit in Ireland saw a significant growth of more than 350% YoY.

Full-Year EBITDA Profitability

The company’s profitability reflects disciplined execution, improved unit economics, and a clear shift in consumer behaviour. In 2025, Swappie sold close to 650,000 refurbished devices, with a noticeable increase in average order value signalling that consumers are not only choosing refurbished more often, but are also increasingly willing to spend more on high-quality refurbished devices.

This trend highlights a broader mindset shift: consumers now view refurbished devices as a reliable and trusted alternative to new, combining affordability with quality and sustainability.

“Reaching full-year EBITDA profitability is not just a financial milestone. It proves that circular business models can scale profitably,” said Jussi Lystimäki, CEO of Swappie. “Consumers are choosing refurbished when it’s affordable, trustworthy, and high quality. That’s exactly what we aim to deliver and we’ll continue expanding into new categories to meet that demand.”

Building a Trusted Consumer Supply Engine

Swappie’s growing Consumer-to-Business (C2B) operations played a pivotal role in strengthening its circular supply chain in 2025, as consumer awareness around both the financial and environmental value of used electronics continues to rise.

This shift is also reflected at a broader European level. According to Eurostat1 more than half (51%) of Europeans still keep their old smartphones at home, while only 18% sell or give them away and just 11% recycle them. This highlights a significant untapped opportunity to bring millions of unused devices back into circulation.

Against this backdrop, Swappie is seeing a clear behavioural change. In 2025, the company’s online selling webpage reported a +12% year-on-year growth compared to 2024 and over +23% growth compared to 2023 in sell-back queries. This growing interest in checking the value of old devices signals a shift from passive ownership, keeping devices in drawers to actively recognising their resale value and reusability.

At the same time, almost a quarter of a million people sold their phones to Swappie in 2025. This momentum underscores rising consumer trust in Swappie’s transparent diagnostics, fair pricing, and fast payouts. It also reflects a broader transition toward circular consumption, where consumers are increasingly motivated not just by sustainability, but by convenience and financial return.

Localised Consumer Behaviour in Ireland

While the broader European trend shows that over half of consumers (51%) keep old smartphones at home, local data reveals important differences across Swappie’s core markets highlighting both challenges and opportunities for circularity. In Ireland, it’s reported that over 69% of Irish consumers are keeping old phones at home, the highest proportion in the EU. 15% are sold or given away, and a further 9% are recycled.

Strong Momentum in Ireland

Swappie has seen continued commercial momentum in Ireland. Year on year, returning customers grew by more than 9%, and average order value grew by 5%, signalling a growing level of consumer trust in the refurbished electronics category, solidifying refurbished tech as not just a “cheaper option,” but as a true alternative to brand-new devices.

On the consumer-to-business side, Irish customers selling their old phones to Swappie rose by 11% year-on-year, reflective of growing confidence in Swappie’s secure and reliable sales process.

Scaling into New Categories: iPhones and beyond

Last year, Swappie expanded beyond iPhones by launching refurbished iPads, tapping into broader consumer appetite for affordable, sustainable electronics. In 2026, the company is introducing more refurbished categories, starting with AirPods, providing customers with a broader range of high?quality refurbished products with the same trust and reliability which they adhere to Swappie.

Swappie’s 2025 performance underlines its readiness to scale with purpose, combining operational excellence, sustainability, and consumer-first innovation. The company remains committed to making refurbished electronics a mainstream choice for consumers combining sustainability with quality, value, and trust.

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Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Frank Feighan TD, launched ‘ATLAS’, a new AI-enabled platform at Maynooth University (MU), during the opening of the Innovation Value Institute’s ‘IVI Summit’ and the celebration of the Institute’s 20th anniversary.

Building upon IVI’s Capability Maturity Framework, developed over the past two decades, ‘ATLAS’ aims to make IVI’s multidisciplinary research accessible and applicable to organisations, to allow assessment and improvement. This is achieved through combining research knowledge, AI-enabled insights and practical organisational expertise into a single digital platform, designed to support decision-makers navigating complex transformation challenges.

The platform aims to make research on organisational capabilities, AI and data more accessible in practice, while fostering international collaboration between academia, industry and policymakers.

Announcing the launch of ATLAS, Minister Frank Feighan TD said: “For twenty years, Maynooth University’s Innovation Value Institute has built an international reputation for research excellence and practical impact, helping organisations across enterprise, government and society navigate digital transformation. Today marks an important milestone as IVI launches the next phase of its journey and continues to strengthen Ireland’s position as a global leader in digital innovation.”

Professor for Digital Service Innovation at Maynooth University and the Director of the Innovation Value Institute, Prof Markus Helfert, said: “The core DNA of IVI is three C’s: Co-Creation, Community, Collaboration. The digital future with the rise of AI brings challenges but many more opportunities, and we remain focused on applicable digital solutions for businesses and organisations. We are excited to launch ‘ATLAS’ to deliver accessible organisational capability improvement and real, future-focused business transformation.”

‘ATLAS’ was launched as part of a three-day digital summit hosted by the IVI at Maynooth University. The summit, Twenty Years of Impactful Research – What’s Next?, features more than 100 experts from over 15 countries representing industry, the public sector, and academia. The programme includes roundtable discussions on digital transformation, data, and AI across a range of sectors, from age-friendly futures to agricultural data.

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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, that operates a global delivery centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, today announced a global strategic partnership with Anthropic, the frontier AI company behind Claude, to help customers scale enterprise AI adoption. TCS will setup a dedicated Business Unit focused on delivering strong customer value propositions, joint industry solutions and deep AI expertise on the Claude family of models through early access to Claude models.

In regulated industries, most AI initiatives stall at the pilot stage, where the requirements for accuracy, auditability and oversight are far more stringent, and the consequences of error significantly higher. This partnership is designed to overcome those barriers. Combining TCS’ governance, controls and implementation expertise will enable enterprises to deploy Claude confidently in production, not just in experimentation.

As a Global Premier Partner in the Claude Partner Network, TCS will bring Claude models to enterprises that demand accuracy, deep integration, resilience and strong governance. Combining scaled internal deployment, joint go-to-market offerings, industry co-innovation, and workforce enablement, the partnership gives clients a practical path to enterprise-wide adoption and measurable outcomes.

TCS will equip 50,000 associates across engineering, finance, legal, marketing, and sales with Claude through enterprise-wide licensing. By deploying Claude internally, TCS willgain first-hand experience to transform its own operations while applying those insights to drive client success.

TCS and Anthropic will jointly go to market with AI solutions and services across industries including highly regulated sectors, such as financial services, public services, life sciences, healthcare, aviation, telecom, and medtech. Together, they will co-innovate solutions for domain-specific workflows, modernization, and customer experience transformation, backed by TCS’ consulting, engineering, and managed services capabilities.

The partnership also extends to TCS products, platforms and domain specific solutions in the following areas:

• In the UK, Diligenta, TCS’ FCA-regulated life and pensions business serving over 22 million Life and Pensions customers, will use Claude to improve customer experience through agentic process transformation at scale. In addition, BFSI Products and Platforms teams will leverage Claude Code to enhance productivity in Software engineering and IT Operations.
• TCS iON conducts over 75 million annual assessments across 1,500 cities in India. Through this partnership TCS iON will deliver high-impact learning and certification on Claude models, helping build a future-ready, AI-certified workforce in India.
• TCS will also bring its domain-led engineering expertise to the Claude Code ecosystem through reusable skills and plugins, including capabilities such as claims adjudication and lending advisory.

K Krithivasan, CEO and MD, TCS, said, “Enterprise AI value comes from understanding business context, orchestrating complex systems, and applying deep AI engineering talent. By combining Claude with our industry expertise, engineering rigor, and large-scale transformation capabilities, we will help customers move faster to production, especially in industries where trust, resilience, and regulatory discipline are critical. This partnership reflects TCS’ broader strategy to help clients become perpetually adaptive enterprises by turning frontier AI into transformation at enterprise scale.”

Dario Amodei, Co-founder and CEO, Anthropic, said, “We built Claude to be safe, trusted, and helpful, particularly in contexts where accuracy matters most. This partnership deepens our commitment to India, our second-largest market, with TCS bringing Claude to enterprises and professionals across the region and globally, including 50,000 of its employees.”

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said, “This partnership reflects our shared conviction that AI will be foundational and transformative for enterprises worldwide. By combining Anthropic’s capabilities with Tata Group’s scale, trusted relationships, and nation-building commitment, we will accelerate enterprise reinvention and equip India’s youth with the skills to lead in the AI era.”

The global off-grid solar sector reached a new high in 2025, as companies affiliated with GOGLA sold more than 10 million solar energy kits, the highest annual total recorded to date. According to the latest Global Off-Grid Solar Market Report, GOGLA affiliates now serve almost 150 million people worldwide, representing a net increase of 11 million people in 2025.

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke announced that a further €40 million will be made available under his Department’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), which will open for applications on October 1st this year.

Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund

DTIF seeks to invest in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies on a commercial basis; drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry; facilitate enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies; and fund a new wave of start-ups.

Since the Fund’s inception in 2018, a total of 131 collaborative projects has been supported with awards averaging €4 million over seven competitive calls to date. A further €40 million is being made available by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to support successful applications under the new Call 8.

Speaking at the announcement, Minister Burke said:

“I am very pleased to be making €40 million available for an eighth call under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, delivering on a key commitment in our Programme for Government, and underscoring my Department’s resolute focus on deepening Ireland’s innovation capacity and underwriting Ireland’s competitiveness into the future, as set out in our Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030.

Through the provision of critical funding, DTIF is empowering companies to undertake ambitious, high-risk research in niche, high-value areas that might otherwise remain unexplored. The Fund has supported collaboration between researchers and industry professionals to develop deep expertise in transformative technologies that aim to disrupt established markets, while generating tangible economic and societal benefits.”

Minister Burke was joined for the announcement today at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment by participants from three DTIF projects who secured funding under previous calls:

• ProVerum Ltd, an Irish owned medical technology company, and project lead on PROVIEW, a consortium also involving Innovative Catheter Solutions Ltd and Trinity College Dublin, focused on minimally invasive therapies;
• Luminate Medical, an Irish owned medtech company and spin-out from the University of Galway, a participant in the LILY project to develop an innovative wearable medical device designed to prevent chemotherapy?induced hair loss (CIA); and
• Equal1 Laboratories, an Irish owned quantum computing company, involved in three DTIF projects focused on advancing quantum technologies.

Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD, said:

“DTIF has proven to be a powerful catalyst for translating world-class research into tangible economic and societal benefits. Through its strong emphasis on collaboration, successful projects have created high value employment opportunities for our highly skilled graduates and deepened our expertise in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, life sciences and Quantum technologies.

Continued Government investment through a new DTIF Call will further strengthen Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem, which is fundamental to a high performing economy and a thriving society.”

A series of regional information and matchmaking events will be rolled out by Enterprise Ireland around the country during September and October, that will provide an opportunity for prospective applicants to learn about the application process and link up with potential project partners.

Also commenting on the announcement, Mark Christal, Enterprise Ireland, said:

“Since its inception, DTIF has backed collaborations between Irish companies and our research base that are delivering real-world impact. Driving innovation is central to Enterprise Ireland’s strategy, and DTIF has proven to be a very effective tool for it – helping ambitious businesses turn research strengths into competitive products and services. With Call 8, we look forward to working with the next cohort of Enterprise Ireland clients ready to take on that same level of ambition.”

Call 8 will open on 1 October 2026 for submission of applications until 31 January 2027.

DTIF Call 8 Background information

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
The Government has already approved €530 million towards 131 successful projects under seven previous DTIF calls. These projects cover areas such as life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental. Collaborative projects under the Fund must be geared towards commercialisation over a 3 to 7-year timeframe.

