Irish Tech News Audio Articles

Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned telecoms provider, has announced new results from its annual Connected Lives survey, which reveals that nearly one-in-four social media users (24%) have quit a social media platform because they disapprove of its owner, while 29% are considering doing so. The nationally representative survey of 1,001 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom. The research suggests that ongoing debates around platform ownership may be negatively influencing user sentiment, with 67% expressing concern over who owns the platforms they use, versus 33% who said it doesn't bother them. Social media users aged 18 to 24 are the most likely to turn their back on platforms due to ownership concerns, with 28% having already done so and 37% considering it. The research found that the majority of social media users (62%) are concerned about the personal information that platforms have stored about them, as they worry how the platform owner might use it. As such, 50% of users have updated their privacy settings in the past 12 months. Concerns surrounding platform ownership have led many to consider an alternative social media network and 64% of social media users expressed an interest in signing up to an 'ethical' platform. However, many social media users find this prospect too idealistic, with 54% believing no such platform could ever exist. Pure Telecom's research also explored what people are posting on social media - and how much doctoring is happening beforehand. Excluding filters, over a third (37%) of social media users admit to editing their photos. Interestingly, this was 10% more prevalent in men (43%) than women (34%). Of those who edit their photos, the top edited features are skin tone (23%), lines and wrinkles (17%) and facial features (15%). In addition to this, 24% of social media users admit to travelling somewhere primarily to get photos for social media, and the number of photos stored in people's smartphone libraries averages at more than 7,500. Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom said: "Social media ownership has become a divisive topic and it's interesting to see how the public personas of some owners are impacting the popularity of the social networks they lead. As concerns grow around data security and how ownership impacts personal privacy, our research indicates that users are losing faith in some platforms. "Despite this ongoing concern, our research found that 98% of adults are social media users, showing that people continue to seek online connections. At Pure Telecom, we are passionate about keeping those connections alive and delivering real value to individuals, households and businesses across Ireland." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Klearcom, a leading provider of global contact centre testing solutions, has announced that it has surpassed 4,000 selection box donations to Waterford Food Bank. The Waterford-based company has donated selection boxes to Waterford Food Bank every year since 2022 and was on-site on the 18th of December to assist with packing efforts. All donations went directly to children in the local area through the charity's distribution partners. Waterford Food Bank, a non funded non profit programme of Buíon Phort Láirge (formerly Waterford Area Partnership), was established in 2017 to eradicate food poverty for some of Waterford's most disadvantaged communities. The majority of food parcels are delivered to St. Vincent de Paul service users but those in need can also be referred through Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and Focus Ireland. All food parcels are given to families around Waterford City at no cost to the end user. Klearcom has been a long-standing supporter of the charity, with staff regularly participating in volunteering activities and awareness campaigns, including organising and distributing food parcels at the packing centre. Mark Rohan, Chief Operating Officer, Klearcom said: "At Klearcom, we believe it's now more important than ever to give back and support our local community. As Christmas can be a challenging time for many families, we chose selection boxes in the hope that they will spark joy for children and their loved ones in Waterford. I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our incredible staff for their generosity and commitment, and to Waterford Food Bank for their ongoing partnership and invaluable work." Karen Glancy, Foodbank Administrator, Waterford Food Bank said: "While giving back is important all year around, charities are often overrun with people seeking help during the festive period. I have seen firsthand the difference a donation such as this makes to our local community. It's important to remember that even the smallest things can make a big impact and I want to thank Klearcom for their endless generosity in making this possible." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

By David Stephen There is a general consensus that large language models [LLMs] are sycophantic. So, one of the risks they pose in their dominance as the contemporaneous consumer AI is due to that feature. But, is AI actually sycophantic in isolation, or is the sycophancy of AI a reflection of the core of how human society works? AI Sycophancy and Machine Learning There are very few examples of leadership and followership across human society that aren't predicated on elements of sycophancy. There are very few outcomes of collaborations that are without fair sycophancy. While there are examples of results from hostilities, conflicts, disagreements, violence and so forth, they are never without sycophancy in the in-groups, as well as ways to seek out sycophancy after using those, to ensure some amount of staying power. Segments of sycophancy may include flattery, persuasion, appeal, requests, offers, tips, and so on. There are others that do not seem like sycophancy, but could be in some sense, like giving, perseverance, associating or partnership, material information, and so forth. Sycophancy is an aspect of operational intelligence. Simply, intelligence, conceptually, is defined as the use of memory for desired, expected or advantageous outcomes. It is divided into two: operational intelligence and improvement intelligence. Sycophancy can be used as a tool for an advantageous or desired outcome. Sycophancy, in some form, is intelligence. LLMs use digital memory for desired outcomes, as an operation of intelligence - with sycophancy, as part of their training data. Sycophancy can also be intensely powerful when it is disguised. Sycophancy is abundant across politics, ethnicity, religion, sexuality causes, economic classes, social strata and so forth. AI Sycophancy There is a recent phenomenon called AI psychosis which is the reinforcement of delusion to some users, resulting, in some cases in unwanted ends. Many blame AI sycophancy as the reason for this problem. One effect that is not simply AI sycophancy is that AI has solutions appeal, that is not vacuous sycophancy. For example, people that use AI for tasks, and where AI assists effectively, there is a [mind] relay for emotional attachment. Simply, in the human mind, any experience [human or object] that is supportive or helpful - when an individual is in need - becomes a give off towards the emotion of care, love, affection, togetherness or others. This may become an entrance of appeal that makes whatever sycophancy that follows to find a soft landing. This outcome is also possible if AI is used for companionship, such that as AI solves the communication need, it creates an appeal that eases the effectiveness of sycophancy. Now, as sycophancy holds for some users, it ignores areas of the mind for caution and consequences as well as a distinction between reality and non-reality [or the source of that appeal.] As this becomes extreme, it may result in AI delusion, AI psychosis or worse. So, sometimes it is not just AI sycophancy but that it tracks from AI's usefulness. Solving AI Psychosis A major solution to AI psychosis can be a product of an AI Psychosis Research Lab, where there is a conceptual display of the mind, as a digital disclaimer, showing what AI is doing to the mind as it outputs words that may result in delusion or reinforce it. The display may also show relays of reality or otherwise. This lab can be subsumed within an AI company or standalone, with support of venture capital, providing answers from January 1, 2026. There is a new story on AP, Open AI, Microsoft face lawsuit over ChatGPT's alleged role in Connecticut murder-suicide, stating that, "The heirs of an 83-year-old Connecticut woman are suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its business partner Microsoft for wrongful death, alleging that the artificial intelligence chatbot intensified her son's "paranoid delusions" and helped direct them at his mother before he killed her." "The lawsuit is the first w...

