– Hosted by RInnoValleys partners Community Enterprise Association Ireland – CEAI 

June 2024 – RInnoValleys team (https://rinnovalleys.eu) organized an incredible 2-day Peer Learning Event in Limerick, Ireland. Hosted by RnnoValleys partners Community Enterprise Association Ireland – CEAI, the delegation dove headfirst into the vibrant Irish innovation ecosystem.

The event was an eye-opening experience:

✔ Inspiring guest speakers: Leaders from Enterprise Ireland, Innovate Limerick, xocean, and more shared their wisdom.

✔ Cutting-edge innovation centers: We explored the Nexus Innovation Centre, Future Mobility Ireland Campus, and Smarter Factory Technology Gateway

✔ International collaboration: Partners from Greece, Spain, Malta, Hungary, Belgium, and Ireland joined forces to learn and grow together.

Amongst the ecosystem stakeholders who shared their knowledge where
– Dennis Barry Barry, CEO of Innovate Limerick
– David Barrett, Assistant Principal Officer, Enterprise Innovation Policy unit; Innovation and Investment Division Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
– Sean Burke, Senior Research Officer, Enterprise Ireland, National Delegate & Contact Point for EIC Accelerator, Pathfinder and EIE
– Harriet Cotter, Senior Programme Manager, Technology Infrastructure & Collaboration, Enterprise Ireland
– Gary O’Meara, Chair CEAI
– Karen May, Director and Chief Financial Officer, xocean.com XOCEAN
– Dr. Paul Byrne, Co-founder, Mavarick
– Dr. Eirini Ozouni, Project Manager, Envolve Entrepreneurship
– Petra Moreno, Communications & Project Manager, SERN
– Siobhán Finn, CEO, CEAI
– Gert O’ Rourke, Centre Manager, Nexus Innovation Centre, University of Limerick
– Professor Stephen Kinsella, Co-Director, Immersive Software Engineering programme
– Dr. Wassim Derguech, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Future Mobility Campus Ireland
– Jim O’Hagan, Smarter Factory Gateway Manager

RInnoValleys (https://rinnovalleys.eu) a collaborative initiative by EU stakeholders from Greece, Catalonia-Spain, Malta, Hungary, Belgium and Ireland envisions to transform regions into innovation valleys, contributing to the overall growth and competitiveness of the EU. Led  by Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece), ACCIÓ – Agència per la Competitivitat de l’Empresa (Catalonia-Spain), Hungarian Innovation Agency (Hungary), Acceler8 Limited (Malta), National Association of Community Enterprise Centres (Ireland), and Startup Europe Regions Network (Belgium),  this one-year initiative is set to address disparities and challenges faced by the 5 EU regions in supporting deep tech startups and accessing the European Innovation Council (EIC). RInnoValleys commenced its first peer learning event in Barcelona hosting 26 representatives of the EU innovation ecosystem, including private and public organizations.  

The project was launched with the funding and support of Horizon Europe Framework Programme. RInnoValleys project is poised to significantly impact EU innovation ecosystems by fostering collaboration, ensuring the involvement of key innovation players from government, academia, industry, and civil society (Quadruple Helix Model), promoting inclusivity across all EU territories, including rural areas aligning regional innovation policies with the New European Innovation Agenda. 

For more information, please visit https://rinnovalleys.eu and follow RInnoValleys update on LinkedIn htpps://linkedin.com/company/rinnovalleys.  

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About RInnoValleys 

RInnoValleys is a project funded by Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) aiming to transform regions into innovation valleys. Innovation stakeholders from Greece, Catalonia-Spain, Malta, Hungary, Belgium and Ireland join forces to connect DeepTech startups with the European innovation ecosystem. RInnoValleys is an ambitious initiative set to address disparities and challenges faced by EU regions in supporting deep tech startups and accessing the European Innovation Council (EIC). The project ensures the involvement of key innovation players from government, academia, industry, and civil society, promoting inclusivity across all EU territories, including rural areas aligning regional innovation policies with the New European Innovation Agenda. 

RInnoValleys partners are:  

• Envolve Entrepreneurship (Greece): https://www.envolveglobal.org 
• ACCIÓ – Agència per la Competitivitat de l’Empresa (Catalonia-Spain): https://www.accio.gencat.cat/  
• Hungarian Innovation Agency (Hungary): https://niu.hu/  

• Acceler8 Limited (Malta): https://www.acceler8.today/  
•  Community Enterprise Association Ireland CEAI (Ireland):   https://communityenterprise.ie/ 
• Startup Europe Regions Network (Belgium): https://startupregions.eu/   

Read more about the RInnoValleys Project: https://rinnovalleys.eu 

Follow RInnoValleys on LinkedIn: htpps://linkedin.com/company/rinnovalleys