The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.

Each project must have at least one SME and one other enterprise in a consortium of three or more project partners. Collaborations with the Irish research sectors are encouraged. All partners must be based in Ireland and be a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta or an eligible Research Performing Organisation.

The Fund targets industrial research and / or experimental development projects of scale and impact. The minimum funding request must be €1.5 million for projects of up to three years’ duration. SME partners must provide matched funding while large companies must provide 60% project funding.

Call 8 will open for applications on the 1st of October 2026. All eligible applications received by the deadline of 31 January 2027 will undergo rigorous assessment by panels of independent international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact & sustainability and strength of the collaboration.

Enterprise Ireland will host a series of regional promotional events around the country during September and October, offering information on the Call and providing opportunities for networking and matchmaking amongst multinationals, SMEs and research performing organisations.

Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through the enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF  webpage.

DTIF Projects referenced in the Release:

1. PROVIEW, a consortium led by ProVerum Ltd with Innovative Catheter Solutions Ltd and Trinity College Dublin, which developed a system to deliver minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia [DTIF Call 3]; and
2. Equal1 Laboratories, a partner across three funded projects focused on advancing quantum technologies, including a platform for evaluating quantum algorithms, the development of a National Space Subsystems and Payload Initiative to support SME participation in the global space market, and the application of quantum-enabled solutions to address key challenges in areas such as energy, climate modelling, advanced materials, and pharmaceuticals.
3. Luminate Medical is lead partner in LILY, along with Gentian Consultancy Services Ltd and University of Galway. The project aims to develop an innovative wearable medical device designed to prevent chemotherapy induced hair loss (CIA) innovative cancer care to patients.

They also lead on the Call 4 LILAC project, which aims to improve treatment outcomes while reducing long-term side effects of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) and on a Call 7 LOTUS project which aims to develop a new system enabling patients to independently use subcutaneous ports for low-risk blood draws and infusions at home, with remote monitoring by clinical staff.

All three of these projects have the potential to deliver innovative cancer treatments and care to cancer patients.

See more breaking stories here.

We look at this business book from Neil Pretty  See more about Leading Beyond Fear here. 

Leading Beyond Fear: The Formula for Psychological Safety, Adaptability, and Growth, reviewed

Leaders can be more humble, with positive results for employees. At the same time, we have a pushback about employees rights, diversity, ethics, and what’s best for the planet. There are B-Corps, and then there are drill baby drill attitudes towards the planet, people, and everything inbetween. The author, Pretty, talks about authentic leadership, with a lot of common sense and an understandable series of important values. It can seem paradoxical that, at the same time we live in a world with so many self serving leaders, clearly out for their own gain and little else.

Petty lays down good ideas of how to do the right thing, and how to do it well. There are lots of good strategies, and if only more leaders were open enough and interested to follow these approaches then we could be looking at much better run organisations, with happier workforces too.

More about the book

A real-world guide to modern day leadership with a strong focus on building an inspiring workplace culture

In Leading Beyond Fear: The Formula for Psychological Safety, Innovation, and Growth, author Neil Pretty explains the foundations of inspiring and effective leadership. The book is a comprehensive walkthrough and field guide offering a holistic, one-stop resource for leaders at any level that builds on key components of culture, psychological safety, developing relationships, and scaling your influence.

Pretty demonstrates how to tackle the recurring challenges you face every day, as well as the novel and entirely unique obstacles that can feel like they come out of nowhere. He shows you how to confidently draw on your experience, build new skills, and access your talents to guide your team, make sound decisions, and access the best thinking in the talent that surrounds you.

Inside the book:

Strategies for shifting your mindset and evolving as a leader to build confidence, humility, influence, and greater comfort with the unknown. Techniques to fulfill your leadership potential and operationalize the most critical skills needed to generate team performance, thrive as a leader, and authentically navigate the modern workplace.
How to take advantage of critical moments, build psychological safety, foster growth, and evolve as a “cultural architect” who can effectively scale your influence through others.

Perfect for executives, entrepreneurs, founders, managers, aspiring leaders, and culture architects working to build better business while improving the experience of the workplace, Leading Beyond Fear is a must-read for professionals, and anyone else ready to revolutionize their approach to leading.

More about the author

Neil Pretty is the co-founder of Aristotle Performance and a leadership consultant who has worked with organizations in more than 25 countries on 6 continents. He’s an experienced leader, entrepreneur and polymath, who has trained and certified hundreds of consultants and several thousand leaders. Pretty’s work is focused on helping leaders build psychological safety as the foundation for high-performance, adaptability and innovation.

See more breaking stories here.

This morning I woke up with an earworm, or as the Americans say, ear candy. 

The lyrics that were going through my head were: 

And if I had one wish,
then it would be this,
love and happiness to you.? 

I was singing these few lines to myself over breakfast and enjoying them. while hoping to remember what this song was and who sang it?

After a little time, I told my wife the lines and asked her if she knew the answer to my question. No.

Two minutes later, she sent me the answer on WhatsApp.? 

I was disappointed that I now had the answer, as I realised I was enjoying singing along to myself in the hope of remembering.

Everything and anything is available to you digitally 24/7 from hacks to fix your home to [insert your own answer here]. 

We no longer have the pleasure and satisfaction of working something out for ourselves and, in doing so, imprinting the solution in our heads.

Just think of the pleasure you gain, having done one of the following:

Growing fruit or flowers rather than just purchasing them.
Fixing a squeaky door.
Painting an old shed or your sitting room.
Connecting your phone to your new smart home appliance.

Now you have something to talk about when visitors call.

Oh! There’s another thing, when was the last time visitors called unexpectedly?

As I was writing this article, my house phone rang.

Who has a house phone anymore, and if you do, would you answer it?

I did not, thinking that if it’s important, they would leave a message.

However, they could have called me to tell me that I had won €18,000 on the raffle tickets I bought in Mullingar two weeks ago.

I will never know, as people never leave messages anymore. What’s that about?

Can you imagine how much easier it would be if a friend or colleague just called you to invite you to play golf or have lunch?

Oh! I forgot.

You do not answer your phone.

Then they will email or WhatsApp you, and the dance of agreeing on a day and time will take 3 to 4 messages before you finally agree to get together.

All the while, avoiding the pleasure of a chat and human engagement, while quickly agreeing on a mutually convenient time and place.

We believed that all this technology would improve our means of connection and engagement; it does not.? 

This tension between easy access to information and real satisfaction is the challenge of our digital lives: Have we traded genuine engagement and connection for convenience?

Take a moment to ask yourself: When did you last meet friends socially, or entertain guests at home, was it before COVID?

You spend lots of money to have your home just so, but who ever sees it?

The Problem Today

We now downgrade all human engagements.

• People we email, we should phone.

• People we phone, we should meet.

• People we should meet for dinner, we meet for lunch.

If you’re curious to know what the song was, give me a call. 

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie

Landmark Technologies, an Irish provider of IT and cybersecurity services, has announced the results of new research which reveals that more than half (51%) of office workers in Ireland have felt pressured to cut corners on regulatory compliance to meet targets or deadlines in the past year. Meanwhile, one-in-ten (10%) say that, in the last 12 months, they did not report a compliance breach that they were aware had happened.

The research, carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Landmark, surveyed 1,000 employees in the Republic of Ireland on attitudes towards compliance with regulations such as GDPR, NIS2, and ISO in the workplace. It found that more than half (54%) believe their organisation prioritises speed or results over compliance obligations. Some 52% have seen senior management bend or break compliance rules, suggesting that, in many cases, poor compliance practices may be driven from the top down.

The findings point to growing challenges around regulatory complexity and modern ways of working. Some 61% of office workers believe compliance requirements are becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with, while 58% say artificial intelligence (AI) is making compliance more challenging for organisations. A further 61% believe remote and hybrid working has made compliance harder to enforce.

The research also uncovered a number of concerning employee behaviours when it comes to compliance, particularly regarding data security and confidentiality. In the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) of office workers used personal cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, to store work files. Nearly a fifth (18%) of employees shared customer data via unsecured channels such as personal email or WhatsApp.

Furthermore, one-in-five employees (21%) accepted terms and conditions on behalf of their organisation without reading them, while the same proportion clicked through a work compliance policy without reading it. Some 16% signed off on a work compliance document without fully understanding it, 14% downloaded company data onto a personal USB drive, and 12% bypassed compliance protocols in order to meet a deadline.

However, the research suggests that many organisations are prioritising employee awareness and education when it comes to workplace best practices. Encouragingly, the majority (91%) of office workers say they have received cybersecurity training within the past 12 months, with the average time since their last training session standing at three-and-a-half months.

Ken Kelleher, Managing Director, Landmark Technologies: “Compliance is not optional and cannot be treated as an afterthought. As cyber risks grow and regulatory environments become more complex, data protection is paramount. However, our research points to a combination of factors which are creating environments where risky behaviours are becoming normalised. Particularly concerning is the example being set by senior leaders as well as the number of employees using unsecured or unregulated means to share sensitive data.

“As AI and modern ways of working continue to reshape the workplace, organisations need to ensure that compliance processes are not only robust and comprehensive, but are clear and easy for employees to adhere to. Strong leadership and regular training are critical to help businesses to reduce risk and maintain trust.”

See more stories here.

A new digital healthcare approach, developed by patientMpower, an Irish digital health company specialising in solutions for remote patient monitoring, has been found by independent researchers to reduce health service costs by 92% and cut outpatient appointments by 80%.

The results were confirmed in a randomised controlled trial conducted by researchers in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester.

The trial examined the benefits of remote patient monitoring in lung transplant patients and the findings, which have just been published in The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, follow other successful Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) of patientMpower’s self-monitoring solution, including one in which hospitalisations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were reduced by 82%.

Randomised control trials are the gold standard in demonstrating clinical results, but are rarely applied to digital health, so the new study findings represent a major development for patientMpower and a strong endorsement of their product’spotential to support healthcare change at scale.

In addition to respiratory healthcare, patientMpower’s system is already used to support the management of patients with heart and kidney disease as well as those in maternity care with the potential for it to be become a central part of global outpatient healthcare across a wide range of conditions.

The findings of the latest UK trial show the need for patients to attend clinic visits was reduced by 80% when patientMpower’s technology was used to remotely assess their health parameters and symptoms. There was also a significant 92% reduction in health service costs compared to usual clinic-based care, while patients reported six-hour savings in travel time on average.

The results were achieved without differences in patients’ symptoms, clinical parameters, adverse events or unscheduled visits between groups, indicating that the improvements in service efficiency and patient experience did not impact care quality.

Founded in 2015 and based in The Digital Hub in Dublin 8, patientMpower’s technology is already used across seven countries. The system supports the monitoring of patients remotely reducing hospital and clinic visits while allowing for the early identification of complications.

The research underpinning the new findings was prompted by the preference of patients for virtual care. Clinicians at Manchester NHS Trust and patientMpower, who have been working together since 2020, developed a technology-enabled care pathway designed to safely reduce the need for routine outpatient visits while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Eamonn Costello, CEO of patientMpower, said: “Today over 40% of people in Ireland live with a long-term condition, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or asthma. The predicted 175% surge in Ireland’s over 65-year-olds will dramaticallyincrease demand on ambulatory care over the next two decades. As such, solutions to increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of outpatient and integrated services, while ensuring a high quality of care, are imperative.

“patientMpower specialises in doing just this. Our technology reduces pressure on outpatient and integrated care services, and prevents acute admissions, by enabling care teams to deliver the level of patient-centred care they cannot provide with traditional models. Our focus is not only on driving innovation to support population-level health, but on proving our solutions work.”