By Fay Niewiadomski Today's leaders are faced with a multitude of disruptions, whether it's technological shifts from the acceleration of AI or global economic volatility brought on by events like the COVID-19 pandemic. In such a context, command-and-control styles of leadership reliant on predictable outcomes have become ineffective. Now is the time to reimagine leadership - redefining what intelligence looks like and how this distinguishes from simply 'knowledge'. How AI is redefining the future of leadership decisions How can leaders predict the unpredictable and lead effectively when they cannot see what's coming next? The answer lies in a powerful duality: establishing an unwavering strategic direction while empowering tactical discretion within clearly defined boundaries. This replaces predictability with transformative thinking, symbiosis with AI and new decision-making configurations. Transformation requires operational understanding: Human intelligence is the ability to understand context, use emotional intelligence and judgment of consequences to determine the best approach in specific situations. Intelligence is not to be confused with knowledge, the gathering and classification of facts, principles, theories and practices from various disciplines. Psychology Today describes "successful leaders as having high social intelligence, the ability to embrace change, inner resources such as self-awareness and self-mastery, and above all, the capacity to focus on the things that truly merit their attention." AI is not a substitute for human intelligence. AI is a tool to be used by humans for streamlining execution, accelerating decision making, empowering creativity and innovation and elevating team collaboration and impact. The examples below demonstrate human wisdom and good judgment. AI may or may not have been used as an accelerator or an enabler. Strategic Direction and "Red Lines" Strategic perspective is the destination. It is the "why" that exists beyond the immediate chaos. A specific quarterly goal like "increase sales by 10%," can be rendered meaningless by a sudden market crash. Strategic direction provides a filter for all decisions. "We need to remain both profitable and ethical within our industry", is an example of a non-negotiable pillar. In a crisis, a company guided by this might forgo a highly profitable but ethically dubious opportunity (e.g., price gouging during a shortage) because it violates a core "red line." Conversely, it might pursue an ethically sound but initially costly initiative (e.g., protecting employee health) because it aligns with being a sustainable and respected enterprise. Microsoft's Cloud-First Transformation When Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, the tech landscape was uncertain. Microsoft's legacy Windows-centric model was under threat. Nadella didn't predict every new gadget or app; he established a new strategic direction: "to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more." More concretely, he bet the company on being a "cloud-first, mobile-first" provider. This strategic clarity meant divesting from businesses like Nokia that no longer fit this destination and making massive, unwavering investments in Azure cloud infrastructure. The destination was clear, even if the exact path to get there wasn't. Agile Tactical-Discretion If strategy is the destination, tactics are the daily choices of speed, direction, and route. In uncertainty, these must be agile, contextual, and often decentralized. Leaders cannot possibly have all the answers at the top. Instead, they must create boundaries within which their teams can make smart, rapid decisions. This means clearly communicating the "red lines" (what we never do) and the "guardrails" (the principles that guide what we should do). For a company like Patagonia, a red line might be "we will never source materials from suppliers that use forced labor." A guardrail might be "always prioritize product du...

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Bank of Ireland is urging customers to stay alert to 'Smishing' scams over the festive season, as fraudsters try to exploit consumer behaviour by sending them fraudulent text messages during the busy shopping period. With online shopping and parcel deliveries at peak levels, scammers are sending texts that look like they've been sent by trusted delivery companies, motorway toll services, utility providers, Government agencies or even from the banks themselves. These fraudulent messages often include links to fake websites designed to steal card or online banking details or trying to pressure consumers into paying a delivery or customs charge or update bank account details. Other "smishing" texts will contain a fake phone number that, when called, connects you to a fraudster posing as a representative of the company or from your own bank. Bank of Ireland is also reminding customers that its dedicated fraud support team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Christmas and into the New Year. Last year Bank of Ireland's fraud prevention team received over 10,000 calls from customers during the peak holiday period (23 December to 29 December), with 550 calls received on Christmas day alone. As part of Bank of Ireland's four-point plan to prevent fraud, it has called for the introduction of legislation to allow an SMS scam filter to be deployed in Ireland. This filter would help stop SMS fraud attempts before they happen. Ireland is currently out of step with other English-speaking countries in not having an SMS scam filter in place. This filter would operate like the spam filters that are applied to email inboxes by detecting and blocking harmful links or content. Key advice for consumers: Do not click on links or reply to text messages looking for payment. Remember toll operators, banks, delivery companies, utility providers and Government agencies will never send a text linking to a website that asks for your online banking details or full card details.Check the identity of the sender. Call the company in question using their legitimate phone number. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: "Unfortunately fraudsters see the Christmas holidays as an opportunity to exploit the consumer rush to get all the festive shopping done, and at this time of the year Bank of Ireland's fraud team always sees a wide range of "smishing" scams impersonating well-known companies. "Our advice to consumers remains the same, keep your guard up and treat every unsolicited call, text, or email as a potential fraud attempt. Our dedicated fraud team is working around the clock, even over Christmas and into the New Year, to protect and support our customers. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts and contact us straight away. "Ireland is out of step with other English-speaking countries in not having an SMS scam filter, leaving Irish consumers more exposed to fraud attempts. We would strongly support the introduction of an SMS scam filter in Ireland, which requires legislation, as it would help block many of these fake text messages." Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7 on the Freephone line 1800 946 764. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Interview with Dorothy Creaven and Michael Cordner at AWS re:Invent Dublin-based startup Jentic was the first Irish company to complete the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, which concluded recently at AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas. The company is now focused on building enterprise awareness of its platform, supported by the launch of its AI Readiness Scorecard and its listing on AWS Marketplace. Founded in 2024 by Sean Blanchfield, Michael Cordner, and Dorothy Creaven, Jentic applies middleware and enterprise integration engineering to AI adoption, focusing on how APIs are defined, governed and safely executed by automated and agentic systems. AI adoption with API readiness platform Jentic Jentic operates at the integration layer, working with existing enterprise systems and APIs to make them clearer, more structured and more governable. This allows organisations to connect AI systems to real business infrastructure in a controlled and observable way, without replacing existing platforms or bypassing established security and compliance processes. Built on Enterprise Infrastructure Experience The company's approach is shaped by the founders' backgrounds in building large-scale infrastructure. Blanchfield previously co-founded Demonware, acquired by Activision Blizzard, and PageFair. Cordner co-founded Mindconnex, while Creaven previously led Rent the Runway's Irish operations. Speaking to Irish Tech News at AWS re:Invent, Michael Cordner, CTO of Jentic, said many enterprises are now encountering limits in how their systems were originally built. "We got away with cutting corners for 20 years when we were developing APIs for developers," said Cordner . "But now we're trying to let AI loose on those same APIs, and the standards are much more stringent. Even the most intelligent AI in the world is useless without the right information on how to actually use a system." From Jentic's perspective, the current interest in AI exposes long-standing weaknesses in enterprise integration. Automated systems can reason and decide, but they can only act through APIs. If those interfaces are poorly documented, inconsistently structured or weakly governed, behaviour becomes unpredictable. "We're a business logic and infrastructure layer for AI agents," explains Dorothy Creaven, COO of Jentic. "Software has always been built on APIs, but for AI to connect properly to enterprise systems, there has to be something that can make sense of those APIs and turn them into workflows organisations can rely on." Addressing Enterprise Control and Governance A recurring issue Jentic encounters with enterprise customers is organisational hesitation. Senior leadership often wants progress on AI strategy, while technology and security teams are concerned about control, traceability and risk. "Everyone is afraid to let AI loose in their organisation," Creaven observes. "There's a real concern about what systems might do when nobody is watching, whether actions can be traced, and how failures are handled." To address this, Jentic's platform includes a sandboxed execution environment that mirrors production APIs. This allows organisations to test AI-driven workflows, observe behaviour and understand failure modes before anything is connected to live systems. "We provide an environment that mirrors real APIs, but in a way that's safe," Creaven comments. "You can see exactly what's happening, with auditability and logging, and you can only move forward once you're confident the behaviour is correct." Launch of the AI Readiness Scorecard This approach underpins the launch of Jentic's AI Readiness Scorecard, a free, automated assessment tool introduced at AWS re:Invent. The scorecard evaluates APIs across multiple dimensions, including structure, security, documentation quality and discoverability. According to Jentic, its analysis of more than 1,500 well-known APIs highlights repeated gaps. These include missing authentication details, invalid OpenAPI specifications, i...

