Enterprise Ireland to mark St. Patrick’s Day with over 50 virtual trade events across the world and launch of international Green Innovation

• Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Troy supporting international programme of activity
• Tánaiste Leo Varadkar launches International Green Innovation Campaign

To mark St. Patrick’s Day and the positive impact that Irish businesses are delivering across the world, Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s trade and innovation agency will host over 50 virtual trade events across the world to engage international partners and support the growth of Irish enterprise internationally. Enterprise Ireland today also launched an international campaign ‘Ready for a Green Future’ promoting Irish green innovators who are delivering sustainable and low carbon solutions to tackle climate challenge.

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar and the Minister for Trade Promotion, Robert Troy will be participating in the virtual events series with Enterprise Ireland clients and international partners across the US, Europe, UK, IMEA and Asia Pacific regions over the St Patricks Day period, including:

• USA – CEO Roundtable event with the Taoiseach
• USA – Events with Lt Governor of the State of California and Lt Governor of Washington State with An Tánaiste
• Germany & France – Ready for a Green Future event with An Tánaiste
• UK – ‘Nua’ - A celebration of Irish innovation in the UK with An Tánaiste
• Australia - Ireland Re-visited Business Event with An Tánaiste
• Belgium – Belgian/ Ireland Trade Opportunities Post Brexit with Minister Troy
• Nordics – Sustainability in a Digital World with Minister Troy
• South East Asia – Indonesia St Patricks Day Event with Minister Troy
• Australia – St Patricks Day Advisory Panel Event with Minister Troy

Enterprise Ireland’s international green innovation campaign ‘Ready for a Green Future’ focuses on the climate agenda, and as the world emerges from Covid-19 there is a need to build back better, prioritising sustainability and tackling the many environmental challenges that we face to deliver a green recovery.

The campaign showcases many world-leading Irish green innovators who are solving complex technical challenges and delivering sustainable and low carbon solutions to make renewable energy viable; reduce energy waste in our cities with smart technology; reduce agricultural waste and make construction cleaner.

Click here to view Ready for a Green Future Campaign Video

Some of the Irish companies featured in the campaign include:

• Keenan’s advanced diet feeders promote sustainability in farming by reducing waste, maximising animal feed efficiency, and enabling a circular economy.
• CitySwift is combating the climate crisis by using data to strategically improve public transit, making the most sustainable modes of transport more efficient and user-friendly.
• Ecocem is addressing one of the world’s largest carbon culprits, cement, by improving and promoting the use of a greener cement alternative.
• Ocean Energy is capturing and converting the power of waves into electricity through unique technology.

Launching the international campaign today, Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said:“St Patrick’s Day is the day the world turns green as we come together to celebrate our national holiday. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase Ireland’s green innovators and the positive contribution they are making to industries across the world.

“Moving away from fossil fuels and decoupling emissions from economic progress is the biggest challenge facing this generation. Ireland is fully committed to playing its part in the global effort. We are committed to reducing emissions by 7% on average by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Enterprise Ireland’s Ready for a Green Future campaign highlights some of the Irish companies who are the early movers, the trail blazers who have sustainability at the core of their business. This St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to showcase these green innovators and the positive contribution they are making to industries across the world.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: “Supporting Irish companies to reduce their carbon footprint and capitilise on opportunities emerging from the low-carbon transition is a key strategic priority for Enterprise Ireland. As Irish businesses recover from the impact of Covid-19 we need to also build resilience and work with researchers and innovators to ensure Irish companies are fully prepared and have the capabilities in place to meet the challenges of climate change and the substantial changes required across society to meet national and EU emissions targets, new standards, changing consumer and buyer preferences.

“Research, innovation and new technologies will play a vital role in enabling a greener future. At a time where the there is a strong focus on a green recovery across the world, across the European Union and in Ireland. This St. Patrick’s Day we are showcasing some of Ireland’s best green innovators and key actors in our research and innovation ecosystem, who are enabling industries such as agriculture, construction and transport be more sustainable, making buildings greener, cutting pollution and supporting renewable energy production.”

Ireland has been ranked 5th in the (MIT Technology Review) Green Future Index 2021, an index of 76 countries on their progress and commitment towards building a low carbon future. It measures the degree to which their economies are turning towards clean energy industry, agriculture and society through investment in renewables, innovation and green finance.

The 10 Irish green innovators featured in the Ready for the Green Future campaign are:

• Abbey Machinery is supporting reduced carbon emissions with innovative farming technologies.
• Keenan is promoting sustainability in farming with advanced, efficient diet feeders.
• CitySwift is combating the climate crisis by using data to strategically improve public transit.
• Cygnum is offering savings in the embodied energy of new builds with automated timber frame construction methods.
• Davra is partnering with companies to use data for improved efficiency and environmental safety.
• Ecocem is improving and promoting the use of a greener cement alternative.
• GridBeyond is enabling cost-effective decarbonisation through advanced energy intelligence.
• Hanley Energy is providing customized, efficient energy solutions to the world’s most power heavy industries.
• Ocean Energy is capturing and converting the power of waves into electricity through unique technology.
• XOCEAN is operating an uncrewed, carbon-friendly vehicle to collect marine data with 1,000 x fewer emissions than an ordinary vessel.

For more visit: Ireland: Ready for a Green Future - The Irish Advantage

ENDS

About Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government’s trade and innovation agency and ranked first in the world of VC investors. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets. We invest in the most innovative Irish companies through all stages of their growth and connect them to international customers across multiple industries. Our goal is to build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish partners. With 40 offices worldwide, Enterprise Ireland’s teams of industry experts consult with international businesses to understand and solve their business needs.

Pitchbook’s 2020 Global Annual League Table has ranked Enterprise Ireland 1st in the world and 1st in Europe of venture capital investors. Pitchbook is a leading Venture Capital (VC) and Private Equity Investment Platform, ranking the most active global investors by VC deal count. In 2019 Pitchbook ranked Enterprise Ireland first in Europe and second globally. Enterprise Ireland invests in innovative Irish companies driving change across industries worldwide.