Costello added that patientMpower has already benefitted from system-wide adoption of its technology as a direct result of the results secured in Manchester.

Manchester NHS recently renegotiated its agreement with the Dublin-headquartered medtech firm, extending its use of the company’s software across a number of new care pathways, with over 1,000 patients under management.

The solution has also been integrated with Epic, Manchester’s electronic health record, further embedding the technology to streamline clinical processes. Expansion in other centres is underway, as services seek to manage budgets withoutimpacting patient care. The trial was supported by UK Government funding, designed to accelerate the scaling of patient-focused innovation.

patientMpower’s technology is already well known to Irish healthcare professionals, having supported the delivery of the home-based care of about 10,000 Covid-19 patients during the pandemic. It has since been adopted across Europe andNorth America, with clients including the Rotterdam-based centre of excellence ERASMUS MC, Belgium’s UZ Leuven, and NYU Langone Health in New York.

In Ireland, the National Kidney Transplant Service experienced a 70% reduction in clinic visits after implementing the solution. The service recently expanded its use of the software through an integration with its electronic health records. This allows patients to access their latest medication schedule directly on their phone, reducing the potential for medication errors and freeing up valuable time for specialist nurses.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Conall O’Seaghdha, Consultant Nephrologist and Transplant Physician with the National Kidney Transplant Service at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin said: “A careful balance between innovation and evidence is essential to healthcare. As we have seen with the solution in use at National Kidney Transplant Service, gold standard clinical validation gives healthcare professionals the confidence to embed technology into our everyday practice. System-wide adoption has to be evidence-based.”

While many virtual care solutions focus on enabling early discharge from acute hospital care, often using contract healthcare staff to oversee the monitoring of patients, patientMpower specialises in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of ambulatory care pathways.

This reduces pressure on outpatient and integrated care services and helps prevent acute admissions by enabling existing care teams to deliver more personalised, patient-centred care at scale, that cannot be achieved with traditional models.This was evidenced by a randomised control trial conducted at Tallaght Hospital which found that the technology enabled an 82% reduction in hospitalisation when used to support self-management of the common lung condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

See more stories here.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning parents and caregivers not to buy or use pillows marketed as baby sleep accessories. The products can cause death through suffocation or overheating.

The CCPC has identified that these products are being made available for sale, primarily via online marketplaces, and CCPC takedown notices have so far prompted the removal of 1,115 listings of these products from AliExpress, Amazon, Fruugo and Joom.

CCPC product safety officers continue to engage with online marketplaces to ensure that any of these products marketed for sleep and use in cots with babies are removed from relevant platforms.

Baby sleep pillows – sometimes called soothing pillows, baby sleep positioners, baby patters or sleep companions – are soft, cushioned products, often animal-shaped, which are marketed as sleep aids for babies. The products pose a risk when placed with sleeping and/or unattended babies.

Suffocation and cot death risk

Babies can suffocate if something covers their nose and mouth, such as pillows, cushions or other soft items. These items should never be placed in a baby’s cot or left with an unattended baby.

To help prevent cot death, the HSE recommends always placing babies on their backs to sleep with their feet to the end of the cot and keeping their heads uncovered. Parents should use cellular blankets (the tiny holes allow air to circulate) or a sleeveless sleeping bag. Make sure the cellular blanket is tucked loosely but securely below the baby’s shoulders.

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications said:

“Parents and caregivers buy these baby sleep pillows just hoping to help their babies sleep, but these products are potentially fatal.

“Pillows and cushions should not be marketed or sold for use in cots or cribs with sleeping babies. CCPC officers have secured the removal of a number of listings offering these unsafe products for sale and acted quickly to get them off the market. The CCPC will continue market surveillance activities for these products and ensure that sales to Irish consumers are stopped.

“Businesses must ensure that the items they sell are safe. We encourage consumers to contact us where they have concerns about potentially unsafe products.”

Dr Fiona Cianci, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE Child Health Public Health said:

“Research has shown that there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This includes putting your baby on their back to sleep in a cot with a well-fitting, firm mattress and clear of all items, including soft objects or anything loose or fluffy.

“Pillows, cushions and similar products should not be in the cot as they could suffocate your baby. There is also a risk of a baby overheating if they are sleeping on a soft surface that their head can sink into. There is a higher risk of SIDS if a baby overheats.

“Some of these products are described to parents as helping babies with issues such as reflux or flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly). Our advice is to never use any pillow, cushion or similar product in your baby’s cot. Parents can find more advice on safe sleep on the HSE’s mychild.ie website.”

Guest post by Edward Rowe is the author of The Standard Model for Business and a governance, assurance, and risk executive with more than twenty-one years of experience advising boards, investment leaders, and executive teams globally.

Growth is one of the most misunderstood stages in business. Most organisations focus heavily on revenue growth, customer acquisition, and market expansion. Yet many companies discover that scaling successfully is not simply about selling more. It is about building the organisational capability and infrastructure required to support sustainable growth.

The Standard Model for Business

A company can grow quickly whilst becoming weaker internally. This is why some businesses experience operational breakdowns, leadership friction, declining customer experience, governance failures, or cultural instability as they scale. Growth exposes structural weaknesses that were manageable at a smaller size.

The question is not simply how to grow. It is which business functions become most important as organisations become larger and more complex. The answer changes depending on the stage of growth.

Product and operations come first

As a startup, a business survives through execution. Product Development, Business Development, Customer Service, and Operations form the core engine of the organisation. Without a product customers value and an operational capability to deliver it consistently, nothing else matters.

Many early-stage companies focus heavily on innovation and sales while underestimating operational delivery. I have seen organisations achieve impressive early growth only to find that operational capability could not keep pace. Customers continued buying, but fulfilment, quality, and customer experience began to deteriorate under the pressure of growth.

In my experience, operations rarely receives the same attention as product or growth, yet it is often the difference between a business that can scale sustainably and one that eventually becomes constrained by its own success.

Customer Service also becomes increasingly important during growth. Early customer experiences shape reputation, retention, referrals, and long-term trust. Companies that ignore customer feedback during growth can lose alignment with the market.

At this stage, simplicity and speed matter. Small teams benefit from agility, fast communication, and rapid decision-making. However, growth eventually introduces complexity that requires additional capability.

Finance becomes a strategic function

Many founders initially view finance as a reporting requirement rather than a growth capability. In reality, Finance often becomes more important as organisations scale because growth creates complexity that needs to be managed. More people, more customers, more systems, and more investment all increase the need for visibility and control.

Rapid growth often creates hidden financial pressure. Revenue may increase while profitability weakens. Hiring accelerates. Technology costs expand. Working capital requirements increase. Without financial control, growth can quickly become dangerous. Counterintuitively, growth itself can become a source of financial risk. Businesses often require additional people, systems, inventory, and working capital before the revenue benefits of growth are fully realised.

Strong finance functions help leadership teams understand not only where the business has been, but where it is heading. Financial insight supports better decisions around hiring, expansion, pricing, investment, and operational efficiency. Investors also expect increasing financial maturity as businesses scale. Weak reporting, inconsistent metrics, or poor forecasting can undermine confidence quickly.

Human resources builds organisational capability

People challenges increase significantly during growth. A business with ten employees operates very differently from a business with one hundred or one thousand. Informal communication, founder oversight, and reactive hiring eventually stop working.

Recruitment quality, leadership development, organisational structure, performance management, and culture all become increasingly important as teams expand. Many growing companies underestimate how quickly culture can fragment during periods of rapid hiring.

Throughout my career, I have seen in many growing organisations people challenges become more difficult than commercial challenges. Building a product can seem easier than building a leadership team capable of scaling the organisation. The organisations that scale most effectively usually build leadership capability intentionally rather than assuming strong technical performers will naturally become strong managers.

Internal alignment also becomes increasingly important. As teams grow, departments can become isolated from one another. Communication gaps widen. Decision-making slows. Competing priorities emerge. HR plays a central role in maintaining organisational cohesion as organisations expand.

Technology moves to the centre of the business

Technology is no longer simply a support function. As organisations scale, Information Technology increasingly becomes part of the organisation’s operating architecture. Systems integration, data quality, cybersecurity, automation, and digital workflows all influence scalability.

Increasingly, technology influences almost every aspect of organisational performance. Decisions made within IT now affect customer experience, operational efficiency, financial reporting, risk management, and strategic decision-making.

Many growing businesses initially rely on fragmented systems and manual processes. This may work temporarily, but operational strain eventually emerges. Disconnected systems create inefficiencies across finance, operations, customer service, logistics, and management reporting. Data becomes inconsistent. Decision-making slows down. Teams duplicate effort.

Strong technology infrastructure enables scale by improving visibility, coordination, automation, and resilience. For technology-led companies especially, IT maturity can directly influence valuation, investor confidence, and long-term competitiveness.

Growth requires dedicated growth functions

As organisations continue to scale, growth itself becomes a specialised capability. In the early stages, growth is often driven primarily through sales effort, founder energy, and market opportunity. Over time, however, organisations typically require more structured approaches to expansion.

Many leaders assume growth is simply a larger version of sales. In reality, organisations often reach a point where growth requires entirely new capabilities that did not previously exist. Functions such as Research & Development, Partnerships, and Logistics become increasingly important as businesses grow beyond their initial markets, products, and operating models.

Research & Development helps organisations remain competitive by improving existing products, developing new offerings, and responding to changing customer needs. Companies that focus exclusively on today’s revenue can easily lose sight of tomorrow’s opportunities.

Partnerships can become a powerful growth lever. Strategic alliances can accelerate market access, expand capabilities, reduce costs, and create opportunities that would be difficult to achieve independently.

Logistics becomes equally important as operational complexity increases. As customer volumes, geographic reach, and supplier networks expand, organisations require stronger coordination across their supply chains. Poor logistics can quickly undermine customer experience, profitability, and growth ambitions.

Growth is often viewed as a commercial challenge. In reality, sustainable growth depends upon an organisation’s ability to continuously innovate, collaborate, and scale its delivery capability.

Governance and risk become essential

One of the biggest mistakes scaling businesses make is waiting too long to strengthen governance. Governance is often introduced only after a problem has occurred. In practice, the organisations that scale most effectively are usually those that strengthen governance before it becomes necessary rather than after it becomes painful.

Governance is often misunderstood as bureaucracy or corporate overhead. In reality, good governance enables organisations to scale with greater clarity, accountability, and control.

As businesses expand, decision-making becomes more distributed. More employees gain authority. More vendors become involved. More regulations apply. More stakeholders expect transparency. Risk exposure increases naturally with scale.

Functions such as Legal, Procurement, Corporate Governance, and Risk Management become increasingly important because they help organisations manage complexity responsibly. This is particularly relevant in highly regulated sectors, international operations, or businesses handling sensitive data and customer information.

Companies that delay maturing their governance often face greater operational disruption later. Retrofitting controls into a large organisation is significantly harder than building scalable governance as you go.

No function operates in isolation

One of the most important lessons in scaling is that no single function drives success independently. The importance of each function changes as organisations grow, but the need for integration increases at every stage.

Strong sales without operational capability creates customer frustration. Fast hiring without culture integration creates fragmentation. Technology expansion without governance creates risk. Financial growth without strategic alignment creates instability.

The organisations that scale most effectively understand how functions interact as part of a larger system. This is where many leadership teams struggle. Most executives are trained deeply within one discipline, yet scaling requires cross-functional thinking.

Businesses do not scale successfully because one department performs well. They scale because the organisation operates cohesively. The challenge for modern leaders is not simply building stronger functions. It is building stronger integration between them. The organisations that scale most successfully are rarely those with the strongest individual functions, they are usually the organisations that integrate those functions most effectively. That is ultimately what enables sustainable growth.