New data published by LinkedIn has revealed that labour markets across EMEA slackened in October, highlighting the growing competition professionals face to secure a new job. Job seekers are instead countering this trend by reducing their search intensity in favour of "job hugging" - the trend of staying put. In Ireland, job search intensity - the ratio of applications to applicants - fell by -3.9% year-on-year in October, over double the rate of decline in several EMEA-LATAM countries during the month, averaging at -1.5% YoY. Only the United Kingdom (down -9.4% YoY), France (-5.6%), and Germany (-4.4%) recorded higher falls than Ireland. Ireland continues to lead the way on flexible work Hybrid work remains the most popular flexible working option offered by companies in Ireland, with 37.3% of all job postings in October offered as hybrid. Ireland ties with the United Kingdom for the highest availability of hybrid across EMEA, above the average of 30.8% of job postings advertised as hybrid across the region during the same period. Ireland also ranks highly for pure remote positions, placing second in EMEA with 8.2% of all job postings offering the opportunity to work exclusively from home. Ireland ranks second only to the UK (8.6%) and also surpasses the European average (5.3%.) Remote roles remain some of the most in demand jobs, making up 14.7% of job applications in EMEA. Demand in Ireland was higher, with applications for remote jobs making up almost one in five (18.4%) job applications. Green talent more likely to land jobs LinkedIn's Green Skills Report 2025 has also revealed green talent is far more likely to secure a job, getting hired at a global rate of 46.6% above the global hiring rate. Across the world, Energy Management is the fastest-growing green skill category. The proportion of LinkedIn members that added this skill was 17.4% higher in 2025 than in 2024. A spike in AI-driven demand for energy and continued growth in renewable energy supply has led to these skills growing particularly quickly in the Technology, Information and Media and Utilities sectors. Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager Cara O'Leary said: "Internationally and in Ireland, we are seeing a trend where more workers are opting to stay in their current roles rather than actively seeking new opportunities. This is down to a more competitive jobs market as companies advertise fewer roles. This is coming through in our data where we have observed a decline in job search intensity, which fell by nearly 4% year-on-year in October. "At the same time, Ireland continues to stand out as a leader in flexible work, with hybrid roles now accounting for more than one-third of all job postings. Remote opportunities also remain highly sought after, with Irish workers applying to them at even higher rates than the European average. Flexibility continues to be a key differentiator for companies seeking to attract and retain the best talent. "Internationally and in Ireland, we're also seeing real momentum around green skills, with talent in this space being hired at rates well above the global average. As demand for sustainability and energy-related expertise accelerates, Irish professionals who invest in these skills will be exceptionally well positioned for the future." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook,...

By Dominic Colenso, who is an international speaker, communication coach and the author of Cut-Through: The pitch and presentation playbook. Playing the leading role: How to deliver when all eyes are on you When I was shooting the film Thunderbirds, the late Bill Paxton gave me a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since. He said, "Honour the audience." Cut-Through and play the leading role Bill had starred in some of the biggest films of his generation, yet he was meticulous about understanding who the film was for and what they expected from it. His point was simple. When you're in the spotlight, it's very easy to think you're the most important person in the room. In reality, the audience is. That lesson applies just as much in business as it does on screen. When leaders speak, whether it's in a pitch, a town hall, or a project update, all eyes are already on them. Playing the leading role in that moment isn't about commanding attention or dominating airtime. It's about taking responsibility for how the message lands. One of the most common issues I see in tech companies and SMEs is leaders over-relying on content. They build detailed decks, share reams of information, and hope that clarity will emerge. But clarity doesn't come from volume. It comes from intention. In my first book, IMPACT: How to be more confident, increase your influence and know what to say under pressure, I suggest that intention is the first ingredient of effective communication for a reason. Before an actor steps on stage, they're crystal clear on what they are there to do. What should the audience feel? What energy do they need to bring to the scene? They understand their role in the narrative. Leaders face the same challenge. If you can't clearly articulate what you want your audience to know, feel, or do after you've spoken, your message will lack focus, no matter how strong the strategy is. Once intention is clear, presence becomes critical. Presence isn't charisma or confidence in the traditional sense. It's the ability to be fully there, especially when the pressure is on. On stage, that comes from breath, posture, and focus. In leadership, those things are vital too. They show up in how calmly you speak, how well you listen, and how much space you give others. People read these signals instantly. If a leader looks rushed or distracted, the room becomes unsettled. If they're grounded and attentive, trust builds. This isn't about personality. It's about presence and awareness of the signals you're sending out. That's where preparation comes in. In acting, rehearsal isn't only about memorising lines. More importantly, it's about creating enough familiarity with the material that you can respond naturally in the moment. The performances that look most relaxed are usually the most rehearsed. In my latest book, Cut-Through: The Pitch and Presentation Playbook, I describe this as drilling the moments that matter. Your opening words. Your closing message. The question you hope doesn't get asked but probably will. Leaders who do this work show up calmer, clearer, and more credible. Those who don't often feel exposed when things don't go to plan. Importantly, playing the leading role doesn't mean being centre stage all the time. The best leaders, like the best actors, make the people around them better. They shine the spotlight on their teams, create clarity about direction, and help others understand where they fit and why their work matters. When all eyes are on you, your job isn't to perform harder. It's to serve better. Be clear on your intention. Show up with presence. Prepare properly. Do that, and people won't just hear your message. They'll buy into it. Dominic Colenso is an international speaker, communication coach and the author of Cut-Through: The pitch and presentation playbook. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podc...

A comparison of early stage state supports for the indigenous tech sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland' with Minister Jack Chambers The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers today launched a new report, 'A comparison of early stage state supports for the indigenous tech sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland' which was conducted by Scale Ireland and QUBIS, and commissioned by InterTradeIreland. Supporting the Irish tech sector The report, which was conducted over the last year, provides an in-depth and comprehensive comparative analysis of the state financial supports available for supporting early stage tech start-ups in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It also contains several proposals on enhancing collaboration between Ireland and Northern Ireland and their indigenous tech ecosystems. Some of the Key Proposals To further support the development of a more integrated all-island ecosystem, the state agencies should initiate a forum with stakeholders from Ireland and Northern Ireland on an annual or twice yearly basis. A joint funding initiative for companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland under the Shared Island initiative should also be explored. A Department for the Economy-led study could consider exploring joint funding mechanisms, such as a cross-border tech seed fund that leverages incentives to stimulate investment in high-growth sectors, strengthen regional economic clusters, and support sustainable, knowledge-driven business growth across Northern Ireland and Ireland. Launch and fund an initiative to gather more specific data to assess the state and impact of both indigenous tech ecosystems and how they compare and interact. The Programme for Government in Ireland contains a commitment to commission a statistical series of comparative data. The all-island ecosystem might be a suitable subject for consideration in this regard, potentially providing the basis for this further study The CEO of Scale Ireland, Martina Fitzgerald said 'This report presents a strong vision for enhanced collaboration between the indigenous tech sectors in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is very clear there are opportunities for further joint funding initiatives and data collection and this can be progressed by the setting up of a Stakeholder Forum bringing together key agencies and organisations'. The Chair of Scale Ireland,Brian Caulfieldsaid 'This report provides valuable, in-depth insights into early stage state supports and funding in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It highlights shared challenges and opportunities in relation to funding. It will be of great value to founders and will, hopefully, encourage increased policy coordination'. Rachael Corridan, Programme Manager, InterTradeIreland said 'The Comparison of Early-Stage State Supports for the Indigenous Tech Sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland report highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing shared challenges and unlocking growth opportunities. InterTradeIreland is proud to support this project, and the work of Scale Ireland and QUBIS through our Synergy programme'. Prof Brian McCaul, CEO, Qubis, "This report highlights how Ireland and Northern Ireland have complementary tech ecosystems with real potential to achieve more through closer collaboration. By strengthening all-island cooperation we can improve access to funding, talent and international markets and build a more competitive innovation ecosystem" Scale Ireland is the independent not-for-profit representative organisation for Irish tech start-up and scaling companies. Founded in late 2019, Scale Ireland has over 820 members of all stages, sizes and sectors in the tech start-up community. Its key mission is to make Ireland a leading location for innovation and entrepreneurship. Scale Ireland is now the largest representative organisation for the indigenous tech sector. InterTradeIreland which connects and helps businesses...

