A Great Idea for Space? EUSPA CASSINI Challenge Could Help, Jana Kominek Vecerkova
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has opened the CASSINI Challenge to attract innovative startup ideas for upcoming EU satellite launches. The competition seeks concepts that can transition quickly from prototype to market‑ready solutions, offering participants access to funding, technical support, and launch slots. Jana Kominek Vecerkova, a veteran startup ecosystem builder, now leads the initiative, leveraging her 15‑year track record to mentor and scale new space ventures. The call is accompanied by a webinar and detailed guidelines on the EUSPA portal.
Setanta Space Launched to Make Next-Generation Spacecraft More Autonomous
Irish start‑up Setanta Space has launched to deliver modular, radiation‑tolerant onboard computing hardware paired with AI software that makes spacecraft more autonomous. The platform processes sensor data, detects anomalies, and makes decisions in orbit, cutting latency and reliance on ground...
UGREEN Expands Its NAS Lineup with New AI-Powered Flagship Series, Signaling the Era of the Smart Private Cloud
UGREEN unveiled its AI‑powered NAS flagship iDX series, positioning the devices as smart private‑cloud hubs that process data locally with on‑device large language models. The top‑end iDX6011 Pro packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 96 TOPS of AI compute, 64 GB LPDDR5X memory...
The Unseen Engine: How Enterprise Storage Is Powering Business Innovation in Ireland
Enterprise storage in Ireland has evolved from a back‑end utility to a strategic engine that underpins AI, multicloud and data‑driven initiatives. Dell’s Innovation Catalyst Study shows 48% of Irish firms prioritize data readiness for AI, yet 66% remain in early...
Local Enterprise Week to See Over 330 Events Nationwide to Help Businesses
Local Enterprise Week 2026 will host more than 330 events across Ireland’s 31 local authority areas from March 2‑6. The programme, run by the Local Enterprise Offices, targets small businesses at every growth stage, offering workshops on funding, AI adoption, productivity,...
GigPig Set for Ireland Expansion Following Best Nights VC Investment
GigPig, the UK’s leading live‑music marketplace, announced its first international rollout into Ireland, launching in Dublin and Belfast in early 2026. The expansion follows a strategic investment from Best Nights VC, the venture arm of Mast‑Jägermeister SE. In the UK,...
Annual VC Funding Into Irish SMEs Fell for First Time Since 2018
Annual venture capital funding for Irish tech SMEs fell 23% in 2025 to €1.1 billion, marking the first decline since 2018. The fourth quarter dropped 46% to €291.4 million, driven by a 71% retreat of international investors. Life‑science firms attracted the most...
Delivery, Not Ambition, Now Defines Ireland’s Energy Transition
Addleshaw Goddard unveiled its Investors in Energy: Ireland Report, highlighting a rapid solar surge to over 2 GW in four years and strong on‑shore wind growth. The study warns that delivery bottlenecks—grid congestion, planning delays and offshore wind timing—now limit the transition...
Ireland Surges Ahead in Digital Transformation: New Eir Research
eir’s Digital Ireland Report shows the country has become one of Europe’s most connected societies, with broadband traffic more than doubling since 2019 and household fibre usage rising 61%. Mobile data volumes have surged sevenfold, while regions such as Cavan,...
The Monzo Money Pulse: Research Reveals Irish Adults Are Sitting on a €1.5 Billion ‘Savings Gap’
Monzo’s first “Money Pulse” survey of 1,000 Irish adults uncovers a €1.5 billion savings gap, with two‑thirds eager to save more but a third of savers earning no interest. Respondents say instant‑access accounts would add €40.80 per month per person, unlocking...
SETU to Host Sixth Annual Women in Technology Event
South East Technological University (SETU) will host its sixth annual Women in Technology event on 12 March at the SETU Arena in Waterford. The conference aims to inspire secondary and tertiary female students by showcasing industry role models, including a...
Could Digital Insurance Solve Food Security For Venezuela?
A proposal outlined by David Stephen suggests launching a digital food‑security insurance product in Venezuela to raise capital for subsidizing agricultural inputs such as irrigation, fertilizer and machinery. By linking insurance payouts to the cost of key crops—maize, beans, rice...
Irish SMEs Turn to Practical Cyber Solutions as AI-Driven Threats Rise, Vodafone Tells SFA Event
At the Small Firms Association’s SFA Connect event, Vodafone Ireland highlighted that 94% of Irish SMEs feel unprepared for AI‑driven cyber attacks, yet adoption of basic safeguards remains low. Only 21% of SMEs use multifactor authentication and more than half...
The Spider Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced as Record Entries Mark 29th Anniversary
The Spider Awards announced its 2026 shortlist, marking the 29th anniversary of Ireland’s longest‑running digital awards. Entries surged 30% over 2025, setting a new record and underscoring the sector’s growth. A new Digital Rising Star category was introduced to spotlight...
Is Smart Dental Tech Worth the Cost?
Smart toothbrushes have evolved into data‑driven oral‑care devices featuring Bluetooth, AI guidance, pressure sensors and high‑frequency sonic vibrations. Premium models cost around €400, roughly the price of a basic smartphone, and promise to improve brushing technique and prevent enamel damage....
University of Galway Launches New Prototype Hub in Partnership with Medtronic
The University of Galway has opened a Medical Device Prototype Hub in partnership with Medtronic, marking a key milestone in their five‑year, €5 million innovation agreement. The hub, housed within the university’s Technology Services Directorate, provides rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and...
Making Healthcare Better: The Manufacturing Technologies Powering MedTech Innovation
Stryker highlights how advanced manufacturing, robotics, AI and digital twins are reshaping MedTech, accelerating product cycles and enabling patient‑specific solutions. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing now move concepts to production in weeks, while digital twins create precise virtual replicas for...
Salesforce Survey Reveals AI Is the #2 Growth Tactic for 2026 as Irish Sales Teams Turn to Agents
Salesforce’s State of Sales survey of over 4,000 reps, including 100 in Ireland, shows AI agents are the second‑most important growth tactic for 2026. In Ireland, 87% of sales organisations already use AI for tasks such as prospecting and forecasting,...
New FET Micro-Qualifications in Artificial Intelligence to Address Critical Skills Gaps Launched by Minister Lawless
Minister James Lawless launched a new suite of Further Education and Training (FET) micro‑qualifications in Artificial Intelligence, developed with Microsoft Ireland under SOLAS’s Skills to Advance initiative. The programmes deliver 50‑hour, subsidised courses covering machine learning basics, ethical AI, data...
Are We Witnessing the Shift From Employers to Organisers?
Corporate leaders are increasingly turning to “organiser” firms that house communities of freelance C‑suite talent, replacing traditional employer models. Global VUCA conditions and senior executives’ desire for purpose and flexibility are fueling the shift toward fractional leadership. These organiser firms...
New ARC Hub Launched to Accelerate Research-to-Impact Pathway
Technological University Dublin launched the Research Ireland ARC Hub for ICT, a €32.21 million national initiative designed to fast‑track ICT and artificial intelligence research into commercial products. Co‑funded by the Irish government and the EU’s ERDF programme, the Hub offers targeted...
NovaUCD and CeADAR Open Applications for 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme
NovaUCD and CeADAR have opened applications for the 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator, a six‑month programme aimed at Irish AI‑first start‑ups that have market validation and are seeking to close a funding round in 2026. The accelerator, now in its third...