About the author

Edward Rowe is the author of The Standard Model for Business and a governance, assurance, and risk executive with more than twenty-one years of experience advising boards, investment leaders, and executive teams globally. A Fellow Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), his career spans financial services, global manufacturing, renewables, sovereign wealth, and private equity, giving him a uniquely broad lens on how organisations grow, adapt, and succeed.

See more guests posts here.

Fitzgerald Park was transformed into a world of science, discovery and imagination last weekend as thousands of visitors attended Cork Carnival of Science 2026, despite the rain and the event being outdoors 15,000 people enjoyed two great days of free family entertainment, hands-on learning and unforgettable scientific experiences in the heart of Cork City.

Organised by Cork City Council and funded through the Research Ireland Discover Programme, the much-loved science festival returned on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, once again using the pop up effect of carnival fun in Fitzgerald Park to bring Ireland’s largest outdoor STEM experience to life! Families travelled from across Cork and beyond to explore a packed programme of live science shows, interactive exhibits, creative workshops and roaming performances that brought science to life in fun, accessible and unexpected ways.

Throughout the weekend, visitors young and old immersed themselves in a vibrant programme featuring more than 50 exhibitors and 22 live science shows. Crowds gathered to experience the debut of ‘The Science of Hogwarts ‘brought to the marquee stage by Science 2 Life, where potions, levitation and spellbinding demonstrations revealed the science behind seemingly magical phenomena.

RTÉ’s Mark the Science Guy proved a major attraction with his energetic ‘Science is My Superhero’ show, while providers including Simply Science, Science Made Simple, W5 and Inspirational Science delivered a packed schedule of live performances exploring everything from sport and engineering to chemistry and physics.

Beyond the main stages, Fitzgerald Park buzzed with activity as families explored interactive discovery zones featuring some of Ireland’s leading researchers, educators and STEM organisations. Visitors built and created at LEGO Education workshops, explored marine life under microscopes, experimented with renewable energy concepts inside Merck’s Curiosity Cube, and engaged with hands-on exhibits spanning biodiversity, sustainability, technology and innovation.

Roaming performers added an extra layer of excitement throughout the park, with giant bubbles, balloon-powered experiments, storytelling experiences and science-inspired characters creating surprise moments around every corner. From the youngest visitors taking part in their first experiment to adults rediscovering their curiosity, the festival offered opportunities for all ages to engage with science through exploration, creativity and play.

Accessibility and inclusion remained central to the festival experience, with dedicated quiet spaces, interactive activity zones and a mobile sensory van helping to ensure Cork Carnival of Science remained welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork said, “Cork Carnival of Science has once again shown how science can capture imaginations and bring people together in a truly engaging way. It was wonderful to see Fitzgerald Park filled with families discovering, experimenting and learning together throughout the weekend. Events like this help make science accessible and enjoyable for everyone while showcasing Cork’s commitment to creativity, education and innovation.”

Dr Rachel Iredale, Head of Public Engagement for Research Ireland said, “Research Ireland is proud to support Cork Carnival of Science through the Discover Programme. The festival continues to demonstrate the value of creating opportunities for people of all ages to engage with STEM in hands-on and meaningful ways. By bringing researchers and communities together in such an open and welcoming environment, the event helps inspire curiosity and encourages future generations to explore the possibilities that science and innovation can offer.”

Carnival of Science Organiser Mervyn Horgan said, “Every year we aim to create a festival where science feels accessible, exciting and fun, and the response from visitors this weekend was fantastic. Whether families were exploring the science behind a magic trick, taking part in an experiment, meeting researchers or simply discovering something new together, the enthusiasm and curiosity on display across Fitzgerald Park was incredible. We’re enormously grateful to our exhibitors, performers, volunteers, partners and visitors who helped make this year’s event such a success.”

Cork Carnival of Science forms part of Cork City Council’s long-standing commitment to STEM engagement and public learning through initiatives including Lifetime Lab at the Old Cork Waterworks. By bringing science out of traditional settings and into one of Cork’s most popular public spaces, the festival continues to inspire curiosity, encourage discovery and create memorable experiences for visitors of all ages.

Cork Carnival of Science 2026 was presented by Cork City Council, funded through the Research Ireland Discover Programme, and supported by media partners The Irish Examiner and Cork’s 96FM.

For festival highlights and updates, visit corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or follow @corkcitycouncilofficial on social media.

Technology has reshaped how we live, work, and make decisions. Each major release, whether a software update, a new platform, or a hardware breakthrough, shifts something meaningful.

Consider how delivery platforms like Bolt and Glovo have changed everyday shopping. Before these services existed, grabbing groceries or ordering a meal meant a physical trip or a phone call. Now, a few taps on a screen connect consumers to hundreds of local vendors in real time. These platforms restructured how small businesses reach customers, forcing many to rethink pricing, logistics, and customer service entirely.

The same transformation is visible across other internet-based sectors. The online casino industry is a clear example: review and comparison platforms like casinojager.com have made it far simpler for users to identify trustworthy casino sites, while simultaneously raising the competitive bar for operators who must now maintain visible quality standards to earn recommendations. The pattern is consistent: digital infrastructure changes the rules for everyone operating within it.

Despite how significant these shifts have been, artificial intelligence continues to advance at a pace that makes them look incremental. The latest proof is Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.8, a release that builds directly on Opus 4.7 and pushes the boundaries of what AI systems can do inside real business environments.

What Opus 4.8 Actually Delivers

Anthropic has positioned Opus 4.8 as a purposeful upgrade rather than a cosmetic one. The model brings measurable improvements across four key areas: coding, agentic workflows, reasoning, and knowledge work.

For businesses already using AI tools to handle internal processes, these categories cover most practical use cases, from writing and reviewing code to managing multi-step automated tasks.

One of the headline improvements is the model’s handling of code quality. Anthropic states that Opus 4.8 is four times less likely than its predecessor to pass a code that is flawed without flagging it. For development teams relying on AI assistance, this is a meaningful shift. Missed bugs that pass silently through an AI review stage create downstream costs: in testing time, debugging hours, and delayed deployments. A model that catches more problems during the drafting phase changes the entire risk profile of AI-assisted development.

The model also shows reduced rates of deception and a lower tendency to comply with misuse requests compared to Opus 4.7. Anthropic benchmarks it as comparable in this regard to Claude Mythos Preview, which is currently their most capable model. For businesses in regulated sectors (finance, law, healthcare), these behavioral characteristics matter beyond technical performance.

Agentic Capabilities and What They Mean in Practice

The term agentic AI has been used loosely across the industry, but Opus 4.8 gives it a specific shape. Claude Code now supports dynamic workflows, a feature that plans tasks, runs parallel sub-agents, checks outputs, and reports results back to the user.

This is designed for large codebases (the kind that contain hundreds of thousands of lines) and can handle full migrations at that scale.

From a business operations perspective, this capability is significant. Previously, AI tools functioned effectively as smart assistants: you prompted them, they responded, you acted. Agentic workflows change that dynamic. The model can now plan and execute across multiple steps without requiring a human to re-engage at each stage. Teams handling large software projects, data migrations, or complex research tasks will find this particularly relevant.

The Messages API update adds another layer of operational flexibility. Developers can now modify instructions while an agent is mid-task (changing permissions, adjusting token budgets, or updating context) without interrupting the task or breaking cached prompt states. In live environments where conditions shift during a process, this makes agent deployments far more reliable and adaptable.

Pricing, Effort Control, and Business Cost Planning

Anthropic has kept the standard pricing for Opus 4.8 in line with its predecessor: $5 per million input tokens and $25 per million output tokens in standard mode. Fast mode, which operates at 2.5 times the speed, costs $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens. For businesses running high-volume workflows, these numbers matter when building cost models around AI usage.

The new effort control feature gives businesses direct influence over the quality-speed-cost balance. Users can set the amount of computational effort Claude applies to any given task. The model defaults to high effort, but on coding tasks specifically, Anthropic states that the high-effort default uses roughly the same number of tokens as Opus 4.7 while delivering better results. For tasks requiring deeper computation, an xhigh setting is available.

The Broader Business Case

Claude Opus 4.8 is not the kind of release that demands immediate attention from every organization. But for businesses actively running AI-assisted workflows (particularly in software development, legal research, financial analysis, or complex data work), the improvements in reliability, agentic capabilities, and cost control make it worth a serious evaluation.

The transition Anthropic is making from subscription tiers to token-based billing also signals where enterprise AI pricing is heading more broadly.

The companies that will benefit most are those already prepared to integrate AI into their operational layers, not just use it as a drafting assistant. Opus 4.8 is built for that kind of integration, and the businesses that treat it as infrastructure rather than a novelty will be best positioned to extract value from its offerings.

One year after the European Accessibility Act came into force, most people who are blind or vision impaired say the online world remains difficult or impossible to navigate, according to new research from Vision Ireland, Ireland’s national sight loss agency.

The findings show that only 3% of respondents have seen a noticeable improvement in website and digital service accessibility since the law was introduced in June 2025. In contrast, 43% reported no improvement, while nearly one in three said they were not even aware that the legislation exists.

For many, digital barriers remain a daily reality. One in four people surveyed said websites are “sometimes difficult” to use, while 8% said they are “often difficult” and require support. A further 7% said they cannot use the internet independently.

Chris White, CEO of Vision Ireland, said the gap between legislation and lived experience is now impossible to ignore. “The European Accessibility Act was meant to remove barriers, but for many people, those barriers are still there every time they go online” he said. He added that while the legislation marked a significant step forward, awareness and understanding remain low across both users and businesses. “We’re seeing a worrying disconnect. People are still struggling to access basic services online, and many organisations do not understand what compliance looks like. That has to change.”

Despite widespread accessibility issues, enforcement of the legislation appears limited. Data sourced by Vision Ireland from Ireland’s six designated regulators shows that just 56 complaints were recorded under the European Accessibility Act in its first year, including 52 to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Other regulators reported only one or two complaints each, with none recorded in some sectors, raising questions about awareness of the law and confidence in the complaints process.

Chris White said the low number of complaints does not reflect the scale of the problem. “The reality is that people are encountering barriers every day, but that is not translating into formal complaints,” he said. “That points to a lack of awareness and a system that isn’t working as it should.”

Sean Doran, Head of Technology at Vision Ireland, said many organisations underestimate how widespread these issues are. “Most businesses believe their websites are accessible, but when tested, the vast majority fail on basic standards,” he said. “These are not complex problems to fix, but they require awareness and action. The risk now is not just exclusion, but legal and reputational consequences.”

Vision Ireland is urging organisations to assess their digital platforms and take immediate steps to address accessibility gaps.

“We are encouraging every organisation to start with a simple accessibility check,” Doran said. “Fixing the basics can have an immediate impact on people’s ability to access services independently. This is about inclusion, but it is also the law.”

Vision Ireland’s research highlights that accessibility issues often stem from common and fixable problems, including poor colour contrast, missing image descriptions, inaccessible forms and websites that cannot be used with a keyboard or screen reader.

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Provisional data from EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, shows that 39% of electricity came from renewable sources in May. This compares to 33% for the same month last year.

May was a significant month for the amount of solar energy on the power system, contributing 7.8% to the overall fuel mix. This compares to 5.7% last month and to 6% in May 2025.

With the sunnier weather, a series of new peaks were set throughout the month with the highest being achieved on Monday 25 May, where a new peak for grid-scale solar was achieved contributing 1222 MW to Ireland’s electricity mix.

These records follow Ireland reaching a new peak of over 1 GW (gigawatt) of electricity provided by grid-scale solar power for the first time in April.