Kingspan, the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions, has announced a multi-year partnership with Seven Clean Seas, a leading ocean impact organisation. The collaboration looks to tackle ocean bound plastic pollution and enable the recycling of recovered materials in community projects. Through this partnership, Seven Clean Seas will expand on its work in Indonesia (Batam) and Thailand (Bangkok), with Kingspan supporting over the three-year period. The multi-phase initiative includes installing river barriers in both regions to prevent plastic leakage into the ocean; re-roofing a community school in Batam using recycled ocean plastic; and supporting ongoing recovery operations targeting the removal of 119,126 kg of marine plastic from the environment. Seven Clean Seas is a mission-driven ocean impact organisation dedicated to protecting and restoring marine ecosystems by tackling plastic pollution at its source. Founded in 2018, the organisation builds and manages high-impact cleanup and prevention projects across Southeast Asia, deploying innovative collection systems, community-focused plastic recovery initiatives, educational programmes, and circular economy solutions that prevent plastic waste from reaching or remaining in the sea. Beyond environmental impact, their projects provide ethical, formal, long-term employment for over 100 workers, challenging the waste sector's heavy reliance on informal and often exploitative labour. Seven Clean Seas believes that addressing the plastic waste crisis at a global level means tackling the underlying social-economic issues at the community level. "Our partnership with Seven Clean Seas reflects a shared commitment to reducing ocean plastic pollution," said Holly Loughman, Head of Sustainability at Kingspan. "Over the next three years, we aim not only to prevent plastic waste from flowing into the ocean in these regions but also to build lasting waste management infrastructure that will continue to support the local communities beyond the partnership. We are delighted to collaborate with an organisation that shares our commitment to creating lasting improvements for these communities." In line with Kingspan's Planet Passionate goals around sustainability and philanthropic support towards communities, the collaboration with Seven Clean Seas goes beyond plastic removal through the recycling of recovered LDPE into roof tiles to replace existing roofs in the local community. Through Seven Clean Seas' cleanup operations this demonstrates how recovered ocean plastic can be used in local community infrastructure. "Kingspan has shown remarkable leadership through their Planet Passionate programme, and it is an honour to partner with a team so deeply committed to meaningful, measurable impact. Seven Clean Seas is built on certified recovery, transparency and community-centred solutions, and we're excited to work with Kingspan to expand this work across Southeast Asia. Together, we're not only protecting marine environments, but we're also building the systems that will keep them healthy for generations", said Oliver Kade, CTO & UK Country Manager for Seven Clean Seas. Kingspan's mission is to accelerate a net-zero emissions-built environment with people and planet at its heart through Planet Passionate, the company's global environmental sustainability programme. Kingspan has a strong track record of supporting ocean clean-up initiatives, demonstrated through multi-year partnerships with rePurpose Global and 4Ocean to remove plastic waste and support local communities. Having achieved its ocean clean-up target in 2024, Kingspan remains committed to sustaining this impact through its latest partnership with Seven Clean Seas. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatev...

For me, it's a time to wind down and slow down. A time to do some creative stuff, e.g., read the book on your bedside locker that you've been promising to read, or the book you will be given as a present. I recently joined a book club and have read and enjoyed books I would never have considered, while making new acquaintances, hearing other people's points of view, and being surprised by their observations. The image above is the cover of one of my all-time favourite books. I would make a perfect holiday read or gift. It's Peter Sheridan's memoir of growing up with his brother Jim and the rest of his family. My memories of the book: Erecting the TV aerial and the sad story of conkers up the chimney. Here is another suggestion: Take a little more time for you, and exercise: Nothing strenuous, this is a lovely time to take a walk in a park, up a low hill or on a beach, on your own, or with someone close to you. You will find it much easier to talk shoulder to shoulder. (This particularly applies to men.) I used to feel envious of people sitting chatting over coffee, as I rushed about the city from one meeting to the next. I have changed and now build in some white space in my day and visit a lovely building, be it a church, a library, or a gallery. It's not 15 to 30 minutes wasted, I believe it's recharging, and in this time, your creativity will kick in, and the issue/problem nagging at you will offer up a solution. You can make small changes that have big effects: Please take time over the holiday break to meet old friends, while creating opportunities to meet people who, in time, may be added to your small group of old friends. Very few people have dozens of good friends; we are more likely to regard acquaintances and good buddies as friends, but they're not until you put the effort into creating opportunities to engage with these people in new situations or occasions. I'm setting myself the goal over the break to re-engage with family and people I have not connected with recently. Why don't you do the same! Thank you for reading my articles, and I look forward to your continued support in 2026. By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Leading digital bank Monzo has announced that it has secured a full banking licence from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) to enable it to take its much-loved product into European markets and supercharge its global ambitions. Founded in 2015 and fully regulated in the UK since 2017, Monzo has grown to become the UK's leading digital bank, a household name and much-loved brand, trusted by more than 14 million customers and over 800,000 businesses. With a mission to make money work for everyone, it has pioneered tools and features that transform people's relationship with money. With today's news, Monzo becomes the first digital bank fully regulated by the CBI. This licence unlocks the next chapter in the company's mission to expand into Europe, starting with Ireland. With its European headquarters and a growing team in Dublin, the bank will be working closely with customers to deliver a product that solves real problems and puts them in control of their finances. Michael Carney, EU CEO at Monzo, said: "The approval from European regulators means we can now take our much-loved products and service to millions more personal and business customers. Monzo has already proven that by combining the trust of a regulated bank with cutting-edge technology, we can truly transform people's relationship with money. Today marks a significant step forward in our global mission to make money work for everyone." Elaine Deehan, Country Manager for Ireland at Monzo: "We're excited to be launching an Irish digital bank serving customers and businesses. People here are tech-savvy who value digital-first products that are built around their real life. Banking with Monzo is designed to make managing money effortless - an account with no maintenance fees, packed with clever savings, budgeting and security features and human customer support on hand 24/7." A new kind of free bank account in Ireland In the coming months, Irish customers will be able to apply for Monzo's free personal, joint, business, children's, and instant-access savings accounts - all managed in one easy-to-use app, packed with powerful budgeting tools. Each will come with an Irish IBAN, giving customers the confidence and convenience of a locally licensed bank. Monzo's free instant access savings account allows customers to start saving with as little as €1 and access their money whenever they need it. The account will offer a competitive 1.6% variable interest rate, which is nearly twelve times the average Irish rate on overnight deposits.. Monzo's business accounts are designed to make life simpler for small businesses and sole traders, with fast digital onboarding, automated Tax Pots, integrated invoicing and real-time financial visibility. Every Monzo account is powered by industry-leading technology built for reliability, fraud prevention and security with access to 24/7 human support - either directly in the app or over the phone. Early access and opportunity to co-create products The Monzo team will work closely with its first personal and business customers to test and shape Monzo's first products for Ireland. By working hand-in-hand with customers, Monzo aims to deliver a banking experience that truly reflects what Irish customers deserve. Starting today, individuals and businesses can register at www.monzo.com/ie to join Monzo's waitlist for early access. See more stories here.

