Launched in 2020 in partnership with MaynoothWorks, Kildare Chamber, and Meath Enterprise, the ReThink | ReDesign programme empowers regional SMEs to harness digital technologies and rethink their business models and operations. Delivered through Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Voucher scheme, the programme connects companies with interdisciplinary teams of researchers from Maynooth University’s Innovation Value Institute, spanning business, psychology, design, engineering, and computer science. Engagements are structured around discovery workshops and design thinking principles, and have spanned sectors including digital health, cybersecurity, fintech, edtech, professional services and food innovation. Since its inception, the programme has engaged with SMEs across the region, delivering tangible outcomes such as proofs of concept, technology roadmaps, architecture blueprints, business strategies, technical feasibility assessments, and user experience prototypes.

In addition to the core programme team below, individual ReThink | ReDesign projects have involved several of IVI’s expert researchers, depending on the nature of the challenge faced. Examples of successful projects carried out through ReThink | ReDesign include our work with Kilkenny Design and ArcDox.

The interest in Circular Business models has been accelerating as societal environmental concerns grow. European countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands are globally recognised for their leadership in this field. Policy makers in Ireland are aware of the value this economic paradigm shift as it is designed to provide better recycling, minimisation of waste, and the optimising of environmental outcomes.

However, at this early juncture the implementation of a proper infrastructure that can wring the greatest effectiveness from such models demands collaboration between policy makers, academics, and industry practitioners. The policy makers know the direction; the academics have access to the state-of-the-art knowledge and technological tools; and the industry turns ideas into practice by making policy implementation a reality.

The use (or better reuse) of materials in the construction sector show has potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the material cycle of residential buildings. Therefore, the overall objective of the VISION project is to nurture the promotion of the Circular Business approach in the construction sector. Through unique collaboration opportunities and a co-creation approach, it addresses a knowledge gap to identify opportunities to minimise the use of virgin materials used in the growing construction sector in Ireland.

DIGI+ will train 20 high-potential and excellent postdoctoral researchers, across several institutions, with the skills needed to become future leaders, so that they are able to drive the digital transformation for the next decade with the ambition to establish a sustainable society. The postdoctoral researchers will merge the key challenges of the green transition and the digital transition through 2-year, interdisciplinary and intersectoral fellowships.

DIGI+ is a well-funded, structured strategically placed research programme driven by the ambition of sustainable ecosystems. It is focussed on developing innovative digital transformation approaches addressing cross-disciplinary challenges, relevant to current policies and strategies in the European Research Area.

Driven by the ambition of sustainability, DIGI+ has brought together partners that cultivate excellence by extending the traditional academic research setting, equipping researchers with a tailored combination of research-specific and transferable skills that will enhance career prospects in both the academic and non-academic sectors.

Visit the DIGI+ website to learn more.

Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss in an integrated manner is essential to building resilient societies and sustainable economies. The EU-funded GREEN TALENT project will build capacity, promote networking and facilitate knowledge exchange through four demonstration hubs in Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. GREEN TALENT aims to address gaps in knowledge, skills, and competences in research and innovation (R&I) and support the green transition by contributing to halting biodiversity loss, and advancing climate mitigation and adaptation through capacity-building, networking, and knowledge exchange.

Academic and SME partners provide expertise, support secondments and connect to international R&I efforts, while partners based outside of the four demonstration hub countries enhance capacity building and cooperation. The project will develop five open-access training modules on R&I topics, including grant management and entrepreneurship, as well as five interdisciplinary modules focused on nature-based solutions. The demonstration pilots will deliver practical solutions to climate and biodiversity challenges, fostering collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors.

GREEN TALENT comprises 17 partner organisations across 11 countries. Learn more at the GREEN TALENT website.