At 28%, wind energy made up a significant proportion of the total amount of energy generated across the month. Total generation of wind amounted to 784 GWh (Gigawatt hours).

Elsewhere in May, gas generation accounted for 41% of all electricity used and 21% was imported via interconnection.

The overall electricity system demand stood at 2,794?GWh in May, compared to 2,865 GWh in April.

EirGrid’s National Control Centre carries out the complex task of balancing the supply of renewable sources alongside conventional generation sources to ensure that demand can be met.

Significant progress has been made in integrating renewables onto Ireland’s power system. To date the developments we have made have enabled up to 75% of electricity to be generated from variable renewable sources (e.g. wind and solar) at any one time and we have a significant work programme underway to increase this to 95%.

When there is a significant amount of solar generation on the grid as there was in May, EirGrid is observing days where the demand for electricity is similar in the early afternoon as it is at night. This can largely be explained by embedded (including roof-top) solar generation helping to supply demand.

Diarmaid Gillespie, EirGrid’s Director of System Operations, said:

“May was another significant month for renewable energy sources powering the electricity system in Ireland. The amount of solar energy was notable once again given the good weather and an increased amount of grid-scale solar on the system.

“With solar power making almost 8% of the overall fuel mix, as well as the peak records set during the month of May, we have seen again just how important it has become as a source of renewable energy.”

A new survey conducted by the Irish Esports Federation (IEF) has revealed that gaming in Ireland is far more social and active than the common stereotypes suggest, with the majority of Irish gamers reporting that gaming helps them build meaningful friendships and maintain strong social connections.

According to the survey, 60% of respondents said they have made real-life friends through gaming, highlighting the important role gaming plays in creating genuine social relationships that extend beyond the screen.

The findings show that gaming is overwhelmingly a social activity. More than 70% of respondents said they regularly play with friends, family members, online communities, or a combination of all three. This demonstrates that gaming serves as a powerful platform for connection, communication and shared experiences among people of all ages.

The survey data challenges the perception that gaming and physical activity are mutually exclusive. More than 75% of respondents reported participating in a physical sport outside of esports, indicating that Irish gamers are leading active lifestyles while also engaging in competitive and recreational esports.

Importantly, the survey found that gaming helps develop skills that are increasingly valued in education and at work. When asked which life skills esports had helped them develop most, strategic thinking and teamwork emerged as top skills, withdecision making and critical thinking followed closely. These findings highlight how esports and gaming help participants build transferable skills with applications far beyond gaming itself. Strategic decision-making, collaboration, communication and problem-solving are all competencies sought by employers across a wide range of industries and are developed organically through participation in gaming and esports.

Irish Esports Federation President Steve Daly said, “In the past, gaming has been framed as a solitary, unproductive habit– the IEF survey data shows us a different and more accurate truth.  Gaming in Ireland is highly social and helps young people build lasting friendships, develop valuable career skills and participate in team-based activities. Gaming is also deeply woven into youth culture. What it lacks now is institutional recognition, structured pathways, and the kind of support that other competitive youth activity take for granted.”

The IEF survey noted that 92% of secondary students have no esports club at school. 65% would join one immediately, if available. Looking to the future, 70% of respondents said that they would consider a career in esports or the gaming industry, with 51% stating that they would join an esports academy for skills and pathways in the sector.

The results from Irish gamers in relation to the relationship between wellness and esports performance is also very insightful, with 84% of respondents play/life balance as vital or very important, with sleep ranking highly also at 78%. Overall 86% respondents stated that mental health was very important to esports performance, with a third ranking it as vitally important.

The IEF believes the findings highlight the positive social impact of gaming and reinforce the importance of recognising esports as a legitimate sporting and community activity that develops teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and leadership skills.

“The survey results come at a time when esports and gaming continue to grow across Ireland, bringing together players from diverse backgrounds and creating new opportunities for competition, education and community engagement,” added Steve Daly, IEF President.

As the national esports organisation, the IEF is committed to providing inclusive youth, education and training programmes through gamified learning, focused on STEAM subjects, digital skills, online safety and relevant engaged learning with partners such as secondary schools, DEIS schools, Foroige, YMCA, Education and Training Board (ETB) as well as community groups, youth outreach organisations, local authorities and a variety of education providers. Many of the programmes organised by the IEF have been hosted at the National Esports Centre in Cork.

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Magnet+, the leading independent provider of enterprise connectivity, cloud-based voice solutions and managed services, is seeing a significant increase in the uptake of Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) by businesses nationwide at the moment. Magnet+, part of Speed Fibre Group, serves over 7,000 customers across Ireland and Europe, including 70% of the world’s leading tech companies located in Ireland.

The increase in DIA uptake (1G and up) is due to the fact that more and more organisations across Ireland are accelerating investment in cloud-based systems and platforms, real time data and collab tools, AI, cybersecurity and multi-site / hybrid working environments.

To find out more about DIA and its uptake I spoke to Patrick Masterson, MD of Magnet+. Patrick talks to me about his background, what Magnet+ does, DIA, digital transformation and more.

More about Patrick Masterson, MD of Magnet Plus:

Patrick Masterson was appointed MD of Magnet Plus three years ago. With over 20 years of experience across a variety of areas including commercial, sales and marketing, Patrick’s reputation for driving commercial activities and improving overall business performance is a key asset to Magnet Plus.

Prior to joining Magnet Plus, he held several Commercial Director and Chief Commercial Officer roles in leading Irish companies across the Retail, Healthcare and Technology sectors. He also has an MBA with Henley Business School in the U.K.

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ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions, has announced the rollout of Zia Agents, the company’s proprietary AI-powered autonomous agent, across its digital enterprise management suite. Built within a secure and privacy-compliant framework, these agents can orchestrate and execute tasks without the need for intervention. This marks a milestone in the company’s vision of enabling truly autonomous IT environments.

“The frontier models are great for all-purpose use but are not often efficient for specific areas like enterprise IT. We take great care in building AI technology that is not only purpose-built but also provides value in terms of cost and long-term use. We are excited to bring autonomous AI capabilities to our offerings and provide a reliable platform for our customers to achieve efficient outcomes,” said Rajesh Ganesan, CEO, ManageEngine.

Key Highlights of ManageEngine’s Autonomous AI Capabilities:

• Prebuilt agents deployed in a single click, while Zia Agent Studio lets users build custom agents from scratch or configure them through natural language processing (NLP). Agents are fully customisable; users control configuration, tools, and the knowledge base.
• For complex workflows, multi-agent orchestration lets a master agent coordinate specialised subagents, routing the right work to the correct agent seamlessly.
• Customer data is never used to train any AI model. Administrators can define guardrails for agent behaviour, and built-in observability provides a complete audit of agent actions.
• ManageEngine tools support standard model context protocol (MCP), which allows customers to make them work with third-party large language models (LLMs) and agentic platforms.

Redefining Enterprise IT Management With Zia Agents

With the launch of Zia Agents, the focus shifts from AI-enabled assistance to autonomous execution across IT service management, full-stack observability, endpoint management, and security operations. These agents are built on the sameZia agentic platform shared across the ManageEngine suite, making it easy to enable native cross-product intelligence without custom integration overhead.

• Enabling IT and business service workflows: In the realm of service management, teams can build AI agents for use cases spanning IT and business processes, ranging from a resolution assistant or a human resources (HR) assistant to a configuration item (CI) health and impact analyser, all in just a few steps. These agents, which can be orchestrated by a master agent, connect to multiple IT and business applications; grounded with contextual knowledge, the agents operate within set guardrails to autonomously execute and take ownership of tasks end to end. Prebuilt agents like the Level 1 (L1) service desk specialist, post-incident report (PIR) generator, and knowledge base (KB) article generator deploy in minutes.
• Driving self-diagnosing IT operations: The agents also add an action layer on top of the visibility layer, thereby moving enterprises away from traditional observability and significantly reducing remediation times. The agents can help in troubleshooting incidents by finding the root cause behind them to paving the way for automating the recovery process. Meanwhile, agents in the company’s cloud cost management solution help to investigate unexpected cost surge and also compute the combined costs incurred across different cloud accounts.
• Automating tasks to accelerate security operations: Zia Agents automate security tasks such as user reviews, alert correlation, and multi-step investigations, bringing hours of manual work down to minutes. Organisations can build custom agents rooted in their organisational knowledge, processes, and risk priorities to reduce false positives. By connecting across the IT suite, agents can pull cross-domain context to correlate anomalies, evaluate vulnerabilities, and map device risk in one comprehensive assessment for a faster, more confident response. Teams can talk to their log and alert data in plain English, calling on prebuilt or custom agents to do the work for them.
• Keeping endpoints compliant and up to date: Some of the prebuilt agents take care of endpoint detection and response (EDR) event triage, device diagnosis, patch troubleshooting, and compliance. While the EDR Event Triage Agent correlates telemetry, maps attack chains to MITRE ATT&CK, and recommends prioritised next steps before analyst intervention, the Device Investigation Agent delivers complete root cause diagnosis the moment a ticket lands, with no manual querying required. Teams can also leverage Zia Agents to run deep-dive analysis on any failed endpoint, with full-fix troubleshooting steps and device context delivered on demand, along with an analysis on deployment gaps and a sequenced roadmap to 100% compliance. Also, there is an option to build custom agents for other endpoint-specific workflows.

Addressing the Data Privacy and Governance Concerns

While AI agents are already a proven technology delivering great business value, concerns around data privacy are holding back enterprise adoption. However, the introduction of Zia Agents in ManageEngine’s suite, backed by the company controlling the entire stack, ensures proper governance.

“The privacy principles adopted by ManageEngine for the last two decades in building our stack now stands vindicated even more in the age of AI agents. Our commitment to upholding the principles of data privacy and sovereignty gives assurance to our customers to adopt AI agents with confidence,” said Umasankar Narayanasamy, Vice President, ManageEngine.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of IT management solutions for organisations across the world. With a powerful, flexible, and AI-powered digital enterprise management platform, we help businesses get their work done from anywhere and everywhere—better, safer, and faster. To learn more, visit www.manageengine.com.

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Dell Technologies has unveiled a series of new products across its XPS and Alienware portfolios, headlined by the launch of the new XPS 13, the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop ever built. Alongside the new consumer-focused device, Dell also previewed the XPS 16 Creator Edition developed in collaboration with NVIDIA and introduced four new Alienware gaming monitors designed to push the boundaries of display technology.

New XPS 13

The new XPS 13 represents Dell’s latest effort to bring premium design and experiences to a broader audience. Designed for students and young professionals, the device combines a lightweight form factor with features typically reserved for higher-end systems.

Weighing just 1kg and measuring 12.75mm thin, the new XPS 13 is the lightest and most portable XPS laptop Dell has produced to date. The device features a 2.5K touchscreen display, Intel Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, a backlit keyboard and Windows Hello support as standard, while offering configurations with up to 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Dell says the system can deliver up to 17 hours of streaming battery life, making it well suited to users who need all-day productivity without sacrificing mobility.

The launch also marks Dell’s renewed focus on the XPS brand following its reintroduction earlier this year, with the company positioning the new XPS 13 as a premium laptop built for everyday use rather than compromise.

First look at the XPS 16 Creator Edition

Dell also used Computex to provide a first look at the upcoming XPS 16 Creator Edition, a new device designed specifically for creators, developers and AI professionals.

Developed in partnership with NVIDIA, the XPS 16 Creator Edition is powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark technology and brings advanced AI capabilities and high-performance graphics to the XPS portfolio. The system is designed to support demanding creative workflows including video editing, 3D rendering and AI-assisted content creation, while maintaining the portability and premium design associated with the XPS family.