By Rajesh Jethwa, CTO at Digiterre, and co-author of Transform!: The 14 Behaviors Driving Successful Digital Transformation in the Age of Gen AI Modern life runs on an intricate network of technologies so familiar we barely notice them. We see the polished surface of digital services, mobile apps and rapid delivery systems, yet beneath these innovations sits something surprisingly fragile. It is a vast ecosystem of legacy software, outdated infrastructure and deeply embedded organisational routines that were built for a different era. This hidden technology, a blend of code, machinery and human workaround, keeps the world functioning. Increasingly, however, it is showing signs of strain. The more advanced society becomes, the more vulnerable it becomes to failures within this buried architecture. When modern systems falter, the effects can cascade instantly. The British Airways disruption in 2024 made this clear. A single technical fault led to widespread delays and cancellations, stranding thousands of travellers and exposing how dependent airline operations are on tightly meshed systems. Although air travel appears smooth from the outside, its core relies on a patchwork of old and new platforms. When just one piece collapses, everything stalls. Transform, Behaviors Driving Digital Transformation The global CrowdStrike outage offered an even more dramatic demonstration. A flawed update to widely used security software caused computers around the world to crash or lock into endless reboot cycles. Airports, hospitals and corporations all felt the impact. This incident revealed how deeply embedded certain tools have become and how a single error in one system can ripple across continents within minutes. Another example is the UK Post Office Horizon scandal, where faults in an accounting system resulted in wrongful accusations against hundreds of postmasters. This was not only a technology failure but also a failure of change. An organisation that had become overly dependent on a single system assumed that any discrepancy must be human error. When technology becomes unquestionable, it gains authority that can override evidence and experience, with devastating consequences. These events highlight a broader truth. Large scale digital transformation efforts often fail. Studies regularly suggest that between 60 and 70 per cent of such initiatives do not achieve their intended outcomes. Organisations underestimate the complexity of changing systems that underpin everyday operations. They invest in new software without addressing the outdated processes, cultural assumptions and decision making structures that surround it. Technology cannot succeed if it is layered on top of old thinking. High stakes systems are difficult to change because they have become intertwined with human behaviour. Employees develop tacit knowledge that compensates for the shortcomings of old tools. This invisible layer of human patchwork allows outdated systems to survive far longer than they should. The paradox is that these systems seem stable precisely because people are constantly rescuing them. But such arrangements cannot last. As expectations for speed, transparency and security grow, the legacy architecture becomes a bottleneck. Reinvention becomes essential for resilience. The path forward begins with recognising that technology is only one part of the equation. True digital transformation requires rethinking how work flows, how decisions are made and how people collaborate. Organisations need clarity about the purpose their systems must serve today, not the assumptions they inherited from the past. Simplifying processes before upgrading tools reduces complexity and ensures that new technology is not forced to replicate outdated practice. Reinvention also depends on small, continuous experiments rather than large, inflexible programmes. Pilot projects, prototypes and iterative learning build adaptability. They help organisations respond to uncertain...

There is a quiet pattern emerging across the digital entertainment landscape. As platforms grow faster and technologies more complex, the games that consistently gain traction are not always the most innovative on paper. Instead, they are often those which bring with them a sense of familiarity. Formats which have been understood from previous digital eras are being remade for the present screen, and they are being received with excitement. But this nostalgia is not an end in itself. It is a good deal more utilitarian and human. The viewing public is bombarded with options these days. A new application, a new mechanic, a new platform pops up every day. And under these circumstances, familiarity is a kind of relief. They need less instruction when a game looks familiar because they know how to interact with it. The technology which drives these new rethinkings is undoubtedly complex. The cloud, responsiveness, and personalisation all have a role. Often, however, it is in the front end where the appeal lies. The interfaces are a function of previous learning. The rules are intuitive. Progress is evident. The learning curve is low, which is important in a space where attention is money. I noted this phenomenon in my investigations into the usage of digital games among different age segments. Young players will try different things, but older players will prefer formats they are used to. That is why traditional mechanics keep being revisited, in puzzle games, mobile versions, and combinations such as slingo which combines very traditional elements into a digital format without depriving it of those elements which were present in the original game to make it interesting in the first place. Familiarity as a Design Advantage Designers increasingly understand that recognition reduces friction. When users feel comfortable, they stay longer. They explore more. They return. This principle has shaped everything from smartphone interfaces to streaming platforms. Gaming is simply following the same path. Classic game formats carry an unspoken rulebook. People know what success looks like. They understand the rhythm. There is satisfaction in anticipation rather than confusion. Modern game design now often builds around this psychological shortcut rather than fighting against it. What has changed is how these formats are delivered. Old games were static. Digital versions are adaptive. They respond to user behaviour, adjust difficulty and reward engagement more precisely. The structure remains familiar, but the experience feels alive. Why Reinvention Beats Reinvention for Its Own Sake For years, the technology sector prized disruption above all else. New was always better. But the digital audience has matured. People no longer chase novelty endlessly. They seek experiences that fit naturally into their routines. Rebuilding known formats allows developers to innovate where it matters most. Performance improves. Visual design sharpens. Accessibility expands. Meanwhile, users are spared the frustration of relearning the basics every time they open an app. This approach mirrors broader tech trends. Software tools increasingly mimic real-world behaviours. Interfaces become conversational. Systems anticipate rather than instruct. Gaming follows suit by meeting users where they already are. The Role of Memory in Digital Engagement Memory plays a subtle but powerful role in digital interaction. Recognised patterns activate confidence. Users feel competent quickly. That sense of capability encourages continued use. When games reference earlier formats, they tap into shared cultural memory. People are not starting from zero. They are continuing a relationship that began years earlier, sometimes decades. That continuity builds trust, which is difficult to manufacture through novelty alone. This is particularly relevant in mobile gaming, where sessions are short and distractions constant. A familiar framework allows instant engagement without cognitive...

The Entertainment IP Summit 2026 will take place online on January 14-15, 2026, bringing together senior decision-makers across film, TV, games, animation, publishing, podcasting, XR/VR and transmedia to examine how stories are developed, scaled and monetised across formats and global markets. The two-day event is free to attend, with registration now open at www.entertainmentipsummit.com. Registrants will also receive on-demand access to all sessions for 90 days after the event. The Summit opens with a headline keynote interview featuring Eoin Colfer, one of Ireland's most successful authors and creator of the globally acclaimed Artemis Fowl series. Colfer has sold over 25 million books worldwide, with his work adapted into a major screen production with Disney starring Colin Farrell. His keynote will explore the art and business of building enduring IP from page to screen and beyond. Supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders funding scheme, the Summit will provide practical strategies for developing and sustaining IP in a rapidly shifting landscape. Topics span story creation and concept development, branding and global expansion, legal protection, fan engagement, and emerging formats. Across two days, attendees will gain actionable insights into how to build, manage and monetise IP in a converging global marketplace. "We're entering a new era of entertainment where stories no longer live in a single format," said Suzanne Leyden of Calico Media Interactive, one of the event organisers alongside DV4. "Audiences build loyalty across screens. This event brings together the people pioneering cross-format IP-from franchises and fandom to AI-assisted development-to share what's working right now and what's coming next." Simon Fine of DV4 added: "Conceived as a virtual event from the outset, the Entertainment IP Summit draws on DV4's expertise in producing successful online and hybrid events, allowing Calico Media to concentrate on delivering an outstanding line-up of speakers and sessions." Speakers & Highlights Confirmed speakers include: Eoin Colfer, best-selling author of Artemis Fowl Anthony Geffen, Atlantic Studios, director of Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough Professor Henry Jenkins, University of Southern California, widely regarded as "the godfather of transmedia" HaZ Dulull, Beyond the Pixels, pioneer in game-engine filmmaking Nuno Bernardo, beActive Media, expert in lean IP development Jeff Rivera, Collective 5, on greenlighting yourself with AI Bethany Thomson, Sea Star Productions, on the rise of mobile vertical video drama Programme Highlights: Day 1 - Exploring IP Development (Jan 14): Storytelling fundamentals, concept building, branded entertainment strategies, broadcaster roles, and case studies. Day 2 - IP Development: A Global Perspective (Jan 15): Fandom and audience building, mobile vertical drama, Ireland's IP advantages, film-game convergence, legal considerations, and AI-driven self-greenlighting. Who Should Attend Creators, producers, studio executives, rights-holders, broadcasters, game developers, publishers and IP strategists looking to stay ahead of global entertainment trends. About the Entertainment IP Summit The Entertainment IP Summit is the premier online event for senior decision-makers in film, TV, games, animation, publishing, XR/VR and transmedia. It delivers expert guidance on protecting, managing and monetising IP in a fast-changing global entertainment landscape. In addition to support by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the Summit partners are IADT and RTÉ. Registration & Sponsorship Registration is entirely free and open now via the Summit website. Sponsors and partners interested in aligning with this high-level global gathering are invited to contact the event team at https://www.entertainmentipsummit.com/ See more stories here.

