The Ireland-Alberta Trade Association, in partnership with Calgary Economic Development, recently organized a highly successful trade mission to Dublin, Ireland. Held from May 27 to 30, 2024, this mission aimed to explore and foster business opportunities between Alberta and Ireland. With company visits, presentations, and participation in the Dublin Tech Summit, the delegation gained valuable insights into Ireland's vibrant business ecosystem.
Exploring Dublin's Innovation Hubs
One of the highlights of the mission was our exploration of Dublin’s leading innovation hubs.
We visited Dogpatch Labs, a dynamic startup hub that brings together angels, founders, and venture capitalists to catalyze growth. Dogpatch Labs is renowned for its vibrant startup ecosystem, providing essential resources for entrepreneurs.
We also explored the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC), which supports early-stage digital startups through accelerator programs and investments. NDRC's focus on nurturing innovation and helping startups scale was evident through our discussions and tours.
Our visit to the Guinness Enterprise Centre showcased a unique cluster approach to supporting entrepreneurs. The centre provides space, resources, and access to a network that accelerates business growth. Johann Issartel from MoveAhead shared insights on their journey, emphasizing the importance of a nurturing entrepreneurial environment and the comprehensive support provided by the Guinness Enterprise Centre.
Ireland's Business Environment
The trade mission included presentations by several key organizations, providing a comprehensive overview of Ireland’s business environment. IDA Ireland, supporting over 1,800 Canadian companies, highlighted their stable business environment, ease of doing business, and robust partnership solutions. Their support for sectors such as technology, financial services, life sciences, and the green economy is noteworthy.
Eversheds Sutherland LLP, a leading law firm, offered insights into legal and contractual advice for international companies. Their close collaboration with large tech companies and universities underscored the importance of legal expertise in navigating the Irish market.
Grant Thornton Ireland discussed Ireland’s strong reputation for transparency and efficient tax structure, offering valuable local insights and best practices for business growth related to maximizing corporate tax benefits.
Morgan McKinley highlighted Ireland’s rich talent landscape, supported by graduates from numerous universities and technological institutes. They emphasized the country’s flexible shift patterns and high ranking in international talent attraction.
Success Story: OPTEL Group
A standout success story is OPTEL Group, a Canadian tech company specializing in supply chain technology. They have established their manufacturing base in Ireland, benefiting from the country’s supportive tech ecosystem and strategic advantages. OPTEL Group is the number 1 global supplier in track and trace solutions, with 25 billion products tracked each year. The collaborative tech community in Limerick and existing regulatory advantages played a pivotal role in their decision to base their manufacturing in Ireland.
Smart Docklands and 5G Innovation
Our delegation was introduced to Smart Docklands, an innovative testbed for 5G connectivity throughout Dublin. This initiative brings together districts to engage with the community and industry, featuring smart solar-powered infrastructure, smart tourism, and citizen science projects in schools. The presentation on the testbed highlighted Dublin’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology for urban development.
Building Connections at the Canadian Embassy
The mission also included a reception at the Canadian Embassy, generously hosted by Ambassador Nancy Smyth and Andrew Gibbons Vice-President Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs at WestJet, celebrating WestJet’s 10 years of service between Canada and Ireland. This event underscored the growing connectivity and collaboration between the two nations, with guests from Tourism Ireland, Government of Ireland, IDA, and other notable organizations.
Networking at the Dublin Tech Summit
Participation in the Dublin Tech Summit provided a platform for high-impact B2B meetings, startup pitches, and networking opportunities. Our delegation engaged with industry experts and peers, gaining valuable insights and building connections. Smile Sonica, one of our companies, pitched on the global startup stage, showcasing their innovative solutions.
Darryl Lesiuk from Smile Sonica remarked, "The vibrant medical history and resources in Ireland are remarkable, making it a key stop for our company's future European expansion. The quality and practical insights of the sessions, thanks to the Ireland Alberta Trade Association, have accelerated our journey, allowing us to dive into more serious conversations sooner than expected."
Conclusion
The trade mission to Dublin was a resounding success, offering our delegation invaluable insights into Ireland’s innovation ecosystem and business environment. The meetings, tours, and participation in the Dublin Tech Summit opened numerous opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Gerald Chipeur from Miller Thomson highlighted, "Ireland has been an incredible base for managing international business, thanks to its libertarian approach where the government sets the table and lets businesses lead. The highlight of this mission was definitely the Embassy visit and meeting business leaders, which showcased Ireland's potential as a gateway to Europe and North America. The Ireland Alberta Trade Association made it all possible by opening up all layers of society, business, and government for us."
Jason Holtz with Complete Solutions echoed this sentiment, stating, "Ireland offers numerous opportunities in sectors we typically don't explore, and the tax setup and reasonable costs make it an attractive place for business. The sessions organized have been enlightening, showing us the advantages of setting up operations here and accessing the broader European market."
Joella Almeida and Ann Chang from MedEssist shared "The Ireland Alberta Trade Association made it possible to gain crucial insights into the tech ecosystem, and even helped introduce us to key contacts in the pharmacy technology space! Ireland is an ideal market for the expansion of healthcare services, due to its high density of pharmacies and the potential for Irish pharmacists' growing expansion of their practice scope. IATA meetings with the Guinness Enterprise Centre were beneficial in forming early relationships, and helped us gain an understanding of the Irish life-science ecosystem at large. Thanks to a fruitful visit, our team is planning a return within the next 12 months!
Megan Zimmerman, Senior Director Business Development at Calgary Economic Development shares, "The similarities between Dublin and Calgary, especially in terms of community and networks, are striking. We couldn’t do what we do here in Ireland without the Ireland Alberta Trade Association. Their partnership and the 'give first' community spirit we've experienced here are invaluable."
Ian Soder from Complete Solutions noted, "Ireland's shared history and welcoming business environment make it a great spot for Canadian firms looking to expand into the EU. The interactive and highly valuable sessions set up by the Ireland Alberta Trade Association provided practical answers and facilitated excellent networking opportunities, proving Ireland to be a strategic location for our global ambitions."
Prasanthi Naidoo from Joberfer added, "The meetings and introductions facilitated by the Ireland Alberta Trade Association were exceptionally positive, offering invaluable insights into Ireland's ecosystem. The highlight of the trip was the Dublin Tech Summit, which opened up new opportunities and connections, making this mission a significant success for our company."
Samantha Hay, a Trade Specialist at Calgary Economic Development, expressed, "Ireland feels very similar to Calgary, providing a comfortable and immersive experience for doing business. The streamlined processes for companies entering Ireland, highlighted in the sessions organized by the Ireland Alberta Trade Association, show the readiness of Irish businesses to collaborate and grow together."
In summary, Shona Reilly, Director, Trade at Calgary Economic Development captured the essence of the mission perfectly: "Ireland's collaborative and business-forward environment, along with the support from the Ireland Alberta Trade Association, made this mission highly successful. The presentations and networking opportunities demonstrated Ireland's potential as a great spot to build and grow businesses, and we're excited to continue our relationship with Ireland."
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to all partners, speakers, and companies who participated in the mission, and to the organizations that hosted us, providing invaluable insights and support.
#IrelandAlbertaTrade #DublinMission2024 #BusinessGrowth #InnovationEcosystem #GlobalExpansion #CalgaryEconomicDevelopment #TradeMissionSuccess #StartupEcosystem #InternationalBusiness #TechSummit2024 #DTS2024
Comments