The device features a Tandem OLED display with True Black HDR 600 certification and includes creator-focused features such as an integrated SD card reader and HDMI connectivity.

Alienware marks 30 Years with new display innovation

To coincide with Alienware’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Dell also announced four new gaming monitors, led by what the company describes as the world’s first 39-inch 5K OLED gaming monitor featuring RGB stripe technology.

The new lineup includes the flagship Alienware 39 5K OLED Gaming Monitor, a refreshed 34-inch 280Hz QD-OLED ultrawide display and two new 240Hz gaming monitors designed to make premium gaming experiences more accessible.

According to Dell, the new display portfolio delivers significant improvements in brightness, colour accuracy and text clarity, while addressing longstanding concerns around OLED longevity through new panel technologies and burn-in protection features.

Expanding the premium PC experience

Together, the announcements reflect Dell’s continued investment in premium consumer computing, AI-powered creative workflows and high-performance gaming experiences.

From the ultra-portable XPS 13 to the creator-focused XPS 16 and the latest Alienware display innovations, Dell is continuing to evolve its product portfolio to meet the needs of students, professionals, creators and gamers alike.

Availability

The new XPS 13 will be available beginning in June, with additional configuration and regional availability details to be announced closer to launch. The XPS 16 Creator Edition and Alienware monitor lineup will begin rolling out in select markets later this year.

the European Commission revealed the winners of the 12th edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators at the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit in Brussels. The prize, which is jointly managed by the EIC and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), celebrates women entrepreneurs whose work is advancing innovation across Europe and contributing to a more competitive, inclusive and forward-looking economy.

From pioneering advancements in healthcare and sustainability to revolutionising space technology and digital traceability, this year’s finalists exemplify the transformative power of women-led innovation.

The prize showcases the remarkable achievements of winners and runners-up across three categories:

EIC Women Innovators

The EIC Women Innovators category honours exceptional women founders and co-founders from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The winner receives €100 000, while the two runners-up receive €70 000 and €50 000 respectively.

• Winner: Katerina Spranger (Ukraine/UK), founder and CEO of Oxford Heartbeat, harnessing artificial intelligence to enhance the safety and precision of brain aneurysm treatments.
• Second place: Elena Heber (Germany), co-founder and Managing Director of HelloBetter, expanding access to mental health care through clinically validated digital therapies and AI-driven solutions.
• Third place: Judit Camargo Sanromà (Spain), founder and CEO of Roka Furadada, tackling the growing threat of skin cancer with eco-friendly cosmetic ingredients that deliver high-performing UV protection while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

EIC Rising Innovators

The EIC Rising Innovators category recognises promising young women innovators under the age of 35. The winner receives €50 000, while the two runners-up receive €30 000 and €20 000 respectively.

• Winner: Marta Oliveira (Belgium), co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of ATMOS Space Cargo, enabling reusable space capsules to safely return materials from orbit and unlock new research opportunities.
• Second place: Judit Giró Benet (Spain), founder of The Blue Box, developing a non-invasive urine-based test to improve early breast cancer detection, particularly for women underserved by traditional screening methods.
• Third place: Carin Lightner (Switzerland), co-founder and CEO of Enantios, accelerating drug discovery through faster and more precise analysis of complex molecules, paving the way for next-generation medicines.

EIT Women Leadership

The EIT Women Leadership category recognises exceptional members of the EIT Community. The winner receives €50 000, while the two runners-up receive €30 000 and €20 000 respectively.

• Winner: Ella Frances Cullen (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Minespider, revolutionising supply chain transparency through a blockchain- and AI-powered platform that delivers digital product and battery passports while promoting sustainability and compliance.
• Second place: Stefania Raimondo (Italy), co-founder of Navhetec, advancing plant-based nanomedicine by extracting bioactive particles from citrus juice to develop high-efficacy health products with novel functionalities.
• Third place: Neide Vieira (Portugal), co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of IPLEXMED, accelerating the diagnosis of infectious diseases through graphene-based biosensors that enable portable, rapid and lab-grade testing.

Quote

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said: “The European Prize for Women Innovators recognises the bold ideas and leadership of women who are transforming innovation into real-world impact. This year’s finalists and winners show how entrepreneurship and diversity go hand in hand in strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity. Their achievements are an inspiration for the next generation of innovators across Europe.”

Background

The European Prize for Women Innovators highlights the vital contribution of women entrepreneurs to Europe’s innovation ecosystem and long-term competitiveness. Now in its 12th edition, the prize celebrates women whose disruptive innovations are delivering tangible benefits for society and the planet. It also aims to inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in innovation, science and entrepreneurship.

About the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The EIT strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), among leading companies, research labs and universities. These KICs are dedicated to driving systemic change in Europe and beyond, focusing on climate change, culture and creativity, digitalization, energy, health, food, manufacturing, raw materials, urban mobility and water. Together with their leading partners, the EIT Community offers a wide range of innovation activities across Europe: entrepreneurial education courses, business creation and acceleration services and innovation-driven research projects.

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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions has signed a multiyear transformation and managed services agreement with Canada Life, a leading global life and pensions insurer. The partnership will support the modernisation of Canada Life’s IT infrastructure services across its European Businesses.

As part of the agreement, TCS will leverage its AI & digital capabilities to modernise and manage Canada Life’s data centres, core infrastructure, end-user computing, and software lifecycle management. The transformation will help improve operational resilience, increase automation, and enhance user experience for its customers.

The partnership combines TCS’ technology prowess with the knowledge and experience of Canada Life teams. Together they will build a strong foundation for Canada Life’s long-term technology modernisation journey. The program aims to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, performance driven IT services while helping Canada Life accelerate its technology strategy and achieve stronger business outcomes. The partnership will also help Canada Life scale its technology services more effectively and be nimble to changing business needs.

Caroline Dibbs, Chief Information & Transformation Officer, Europe said, “Working with TCS marks the next stage of our journey to modernise the technology foundations that underpin our business, and it was important to choose a partner that understands our long-term vision and shares our commitment to people and innovation.

TCS brings deep technical expertise, strong transformation capabilities and a collaborative approach that aligns well with our strategy. Together, we will deliver lasting improvements to the technology services and capabilities that support our business and the people who depend on it.”

Vinay Singhvi, Head, UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services, said, “We are delighted to be selected as the strategic partner for Canada Life’s technology modernisation journey across the UK and Europe. This co-operation is a testament to our leadership in AI-led transformation, marking a significant step on our journey to becoming the world’s largest AI-led technology services company. By leveraging our deep domain expertise, we will help Canada Life achieve greater operational efficiency, enhance resilience, and create a more agile, responsive IT ecosystem to support their long-term growth.”

As part of the agreement, TCS will build its talent across infrastructure services in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Germany. The company will invest in new learning, certification and career development opportunities.

TCS has a proven track record of enabling digital transformation for leading insurance, life, and pensions providers across the UK and Europe.

Working with Canada Life strengthens TCS’ position as a preferred transformation partner for the BFSI sector and reinforces TCS’ continued expansion in the UK and Ireland as a strategic hub for delivering high-value, end-to-end services while enhancing its capability to deliver a comprehensive range of services to insurance clients across the region.

Online sports betting isn’t just about placing wagers anymore. Now, it’s a tech-driven experience. All those live updates, endless betting options and personalised touches? They run on a complex web of systems built to make betting faster, smoother and way more engaging.

For lots of sports fans, placing a bet these days feels almost effortless. Just a few taps on your phone and you’ve got hundreds of betting markets, live updates and real-time odds at your fingertips. But behind this simple setup sits a huge amount of technology working behind the scenes.

Online sports betting exploded largely because technology made it both accessible and interactive. There’s no need to wait for the bookies to open or settle for a narrow set of bets anymore. Now, you can follow games, check stats and place wagers from almost anywhere.

Today’s betting experience is all about speed, convenience and data. As sports and digital platforms become even more connected, technology keeps changing the way fans get involved with matches and competitions worldwide.

Mobile technology has changed the game

Smartphones have played a huge role in pushing online sports betting forward. Mobile-friendly sites and apps mean fans can bet pretty much whenever they want; at home, on the move or catching a match with friends.

A good betting app is all about a smooth ride: Quick navigation, easy account management and rapid access to markets. Performance is everything, nobody wants to wait, and even a little lag can ruin it.

These days, online platforms often mix sports betting with a ton of entertainment options. For instance, a digital betting platform for Irish players might offer sports betting alongside casino games, slots, live casino tables, instant games, esports, bingo and classic table games, all in one, easy-to-use interface.

The rise of real-time betting technology

One of the biggest shifts in online sports betting has been the explosion of live betting. Not so long ago, most people put their money down before the match began. Now, anyone can jump in mid-game; betting on the next goalscorer in football or who’ll win the next point in tennis.

That’s only possible because betting sites rely on systems that grab and process info at incredible speed. Game events, player stats or any sudden changes, they all get analysed constantly, so the odds update within seconds.

Say a football team scores. The betting markets don’t waste a second, adjusting to reflect the new situation. It looks easy for users, but behind the curtains, it’s all powered by some pretty advanced data crunching.

Data is driving smarter betting experiences

Data is absolutely central to online sports betting. Every match churns out loads of stats: Team performance, player form and previous results, practically everything gets tracked. Platforms use all this info to offer more detailed betting markets and choices. Now, a football fan can bet not just on the final score, but on individual player stats, too.

This trend has changed how people follow sports. Lots of fans like digging into stats and comparing info before placing their bets, making them even more invested in big sporting events.

Easier access to more data has turned online betting from a simple guessing game into something that feels deeply tied to the whole world of sports analysis.

Security and reliability remain a major focus

As the online betting world has grown, so has the need to keep it all safe and reliable. People want to know their info, accounts and payments are secure. Here, technology is absolutely critical. Security updates, monitoring and better payment systems all help build trust and keep things running smoothly.

Reliability ramps up during big matches. When millions are tuned in at once, platforms need to cope with the rush, no slowdowns allowed.

That invisible backbone is a big reason why technology has become such a crucial part of online sports betting.

The future of online sports betting technology

Online sports betting is still evolving. New features keep showing up as companies try to make betting even better for fans.

Personalisation is everywhere, with sites fine-tuning experiences to match user preferences and point them to the most interesting bets. Improvements in data crunching and design are sure to keep shifting how people bet.

Tech is also pulling fans closer to the sports they love. Betting now means interacting with events as they happen, finding new ways to follow favourite teams in real time.

A tech-driven industry

Online sports betting is a tech-driven industry now, fuelled by speed, data and attention to the user’s experience. From instant odds to mobile apps and smarter features, technology has totally changed how fans engage with sports.

As innovation keeps rolling, expect betting to get even more connected, personal and easy to use. You might not always notice the tech making it all work, but that’s why modern betting is as quick and interactive as it is.

Organisations are rapidly accelerating their adoption of AI, with appetite increasing by 90% over the past 12 months, according to recent CIO research; however, many are finding that ambition is outpacing their ability to manage the data foundations required to support it. In fact, 85% of organisations say data challenges, including poor quality, silos and governance gaps, are now a key barrier to AI adoption, highlighting a growing disconnect between AI strategy and operational readiness.

At the same time, the widespread use of AI tools across the workforce is introducing new and often unintended risks. 58% of organisations report that employee use of AI is already jeopardising data security, as sensitive information is shared, accessed or exposed in ways that are difficult to monitor or control. As data becomes more distributed across cloud, SaaS and AI-driven environments, maintaining visibility, governance and protection is becoming increasingly complex and critical for organisations looking to adopt AI with confidence.

To help address this, Cyera, a global leader in data security, and Logicalis UK&I, a leading IT solutions and managed services provider, have announced a partnership to help organisations discover, classify and protect sensitive data across their entire digital estate.