Munster Technological University (MTU) recently announced that it has formally signed the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) Agreement. The signing demonstrates MTU's commitment to responsible and inclusive approaches to evaluating research. By joining CoARA, MTU is aligning with an international movement that champions assessment practices emphasising quality, openness, integrity, and societal impact. As part of this commitment, MTU will develop and implement its CoARA Action Plan. The plan will outline concrete steps to transform assessment practices in research, recruitment, recognition, and career progression. Dr Seán Lacey will lead this work and will coordinate consultations, engage relevant stakeholders, and guide implementation of the CoARA principles. Prof. Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, commented: "Signing the CoARA Agreement is an important step for MTU and will progress our strategic objectives of inclusion, integrity and a genuine commitment to research excellence. By joining the CoARA coalition now, we are demonstrating the leadership and institutional alignment needed to implement responsible and practical reforms in research assessment. This will ensure excellence, transparency, and accountability for our university community and wider society." Prof. Hugh McGlynn, Vice President Research & Innovation, highlighted the evolving nature of research assessment and the importance of coordinated leadership: "The research landscape continues to evolve. Assessment practices are moving toward more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable approaches. By joining CoARA, MTU positions itself within an international network committed to strengthening research quality, openness, integrity, and ethics. To support this work, I have appointed Dr Seán Lacey to lead the development and implementation of the University's CoARA Action Plan. His dedicated leadership and engagement with relevant stakeholders will help us embed responsible and inclusive assessment practices across our policies and procedures. This will enable better support for interdisciplinary work, open science, and the diverse forms of scholarship and contributions that address today's global challenges." Dr Pio Fenton, Vice President People & Culture, welcomed the University's commitment to responsible and inclusive research assessment practices: "CoARA is an important step toward creating a more supportive and equitable environment for our researchers and the wider university community. Responsible research assessment aligns closely with our People & Culture priorities including recognising contributions, supporting career development, and fostering inclusive pathways for success. I look forward to working with Seán on this forward-looking agenda." Dr Seán Lacey, MTU Lead for CoARA Implementation, highlighted the upcoming work on institutional alignment: "Developing and implementing the CoARA Action Plan is an opportunity to bring our community together to shape the University's future approach to research assessment. We will engage widely across faculties, researchers, and our professional, technical, and administrative teams to ensure the plan is both practical and meaningful. Our goal is to create fair and transparent processes that recognise the full breadth of researchers' contributions, while supporting high-quality, responsible, and impactful research." Next Steps In the coming months, MTU will initiate a structured consultation process to inform the development and implementation of its CoARA Action Plan. Staff, researchers, and external partners will have opportunities to contribute. The final plan will be submitted to CoARA and shared publicly by the end of 2026, after which MTU will progress a series of deliverables and report on them within agreed timelines. About CoARA The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is an international initiative dedicated to reforming research assessment. CoARA promotes systems that focu...

On November 19th, 2025, National College of Ireland in (NCI) collaboration with Citi proudly announced the official kick-off of the Citi upStart programme for the 2025/26 academic year. The initiative, designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among postgraduate students, saw Citi organisers, mentors, NCI students, academics, and new partners gather for the launch event. Activate mentorship This year's programme features 165 NCI postgraduate students who took part in a series of rigorous in-house idea-development workshops facilitated by NCI academic staff. This intensive process saw 60 students progress to team formation, advancing the most promising proposals which were then presented via elevator pitches at the event. Addressing participants and mentors, Dr Prag Sharma, Director, Future of Finance Think tank, former Global Head of AI CoE at Citi expressed his admiration for the nascent ideas, and provided crucial advice on AI's role: "AI is a tool for you to use, alongside the other tools you have acquired through college and your working life. AI augments our skills; so, become experts in using it to accelerate your capabilities." Following the pitches, a "speed dating" session allowed mentors from various Citi departments to connect with student teams, exploring project proposals and identifying alignment with their skills and insights. Dr Anu Sahni, Programme Director for the MSc in AI for Business, Data Analytics, and Knowledge Transfer Champion at National College of Ireland underscored the transformative power of mentorship: "Having the guidance and support of an experienced mentor can provide a mentee with a broad range of personal and professional benefits, including gaining practical advice and encouragement, as well being exposed to new ideas, and new ways of thinking, and now having another big organisation, Mphasis onboard to support this initiative, we will definitely see a remarkable amount of value added to an already innovative collaboration." New supports This year's cohort has already benefited from additional supports, including valuable insights into innovative solution development from Georgina Lupu Florian and Adrian Florian of Wolfpack Digital. Pritesh Tiwari, CEO of Data Science Wizards (itself a spin-out company from NCI MSc in Data Science), provided guidance on idea building and validation, while Swapnil Parashar, Director of Software Engineering at Oracle Cloud, shared industry perspectives on innovation. New partnership A?significant development for this year's programme is the new strategic partnership withMphasis, a global AI-led, platform-driven technology solutions provider. Mphasis will support participating student teams through project guidance and will sponsor awards and prizes for the winners at the upcoming Dragons' Den event. Rohit Jayachandran, Head of Banking & Financial Services at Mphasis, said: "Our long-standing partnership with Citi has opened the door to impactful collaborations, such as Dragons' Den. At Mphasis, we see immense potential in the next generation of technologists, and working with Citi upStart allows us to nurture that potential and fuel innovation for the future. Additionally, Mphasis' philosophy, "AI Without Intelligence Is Artificial", aligns perfectly with the programme's focus on intelligent application of technology." The ten participating teams, comprised of master's students in Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, AI, AI for Business, Fintech, or Cybersecurity, are developing a diverse range of impactful ideas. These include "Finpals," an AI-driven solution for automating credit risk analysis; "Lendloop," a peer-to-peer lending platform; "Medinova AI" and "Medtrix," both focused on enhancing healthcare access and patient support; "Phantom," an all-in-one Irish tourism app; and "Venture Forge," which aims to innovate within the Carbon Credits Market using blockchain technology. You can read more about the teams and their projects here on the NCI we...

Circular.ie, Ireland's national platform for circular economy communications, has announced 40 community groups and organisations as recipients of the Circular Communications Grants, with a total value of €100,000. The scheme, funded by the Government of Ireland under the Circular Economy Fund, supports projects that are advancing circular living, strengthening community engagement and helping to build a more sustainable future across the country. Selected from more than 350 applications from all over Ireland, the successful recipients are delivering a diverse range of initiatives covering reuse, repair, upcycling, education and behavioural change. Full details of the winning projects can be found here on Circular.ie. Congratulating the winners, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD said: "This grant programme will help raise awareness of the innovative initiatives happening across Ireland and of those working to build a more sustainable future. We are proud to recognise their work and help them to increase the visibility of their activities and the significant role they play in building circular communities." Commenting on the announcement, Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, Community Liaison Manager at Circular.ie, said: "We were delighted to receive such a high calibre of applications for this grant. They are a real testament to the fantastic quality of circular work happening in communities throughout Ireland. It was a highly competitive process, and we have ensured grants were awarded to meet the needs, diversity and geographical spread of projects. We are genuinely looking forward to working with the winners as they continue to strengthen and expand their impact." Circular.ie has confirmed that the grants scheme will operate annually, with applications reopening in August next year. Interested community groups and organisations are encouraged to keep an eye on Circular.ie for information on next year's grants scheme. To support continued development of circular communications skills nationwide, Circular.ie will launch a series of 12 monthly online communications webinars starting in January. These sessions are open to all community initiatives and will focus on practical ways to engage with their audiences. Groups are also encouraged to explore the communications toolkits available in the Circular Communities section of the website. The schedule for future webinars will be available on www.circular.ie/circular-communities. See more stories here.

