GALWAY CITY INNOVATION DISTRICT John Breslin

TECHWEST / COLLINS MCNICHOLAS 5 MARCH 2015

Who am I?

Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Informatics Researcher at Insight Centre for Data Analytics Co-Founder of boards.ie Co-Founder of adverts.ie Chairman of Startup Galway Board Member of WestBIC Imagineer of Galway City Innovation District Shameless Self Promoter and Creator of Titles

John Breslin NUI Galway

Why is Galway great?

Named as the Top European Microcity of the Future 2014/15 by Financial Times’ FDi Magazine

One of five global hubs in the medtech sector (with nine out of the world’s top 10 medtech companies on its doorstep)

Valeo, Cisco, HP, Avaya, SAP, IBM, APC, Arm, Schneider, Fidelity, SAP, SmartBear, EA, OnePageCRM, Pocket Anatomy, Altocloud, Ex Ordo, Element Wave, Netfort, CGA…

#1 Euro Microcity FDi (Financial Times)

Medtech Hub 9/10 top companies

ICT Cluster MNCs, SMEs, startups

1. Menlo Castle (origin of Menlo Park in Silicon Valley, California)2. Computer Museum of Ireland (at DERI)3. NUI Galway (where Stoney, originator of term “electron”, was prof.)4. Java’s (Zachary Quinto, AKA Spock, waited on tables here)

OnePageCRM

Insight

Ex Ordo

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European Microcity of the Future

5. Claddagh (birthplace of the Claddagh Ring, and Angel from Buffy!)6. Ignite TTO Business Innovation Centre7. Galway Technology Centre8. Innovation in Business Centre (at GMIT)9. Marine Institute

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@johnbreslin@technologyvoice@startupgalway@galwaycity#upgalway#gaillimhabúbit.ly/galwaytech

Startup Galway Monthly tech meetup for the entrepreneurially minded in Galway

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What’s next?

Innovation district

The Rise of the Innovation Districts, Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner, Brookings Institution “Innovation districts constitute the ultimate mash up of entrepreneurs and educational institutions, start-ups and schools, mixed-use development and medical innovations, bike-sharing and bankable investments—all connected by transit, powered by clean energy, wired for digital technology, and fueled by caffeine.”

What is it?

Galway City Innovation District First innovation hub in 2015

Near Galway’s train and coach stations, harbour area

A focal point for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in Galway’s inner city

When

Where

What

First: an innovation hub Don’t wait for five or ten year plans: pick a building, show that it can house an innovation hub, through its success grow into other buildings and spaces nearby

Right in the city centre, attractive location for companies, walkable to the transportation hubs, cafés and restaurants, University, Galway Harbour, and the sea

Hold open workshops in a shared area to skill up local companies and the community in emerging tech (cloud and web frameworks, app development, etc.)

Allow companies to co-work in a space that allows them to leverage each other’s expertise, bounce (ideas) off each other, collaborate with and mentor others

Incorporate if possible one or all of the following: hackerspace / makerspace, fab lab, science gallery, computer museum, Lego room (please, pretty please)

Have a hot desk area for short-term visitors to the city, so that they can experience what it’s like to be a Galwegian, and hopefully apply for citizenship later on

Lean approach Location is key Community focus

Co-working space Make and create Visitor friendly

Supporters so far… Galway Chamber Galway Harbour Galway City Council NUI Galway Startup Galway ITAG WestBIC IDA Ireland Corporates TBA …and more…

Innovating West 13 March 2015

What’s the focus?

Who will be there? 30 CEOs, executives and leaders from Google, Dell, HP, Digicel, Juniper Networks, Portwest, JFC, GAME GOLF, Element Wave, Alison, Cloud90, plus over 250 attendees at the event www.innovatingwest.com

Building world-class teams and creating innovation ecosystems in the West of Ireland

Thank you. Any questions?

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