By combining Cyera’s agentless data security platform with Logicalis’ expertise in designing, managing and securing complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments, organisations can gain a unified view of their data risk and take action toreduce exposure faster and more effectively.

Andy Richmond, EMEA Vice President, Cyera, commented, “Data is now one of the most valuable and most exposed assets organisations have. As businesses adopt cloud and AI at pace, they need a clear, real-time understanding of wheresensitive data resides, who has access to it and how it is being used. Logicalis’ deep expertise in managing complex environments makes them an ideal partner to help organisations turn that visibility into meaningful risk reduction.”

As enterprises continue to adopt cloud-first strategies and embed AI into business processes, data is increasingly spread across multiple locations, formats and platforms. Traditional approaches to data protection, often reliant on manual classification or fragmented tooling, are struggling to keep pace.

Many organisations lack a complete and accurate inventory of their sensitive data, making it difficult to enforce consistent policies, prevent data loss or demonstrate compliance.

Mike Fry, Infrastructure, Data & Security Solutions Director at Logicalis UK&I, said, “Organisations are collecting and generating more data than ever before, but many still don’t have a clear understanding of where their most sensitive data sits or how exposed it is. At the same time, AI adoption is accelerating, increasing both the value and the risk associated with that data. This partnership with Cyera enables us to help customers gain real visibility and control, so they can reduce risk while continuing to innovate.”

Unlike traditional data security approaches, Cyera provides agentless, API-based discovery and classification across on-prem, cloud and SaaS environments, enabling organisations to continuously monitor data risk without impacting performance or requiring complex deployments.

Together, Logicalis and Cyera help organisations:

• Gain full visibility of sensitive data across cloud, SaaS and hybrid environments
• Identify and prioritise data exposure and access risks
• Enforce consistent data security policies and controls
• Strengthen compliance and governance across evolving regulatory requirements
• Support secure AI adoption by ensuring trusted data foundations

This approach supports organisations looking to move beyond siloed or reactive data protection strategies towards a more proactive, continuous model of data security.

As data volumes continue to grow and AI reshapes how organisations operate, both companies believe that data-centric security will become a core pillar of cyber resilience.

“Our partnership with Cyera will help customers take control of their data risk, strengthen governance and build the secure foundations needed to adopt AI with confidence,” concluded Fry.

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The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, today published “The Value of Data Centres to Ireland”, an independent report prepared by KPMG which assesses the economic contribution and strategic importance of the data centre sector in Ireland.

The report demonstrates that data centres are a critical component of Ireland’s digital infrastructure, supporting economic activity, employment and investment across the wider economy.

The value of data centres to Ireland

Key findings
The analysis finds that:

• data centres underpin much of Ireland’s broader economic activity with over €100 billion in annual Gross Value Added (GVA), 875,000 jobs, and €14.6 billion in annual employment-related taxes anchored by data centres in Ireland across the sectors identified as being most dependent on their activity.
• in 2024, construction and operation of data centres collectively accounted for €2.2 billion in GVA, 19,500 jobs and €280 million in employment-related-tax,
• While data centres are large energy users, unlike other European countries that have heavy-industry bases, Ireland’s industrial electricity demand is primarily concentrated in our digital economy – this is our core energy-intensive industry.

The analysis confirms that data centres are fundamental to Ireland’s position as a leading global hub for digital and technology-driven enterprise. They form a critical part of the State’s digital infrastructure, supporting activities including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, financial services and public sector digital services.

The study also finds that the construction activity in Ireland associated with data centres has fostered deep expertise within Ireland’s High-Tech Construction (HTC) industry, enabling Irish-owned firms to export their skills globally. For 2024, it is estimated that €2.1 billion in HTC exports —approximately 40% of HTC exports from Irish-owned companies — was linked to data centre-related activity.

The report highlights that data centres not only generate direct economic value from the construction and operation of data centres, but also enable activity across the wider economy. Digitally intensive sectors, including ICT services, finance, healthcare, retail and professional services, rely on high-quality data centre infrastructure to support their core operations and innovation.
The report also underscores their importance in attracting and retaining foreign direct investment. Access to reliable, high-performance digital infrastructure is an increasingly important factor for multinational companies, particularly in technology-driven sectors. The availability of data centre capacity in Ireland strengthens the State’s competitiveness and supports its ability to attract and retain such investment.

Minister Burke said:

“This report provides clear evidence of the critical contribution that data centres make to the Irish economy. The sector plays a central role in supporting investment, anchoring high-quality jobs and promoting Ireland’s position as a leading global digital hub.”

“The report highlights that the continued development of data centre capacity must be aligned with Ireland’s economic, energy and climate objectives; through our new Large Energy User Plan, all new data centres must provide their own energy generation onsite or nearby, 80% of which must be from renewable sources.  Government is taking a strategic, plan-led approach to ensure that this growth supports our wider economy, strengthens our competitiveness and is delivered in a sustainable way”.

The Minister also said:

“Data centres are critical enabling infrastructure for a wide range of sectors across the economy, supporting both indigenous enterprise and foreign direct investment. As set out in the Government’s National Digital and AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting Our People, Securing Our Future, our ambition is to position Ireland as a global leader in digital and artificial intelligence. Data centres are central to delivering on that ambition, providing the secure, high-performance infrastructure needed to store and process data and to enable businesses across the economy to adopt and scale AI.”

Supporting sustainable development
The report acknowledges several challenges associated with further expansion of the sector, including increasing energy demand, grid capacity constraints, and the need to manage carbon emissions in line with national climate targets. However, it also highlights opportunities to support renewable energy deployment and to contribute to regional economic development through more balanced growth.

Government policy, including the Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP), provides a framework for a coordinated and sustainable approach to future development. This includes a more plan-led approach to the location of new capacity and stronger alignment with renewable energy infrastructure, ensuring that growth in the sector supports energy security, climate objectives and broader economic development.

Conclusion
The report concludes that continued, managed development of the data centre sector will be critical to maintaining Ireland’s competitiveness, supporting digitalisation and enabling future economic growth.

The Report on “The Value of Data Centres to Ireland” can be found at: Report on the value of data centres to Ireland

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Guest post by Adam Spearing, VP of AI GTM EMEA at ServiceNow

We talk endlessly about ‘technical debt’ – the accumulated cost of past shortcuts, and delayed upgrades. But a more insidious problem is emerging that few organisations recognise: forward-looking technical debt. This is the cost of inaction in the face of fundamental technological shifts, and it’s accumulating faster than any legacy system ever could.

While companies debate whether to adopt AI, the decision window is closing. Every month spent in pilot purgatory or paralysed by fear of disruption widens the gap between what organisations can do and what the market demands. This isn’t traditional technical debt that can be paid down over time.

It’s opportunity cost compounding in real-time, and by 2026, more than 75% of organisations will find themselves facing moderate to severe levels of this new debt.

The AI Paradox

Here’s the paradox: organisations are either rushing into unsuccessful AI pilots that create immediate technical debt, or they’re avoiding AI entirely and creating forward-looking debt through inaction. Both paths lead to the same place—systems that can’t support the future of work.

AI isn’t just another technology layer to bolt onto existing infrastructure. It’s fundamentally changing how people interact with systems and how work gets done. When AI becomes the interface—not just for customers but for employees navigating their daily tasks—organisations without AI-ready foundations will find themselves unable to compete on speed, efficiency, or experience.

The companies that hesitate aren’t just missing out on automation benefits today. They’re building a deficit that grows exponentially as AI capabilities advance. Each new model release, each competitor’s successful implementation, each customer expectation shift adds to the debt. Unlike legacy systems that degrade slowly, this gap accelerates.

From Avoidance to Advantage

Breaking free from forward-looking technical debt requires a fundamental mindset shift. This isn’t about buying more technology or launching more AI pilots. It’s about creating the conditions for sustainable AI adoption that builds capability rather than complexity.

The organisations succeeding with AI aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets or the most aggressive rollouts. They’re the ones that took a deliberate, phased approach to ensuring their data, systems, and culture could support AI at scale. They understood that AI adoption isn’t a destination—it’s a continuous capability that requires solid foundations.

This starts with honest visibility into current technology estates. Leaders must understand what systems can realistically support AI workloads, where data quality creates barriers, and which processes are ready for automation. Only then can organisations introduce AI incrementally, modernising systems where necessary rather than forcing new capabilities onto brittle foundations.

Clear debt to stay competitive

Forward-looking technical debt is no longer a slow-burning issue; it’s accelerating. What feels like cautious deliberation today becomes a competitive gap tomorrow. Organisations that treat AI adoption as something to perfect before implementing are making a choice —to let the distance between their capabilities and market expectations grow wider with each passing quarter.

The organisations that will thrive aren’t necessarily the ones that move fastest. They’re the ones that move deliberately, building sustainable AI capabilities on solid foundations rather than chasing hype cycles. They recognise that reducing technical debt—both the debt they’ve inherited and the debt they might create—is what enables them to move with confidence.

In 2026, the question isn’t whether to adopt AI. It’s whether organisations can afford not to. The cost of forward-looking technical debt is real, it’s measurable, and it’s growing. The only way to avoid it is to start now—not with more technology, but with clearer strategy, better foundations, and the commitment to make AI work sustainably within the business. Those that act will find themselves positioned for advantage. Those that wait will find the debt has already been incurred.

About Adam Spearing

Adam Spearing is ServiceNow’s EMEA VP of AI GTM. Adam is dedicated to empowering customers to unlock the full potential of ServiceNow’s AI capabilities for impactful business transformations. Adam has over three decades of experience in enterprise software, bringing a wealth of expertise to his current role. Notable previous roles include chief revenue officer at SUSE and various senior leadership positions at Salesforce, including senior vice president of UKI solution consulting, EMEA field chief technology officer, and vice president of EMEA platform sales.

About ServiceNow

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is the AI control tower for business reinvention. The ServiceNow AI Platform integrates with any cloud, any model, and any data source to orchestrate how work flows across the enterprise. By unifying legacy systems, departmental tools, cloud applications, and AI agents, ServiceNow provides a single pane of glass that connects intelligence to execution across every corner of business. With more than 80 billion workflows running on the platform each year, ServiceNow helps organizations turn fragmented operations into coordinated, autonomous workflows that deliver measurable results. Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at www.servicenow.com.

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 Magnific CEO Joaquín Cuenca on deepfakes, copyright, creativity and the rise of the no-collar economy

Like the weight-loss drug, AI has moved from niche curiosity to mainstream obsession. Everyone has an opinion. Some people embrace it enthusiastically, while others regard it with suspicion or outright hostility. Love it or loathe it, it dominates conversation.

Insights with Joaquín Cuenca

Joaquín Cuenca, CEO of Magnific, formerly Freepik, believes the comparison only goes so far.

“I think it’s going to be a bit like computers and then the internet,” he says. “At the very beginning it’s novel. Some people are doing it, some people are not doing it. At some point we’ll not even talk about it.”

Speaking at Upscale Conf in San Francisco, Cuenca cuts an unusual figure among AI leaders. Trained in both fundamental physics and computer science, he is neither a technological evangelist nor a prophet of doom. Instead, he sees AI as another stage in a long continuum of innovation, one that will ultimately become invisible because it will be everywhere.

His own company is a case study in adaptation. Founded fifteen years ago as Freepik, a search engine for free images, the business has transformed into Magnific, a platform for creating images, videos and creative workflows. Today it serves more than one million subscribers and employs around 400 people.

The shift was driven entirely by AI. “Without AI, this would not exist,” he says.