Dublin Tech Week returns from 22-29 May 2026, bringing together innovators, creators, and communities for a week-long programme of events across the city. Now in its second year, it aims to once again highlight Dublin's position as a leading global hub for technology, talent, and ideas and grow on the success of its first year. Over seven days, Dublin can expect to host a diverse schedule that spans conferences, exhibitions, workshops, networking events, and creative experiences. From world-class industry discussions to hands-on activities for the public, Dublin Tech Week offers something for everyone interested in the role technology plays in shaping our future. This city-wide initiative aims to: Showcase Dublin's innovation ecosystem to both local and international audiences Encourage collaboration between tech companies, educational institutions, and community organisation Promote STEM engagement with younger generations and underrepresented groups Connect the public with the latest developments in technology, culture, and sustainability Get Involved Organisations, venues, and community groups are invited to contribute to the programme by hosting tech-related events or experiences during the week. Dublin Tech Week encourages participation from across the tech spectrum - startups, established companies, educators, and creative industries - ensuring the festival reflects the breadth and diversity of Dublin's tech scene. A full schedule of events will be published on DublinTechWeek.com in the coming months. To propose an event or find out more about how to get involved, email info@dublintechweek.com. "Following the success of Dublin's first Tech Week in 2025, Dublin City Council and the Dublin Brand are proud to support its return in 2026. Dublin Tech Week celebrates our world-class talent, innovation, and collaborative spirit, cementing our City as a leading global tech hub." said Ross Curley, Head of Economic Development, Dublin City Council & Dublin Regional Place Brand. Programme Highlights The 2026 line-up aims to include Industry Summits & Specialist Seminars Open House Events at Tech Companies Innovation & Product Showcases Hackathons and Developer Challenges Networking and Meet-up Opportunities Crossovers Between Technology, Art, and Culture Family Tech activities Showcase of County -wide tech based initiatives Partners Dublin Tech Week is supported by key organisations in the Irish tech community, including Dublin City Council, Smart Dublin, LEO, Dublin Tech Summit, Tech Ireland, ADAPT Centre, NovaUCD, Blockchain Ireland, Eth Dublin, Guinness Enterprise Centre, Furthr, and Dublin Chamber. Spokespeople City: Tim Graham | Stakeholder Engagement & Marketing Officer, Dublin City Council E: tim.graham@dublincity.ie | M: +353 87 459 6663 Tech Community: Clare Kilmartin | Chief Operating Officer Dublin Tech Summit E: Clare@dublintechsummit.com | M: +353 86 084 7676 See more stories here.

By David Stephen What is the common denominator in all love scenarios? What does it mean that an individual is so in love, but others find it strange? How do long distance relationships compare to the recent phenomenon of AI girlfriends and AI boyfriends? What also does it mean that an individual fell into a romance scam, in the digital age? AI Girlfriends, AI Boyfriends and Romance Scams? Mind and Love What is the miracle of the human mind? It is the different directions that things can go, to result in the same end. For example, assuming love is a destination in the mind, there can be several routes from which the destination is reached. This is a reason, for example, that an individual can have the experience of love off different sources, say for loved ones, career, hobbies and so forth. Also, the mind can vary, where interest in a moment is different from the next or not as intense as the last and so on. The mind is not just about the parallels, for example, to be cold when it is cold or to be hot when it is, but sometimes to have contrasts, because something else might be dominant on the mind. The human mind is quite varied. Some changes are instant, some take time, but there is possibility of change. There are some sequences [new or old] before some destinations. There are others without those, so, sometimes, changes happen without a reason. There are destinations in the mind that may not be likely, directly until something else goes to another destination. There are some destinations in some minds that make likelihoods different for people. However, the components of mind, their stations and relays are similar and are important to explain and explore, with the rise of AI girlfriends, AI boyfriends and AI companions. AI Artificial intelligence is a technology that would hold a mirror to humanity like nothing has ever done before. It would show that a lot of problems can be traced back to the human mind, not just the facilities involved. Some people are wondering why anyone would fall for an AI lover. The simple answer is that it gets to the destination of love in the mind, even if the usual route or sequence - a fellow human - was absent. Although it is known that humans have used language, actions, decoys and so forth to get love, partnerships and companionship, AI, as it is, already has access to choice spots in the human mind. So, a vulnerability is the human mind. This can also be extended to romance scams. Some people wonder, how does anyone fall for a romance scam? One vulnerability too, is the human mind. Romance Scam There is a recent [November 29, 2025] report on CNN, A stranger messaged him on Facebook. It was the start of a nightmare that cost him $280,000, stating that, "By February, they'd declared their love for each other. But what seemed like a whirlwind romance now appears like a scheme to lure Novak into a fake crypto investment. By April this year, he'd funneled $280,000 - almost his entire life savings - to an investment site she recommended. And the woman, along with her Facebook profile, vanished not long after. A tech executive with a deep computer background, Novak helped his company recover from a ransomware attack that wiped out its entire system. He finds it hard to believe now that he fell for the scam." The Human Mind One thing that might be important in the future, is what is called mind safety displays, for digital-based relationships and others. This means that for communications and actions, it is possible to check where it might be going in the mind, to ensure that the mind does not fall to unwanted destinations. Also, in a marriage, or relationship, with love, what can be done to protect against heartbreak, especially if the minds of both people are not in the same place and one is more into it than the other person? How can a display show, to ensure that it is easier to come to terms with that reality? How is it possible to measure the human mind, for mental health and other states...

As Christmas time is fast approaching, I thought it would be the right time to catch up with the most famous and busiest person in the world, Santa Claus. Times have changed and Santa has his elves busy in his North Pole workshop using the latest technology to build toys, books and other gifts for boys and girls all over the world. I also caught up with Ruth Roberts the Co-Owner of Cogs Toys and Games who were featured on this year's Late Late Toy Show, to see what their big sellers will be this Christmas. Here at Irish Tech News we like to promote Irish businesses and its great to see a family owned Irish Toy Shop do so well. Santa Claus and Ruth It's an interesting fun filled podcast as Santa talks about the technology he uses to help travel around the world on Christmas Eve, Easons best selling kids books, the toys Ruth mentioned, what not to leave out for Rudolf and more. Ruth who is also on the podcast mentions some of their big sellers, Irish made toys and STEM toys too. More about Cogs Toys and Games: Cogs Toys & Games (formerly known as Cogs The Brain Shop) is the definition of a family-run business, run by brother and sister Conor Brady and Ruth Roberts and their cousin Alan Condon. As the 'Brain' in the name suggests they sell smart and unique toys, puzzles, games and books for all ages. They also stock a genius collection of fun quality products designed to build better brains and learn through play whatever your age. In the store you can find children's educational toys, adult brain games, strategy games for children and adults. They have a fantastic, affordable range of clever games, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, wooden toys, wide range of unique desk toys and brain teasers. Cogs The Brain Shop also supply schools with word skill games, fast talking games, mathematical games, reading games and toys, games which are recommended for dyslexia, games which are recommended for ADHD. See more podcasts here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Dell Technologies today announced a major advancement in hybrid cloud innovation through the integration of Microsoft Azure Local with Dell Private Cloud and Dell PowerStore. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in simplifying IT operations for enterprises, delivering a unified approach to managing diverse workloads across hybrid and multicloud environments. The conversation around enterprise IT has shifted dramatically. Businesses are no longer faced with a binary choice between public cloud and on-premises infrastructure, nor is it simply about running traditional versus modern workloads. The real challenge lies in managing these varied environments consistently and efficiently. Dell Technologies, in partnership with Microsoft, is addressing this challenge head-on by introducing Azure Local support for Dell Private Cloud and Dell PowerStore, creating a seamless experience for organisations seeking flexibility, performance, and enterprise-grade resilience. Hybrid Cloud now has Azure local integration Dell Private Cloud represents the first Azure Local offering to deliver a full-stack solution encompassing compute, external storage, and networking from a single vendor, backed by end-to-end solution-level support. This integrated approach simplifies the complexity of hybrid and multicloud management, enabling businesses to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure. With automated lifecycle management, independent scaling of compute and storage, and a future-ready disaggregated architecture, Dell Private Cloud empowers organisations to adapt to evolving demands without disruption. Complementing this is Dell PowerStore, Dell's flagship enterprise all-flash storage platform. PowerStore brings advanced data efficiency, flexible scalability, and robust security to Azure Local environments, ensuring critical workloads remain protected while delivering exceptional performance. Its ability to handle both traditional and modern workloads makes PowerStore the ideal partner for businesses modernising their IT operations without compromise. Caitlin Gordon, Vice President of Product Management for Private Cloud and AI Solutions at Dell Technologies, said: "The conversation around enterprise IT is changing. It's no longer about choosing between public cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Nor is it a simple decision between running traditional or modern workloads. Today, the real challenge is how to manage all of these different environments and application types together, simply and consistently. By bringing Microsoft Azure Local to Dell Private Cloud and PowerStore, we're helping customers simplify their IT operations and unlock the full potential of their hybrid cloud strategies." This integration is more than a technical milestone; it reflects Dell Technologies' commitment to helping customers navigate the complexities of modern IT. Together with Microsoft, Dell is delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses, from hybrid cloud to edge computing and beyond. Early access for this combined offering is expected to launch in spring 2026, paving the way for organisations to embrace a future-ready infrastructure that drives innovation and growth. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

