Researchers have chalked out a major innovation strategy, designed to bring together two of Ireland’s greatest assets – its ICT sector and marine natural resources – in order to tap into emerging global markets. Minister Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food has inaugurated a workshop on this in which Ms. Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, the newly-appointed European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, deliver a keynote address.
Many dignified personalities attended the workshop, SMARTOCEAN Innovation Cluster Strategy. It was compiled by a Working Group comprised of representatives of the companies, research institutes and State agencies. The Working Group has identified ocean innovation as a possible ‘game changer’ for Ireland by focussing our existing ICT cluster and significant investments in science and technology on our 220 million acre marine resource in order to leverage opportunities to develop new products and services for global markets.
Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn in her keynote address to the Workshop, said that the Continental Shelf around this little island is one of Europe’s largest seabeds – although much remains undiscovered, this underwater land mass presents vast opportunities for the Irish economy and places Ireland in pole position to be at the cutting edge of marine innovation.
The information revealed that the SMARTOCEAN Innovation Cluster seeks to target newly emerging niche markets (e.g marine renewable energy, environmental monitoring, water management) as well as established markets (e.g. oil and gas, aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, coastal erosion etc.) by developing innovative and competitive production systems and service models to target niche, high value and high growth international export markets.
Dr Mark White, CEO of Nowcasting International Ltd. highlited the research work saying that Nowcasting began out of an EU research project and has grown into a globally recognised leader in its field, weather and ocean forecasting, combining awareness and understanding of the oceans and Ireland’s global leadership in ICT.
The workshop, which continues tomorrow (23rd March) will also feature presentations on ‘New Opportunities to Extend the Reach of Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland,’ ‘Underwater Communications,’ and an innovative project to monitor pollution in harbours using ‘shoals’ of autonomous robotic fish. Other areas under discussion will include marine transport, logistics and security using vehicle and container tracking systems, and how Ireland can become the prime mover in ocean energy.