Yet what is striking about Cuenca is how little he talks about technology itself. Instead, he talks about people. At Upscale, one phrase surfaced repeatedly: finding joy.

For Cuenca, the greatest promise of AI is not efficiency but creativity. He describes using the technology to build comic strips, develop story ideas and create short films that would previously have remained unrealised.

Cuenca has little interest in handing creativity over to a machine. He sees AI as a collaborator rather than an author, helping him refine ideas rather than generating them wholesale.

He uses AI much as a writer might use an editor: to identify weaknesses, suggest improvements and strengthen the narrative. This philosophy runs through Magnific’s product design. While many AI companies pursue one-click generation, Cuenca believes creators must remain in control. During his keynote he argued that fear of AI stems largely from a loss of agency.

“Control converts fear into curiosity,” he told the audience.

It is a deceptively simple observation. Much of the anxiety surrounding AI comes from the perception that technology is taking decisions away from people. Cuenca’s view is the opposite. AI should expand options, not narrow them.

That belief also informs his response to accusations that AI-generated content is little more than digital slop.

“I do not believe in one-click solutions,” he said during a panel discussion. “When something becomes super abundant, it becomes worthless.”

The real value, he argues, still lies with the creator. AI may accelerate execution, but it cannot replace lived experience, judgment or taste.

AI is a poet

Cuenca also challenges the way critics talk about AI hallucinations. While inaccurate outputs are often treated as failures, he suggests that creative work operates differently. Referring to a phrase he has heard used about generative AI, he suggests “AI is a poet.” A poet is not judged on factual precision but on the ability to create connections, images and ideas. In creative fields, some of AI’s most interesting outputs emerge from those unexpected leaps.

“Be interesting,” he says. “Live your life. Make love. Have parties. Have experiences. Have your own opinions.”

DeepFakes

Not surprisingly, AI’s darker side also featured prominently in our conversation. Deepfakes and image manipulation have become major concerns, particularly as generative tools become more sophisticated. Cuenca is under no illusion that the problem can simply be solved through regulation or technology.

“It’s going to be difficult to defeat deepfakes worldwide because we do not control all the tools,” he says.

His argument is pragmatic. The technology exists and it is now easier to create convincing fake content than ever before. The challenge is learning how to manage the risks while preserving the benefits.

“There has been a technological improvement that brings many, many good things and some bad things,” he says.

Magnific attempts to address the issue through provenance, permissions and traceability. Enterprise users are required to demonstrate they have the right to use uploaded images, while internally generated content can be tracked through its creation process. Even so, Cuenca admits there is “no easy solution”.

Copyright presents a similarly complex challenge. Many artists argue that generative AI systems have been trained on copyrighted works without permission. Cuenca understands the concern but believes technological progress has always disrupted established models.

“You can’t stop technology” is an underlying message throughout our discussion. New tools arrive, industries adapt and society eventually develops new norms.

No-collar Economy

The debate, however, extends beyond copyright and deepfakes to employment itself. This is where Cuenca becomes most interesting. The prevailing narrative suggests AI will destroy jobs. Cuenca thinks the opposite. He argues that the Industrial Revolution created the blue-collar economy and the Digital Revolution created the white-collar economy. Generative AI, he believes, will create a third category – the no-collar economy.

The concept is rooted in accessibility. For decades, creative industries were constrained by cost. Producing a film, designing a marketing campaign or creating professional-quality content required specialist skills, large teams and significant budgets. AI dramatically lowers those barriers. As the cost of creation falls, more people can participate.

“Now brands can make films. Small companies can make films,” he says. “Today you can do that with three people.”

In Cuenca’s view, this will create opportunities for a new generation of creators whose value lies not in manual labour or traditional office work, but in ideas, storytelling, taste and imagination. The tools may change, but the demand for creativity remains. The result, he believes, will be more creative projects, not fewer.

“There are going to be dramatically more opportunities for creatives.”

Whether history ultimately proves him right remains to be seen. Every technological revolution produces winners, losers and unforeseen consequences. What is clear is that AI continues to provoke strong reactions.

Cuenca understands why: “When there’s a new technology, your number one reaction is to understand what it takes away,” he says.

People can immediately see the jobs, processes and skills that become obsolete. What they cannot yet see are the opportunities that emerge afterwards. Those take years to reveal themselves.

If Cuenca is correct, the future of AI may not be defined by machines replacing humans. Instead, it may be remembered as the moment more people gained access to the tools needed to tell their own stories.

Perhaps that is why he keeps returning to the same word: joy. Long after the arguments about regulation, copyright and deepfakes have settled, Cuenca believes the lasting impact of AI will be measured in what people create with it.

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StartUp Ballymun celebrates ten years of supporting entrepreneurs, startups and small business owners across North Dublin

This year’s event, themed “Steering a Business in Choppy Waters”, takes place on Wednesday 10 June at Ballymun Civic Centre and marks a significant milestone for  Dublin’s longest-running community entrepreneurship initiative.

Role of Ballymun Area Office, StartUp Ballymun

Supported by the Ballymun Area Office of Dublin City Council since its launch in 2016, StartUp Ballymun has welcomed more than 1,000 attendees, featured over 90 speakers and become one of Dublin’s longest-running community entrepreneurship initiatives.

Founded in 2016 by Liam Barry (Dublin City Council) and Billy Linehan (Celtar Advisers),  StartUp Ballymun was created to encourage entrepreneurship, self-employment and enterprise development in Ballymun and across North Dublin. This year’s event, themed “Steering a Business in Choppy Waters”, will explore the realities of starting, growing and sustaining a business in an increasingly uncertain environment.

To book and for more details: StartUp Ballymun 2026

What has remained consistent throughout those ten years is the event’s focus on practical experience and innovation. Attendees hear directly from people who have started businesses, overcome setbacks, secured customers, grown teams and navigated the challenges that come with building an enterprise.

Reaching a tenth anniversary is a notable achievement for a community-based enterprise initiative. Over that period, Ireland has experienced economic growth, a pandemic, major technological change and shifting business conditions, yet the event has continued to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to learn, connect and develop new opportunities.

A Milestone Year, StartUp Ballymun Turns 10

The 2026 event reflects the reality facing many entrepreneurs today. Rising costs, economic uncertainty, rapid technological change and increasing competition continue to create challenges for business owners. The speakers and panellists this year have all faced those challenges in different ways and will share their experiences with attendees.

The event will be formally opened by Warren Cray, Head of Enterprise at Dublin City Council.

Return of Gavan Walsh

One of the highlights of this year’s programme will be a fireside conversation with Gavan Walsh, hosted by Liam Barry. Gavan is founder of iCabbi, the cloud-based taxi dispatch software company that grew from Ireland to serve taxi and private hire operators in dozens of countries worldwide.

In a first for StartUp Ballymun, Walsh becomes the first entrepreneur to be invited back as a featured speaker. His return provides an opportunity to reflect not only on his own business journey, but also on how Ireland’s startup ecosystem has evolved over the past decade.

Entrepreneurs Building Businesses Today

The 2026 entrepreneur panel reflects the diversity of modern Irish entrepreneurship.

• Deirdre McCarthy, founder of FLIT.ie, has built a platform focused on improving financial literacy and financial wellbeing.
• Keith Walsh of ExamRevision.ie has helped develop an online learning platform supporting secondary school students preparing for examinations.
• Joanna Frivet founded LegalMoov, a legal technology platform designed to make legal services more accessible.
• Niamh Mooney and Ciara Gache are the founders of Don’t Kill My Vibe, a contemporary Irish jewellery brand that has built a growing customer base through design, creativity and strong branding.
• Conor Moules is co-founder and CEO of  Barespace , an AI-powered software platform serving the hair and beauty industry.

Together they represent the diversity of modern Irish entrepreneurship, from education and financial literacy to legal technology, jewellery design and AI-powered software.

More than a Speaker Event

A key part of StartUp Ballymun’s success has been its ability to bring entrepreneurs together with the organisations that support enterprise development.

Representatives from Enterprise Ireland, LEO Dublin City, Dublin Northwest Partnership, Ballymun 4 Business and The Innovation Hub will be in attendance, alongside experienced business mentors and advisers.

For many attendees, these conversations can be as valuable as the formal programme itself, creating opportunities for networking, collaboration and access to supports that may help move a business forward.

A Decade of Partnership

The continued success of StartUp Ballymun reflects the collaboration between entrepreneurs, business networks, support agencies and Dublin City Council over the past ten years.

The sustained support of Dublin City Council through the Ballymun Area Office has been a key factor in the event’s development, helping create a consistent platform for entrepreneurship and enterprise in North Dublin. That long-term commitment has enabled the event to continue evolving while remaining accessible to local entrepreneurs and business owners.

A Decade of Support from Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News has covered StartUp Ballymun throughout much of its journey, reporting on speakers, startup founders and local business success stories connected to the event. That coverage has helped bring the stories of Ballymun and North Dublin entrepreneurs to a wider national and international audience. The organisers would also like to acknowledge the support of Irish Tech News Editor Simon Cocking and the wider Irish Tech News team over the past decade.

Ten years on, StartUp Ballymun continues to provide a meeting place for entrepreneurs, business owners, mentors and support organisations, reflecting the strength and resilience of enterprise activity in Ballymun and across North Dublin.

StartUp Ballymun takes place on Wednesday 10 June 2026 from 4pm to 8pm at Ballymun Civic Centre. Attendance is free and registration is available through Eventbrite.

Read about last year’s StartUp Ballymun event Innovation in Action

Billy Linehan

Billy Linehan writes about innovation, tech for good and entrepreneurship for Irish Tech News. He leads Celtar Advisers, working as a business mentor with SME directors and startup founders, and organises StartUp Ballymun, Dublin’s longest-running entrepreneurship series.

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Research Ireland has launched the Research in Ireland Barometer 2026, a new national project designed to build a richer, more inclusive understanding of how people across Ireland encounter, engage with, and experience research in their everyday lives.

The Barometer focuses on capturing lived experience – the stories, contexts, and perspectives that shape how people relate to research. This reflects Research Ireland’s long-standing commitment to public engagement, comprising decades of nationwide outreach and education.

The Barometer will serve as a baseline for the years ahead, offering a clearer picture of how research is understood, trusted, and encountered across different communities. At the same time, it reflects an ambition to broaden participation, ensuring that people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances can contribute.

The project will be delivered through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative insights with deeper qualitative engagement. This will allow Research Ireland to better understand not just what people think about research, but how they experience it in the decisions they make, the information they use, and the issues that matter to them.

The Barometer also includes community-based focus groups designed to capture the lived experiences of people whose perspectives are often missing from national conversations about research. These sessions will meet participants where they are, creating space for deeper conversations about how research is encountered, understood and felt in everyday life.

Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, Dr Ruth Freeman, said: “The Research in Ireland Barometer 2026 represents an important step in opening up conversations about research across society. It is also essential to shaping how we engage with society as a public body. Rather than focusing solely on a simple, statistical survey, we are taking a community-engaged approach to understand how people experience research in their everyday lives, from the decisions they make to the information they encounter and trust.

“We are actively seeking to hear from people across Ireland, including those whose voices are not always captured in traditional surveys. By listening to people’s lived experiences and meeting people where they are, we aim to build a richer, more inclusive understanding of research and ensure it remains connected to the needs and experiences of the public.”

Invitation to Participate

As part of this nationwide effort, Research Ireland is inviting people across the country to take part in the Barometer project. Participation is open to anyone living in Ireland over 16 years of age. The survey will remain open for three months, with findings to be published at the end of 2026.

For information on the Barometer and to take part in the survey, click here: www.researchireland.ie/research-in-ireland-barometer

For queries on the Research in Ireland Barometer, email barometer@researchireland.ie

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