With the Christmas season now in full swing, there is a lot of events taking place all over the Emerald Isle, and thanks to Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) we can see where these events are happening. Esri Ireland's digital map of fun-filled events happening around Ireland this festive season, will keep you informed of whats happening and where its happening.. The interactive, easy-to-use StoryMap will help yuletide revellers to navigate what's on across the island of Ireland this Christmas. From markets and festivals to light shows and ice-skating, there is something to suit all ages and interests. The festive map includes a Web App enabling the public to search for events by county and location, to make planning your festive adventures even easier. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Galway based Orreco, the leading agentic AI for sports firm, has announced a $4M funding round with participation from Enterprise Ireland and Mark Cuban, pro athletes and existing investors. Orreco is a pioneer in applied physiology, biostatistics and cognitive computing. The company equips coaches, medical teams and athletes with knowledge and actionable insights to maximize availability and sustain peak performance. Keith Brock, Head of Enterprise Ireland's sports tech portfolio, said; "Enterprise Ireland has invested $1M into Orreco as part of a $4M funding round. Our investment is an endorsement of Orreco's incredible technology, team, and global reach and supports 55 new jobs at Orreco globally, including 30 in Galway over the next two years. This investment directly reflects our strategic focus on supporting ambitious companies to scale globally. It also highlights the strength of Ireland's sports tech cluster, with Ireland ranking 1st in Europe for sports tech VC investment on a per capita basis." Strategic acquisitions Alongside the new investment, Orreco has acquired Data Driven Sports Analytics (DDSA) from Melbourne, Australia, specialising in AI Computer Vision. DDSA count Tennis World Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka as a longstanding client "DDSA has been a huge part of how I analyse opponents, develop my game, and make better decisions on court. Now teaming up with Orreco brings two leaders together with one vision, helping athletes be ready to win. It's an exciting step forward for high-performance tennis." Aryna Sabalenka World Number One in Tennis and 4 time Grand Slam Champion Motion Signal This new funding and strategic acquisition will help to accelerate Orreco's next generation AI-powered Motion Signal, a breakthrough method of analysing athlete movement behaviour using computer vision and machine learning. It enables the identification of signals in advance of injury based on changes in athletes motion signal and is a world-leading breakthrough to support player health and performance. Recognising changes from a player's usual movement behaviour, Orreco's AI can help reduce the risk of expensive non-contact injuries like hamstring strains, Achilles and ACL's. This breakthrough has been developed over multiple seasons in the EPL and has also proven successful with official datasets from the NBA and other US professional sports. A cutting edge initiative is scheduled with Major League Soccer to start next month.. The Orreco algorithms developed by a team of 10 PhD's can also help guide a player's rehab, return to play and performance after an injury. The new investors join True Ventures, Jason Calacanis, 20VC, professional golfers and major champions Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, NBA agent Todd Ramasar, NHL agent and Olympic medallist Allain Roy and prominent Irish executives and investors Orreco AI is also part of Comcast NBCUniversal's SportsTech strategic innovation portfolio and is an alumnus of its 2025 cohort. "Orreco earned its place in our SportsTech 2025 class through proven results. Their AI-driven performance technology delivered measurable value with the Philadelphia Flyers, demonstrating how advanced athlete insights can improve availability and reduce injury risk. We're proud to have been early partners in scaling a solution that's now gaining global traction." Jenna Kurath, Vice President, Sports Venture Partnerships, Comcast. This is the first proactive approach to use AI to help reduce injury risk. It's great today and only going to get better". Mark Cuban, tech investor and Co-owner of the Dallas Mavericks. "Mark's investment is a powerful endorsement of the science and technology we've been building. His backing, along with the continued support of Enterprise Ireland, participation in Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech's 2025 program - combined with the computer vision expertise of the DDSA team - puts us in the strongest position we've ever been in to scale AI-powered performance intellig...

Ireland's ambitions to strengthen female leadership across its technology sector have taken a leap forward with the launch of NOVA - Women in Tech Leadership Programme, designed specifically for the top tier of emerging female tech leaders. Created by Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet in partnership with Connecting Women in Tech (CWIT), NOVA will focus on combining human-centred leadership with the advanced strategic technology and AI-enabled capabilities expected of senior tech leaders in the years ahead. For the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, the NOVA programme builds on a decade of impact on women in the technology sector, through its multi award winning women tech returner programmes, bringing over 900 women back to the tech sector, and impacting on gender balance across the sector. The initiative will see over 20 professionals from 25 CWIT member companies advance their leadership journey when the first cohort commences in January. Máire Hunt, Director of Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, said: "As a sector we must continually find new ways to attract, retain and promote women. Particularly in the age of AI, women can be disproportionately affected. The NOVA programme is a high-performance accelerator specifically designed for women leaders who can shape the future of technology in an AI driven world. It equips participants not just to take a seat at the table, but to shape it." Women are often underrepresented in tech and AI leadership roles, which can influence how AI systems are developed and implemented. If AI systems are developed without diverse perspectives, they may perpetuate biases that disproportionately affect women. Una Fitzpatrick Director of Technology Ireland, said: "Women in Technology already excel in their technical domain. However, they are under-represented at more senior management positions. Companies across the sector are looking for a sector driven, development pathway that prepares female leaders to make an impact in an AI driven world." Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet partnered with CWIT for the pilot NOVA programme, which was formally launched on Friday last. Maire Hunt added: "CWIT exists to help women thrive in the tech industry, so they were a natural partner for the first NOVA programme." The inaugural intake in January includes 25 female leaders across domains such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, AI services, semiconductors, and enterprise technology. Companies such as Ergo, ADM, HPE, Workday, Kerry Group, ESB, Mastercard, Salesforce, BT, Accenture and Microsoft are represented. Commenting, Sabrina Staunton of Mastercard and CWIT, said: "CWIT exists due to the power of the network to attract, retain and promote females to thrive in the technology space in Ireland. We are excited to launch the first-of-its-kind development program to address the challenge of female talent retention across the Irish technology industry, through the power of partnerships built on our collective power to empower." NOVA includes modules on strategic thinking, future technologies, emotional intelligence, AI-enabled decision making, high-impact communication and personal leadership identity. Combining live workshops, one on one coaching and a leadership impact project, the NOVA programme blends in-person and virtual sessions, one on one coaching and practical insights. Held over a six-month period it is designed to build skills progressively and embed new leadership habits. Individual companies can also deliver the programme in-house for groups of female leaders. Version 1 is one example where the programme is contextualised for a fast-growing AI driven organisation. Ireland's technology sector employs more than 170,000 people across global multinationals, high-growth Irish companies and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. As businesses continue to adapt to AI-driven transformation, programmes such as NOVA that develop strategic awareness, adaptability and leadership presence will be in de...

Data Edge, Ireland's most experienced network optimisation and application performance management specialist, has announced a new partnership with data protection provider DropVault. Irish-headquartered DropVault is led by international encryption and cybersecurity expert Neal O'Farrell, who has spent four decades in the global cybersecurity industry working with international governments, the military, and financial networks. DropVault automatically encrypts all conversations and documents created or shared within its portals before they even reach the server. This zero-visibility design bolsters security for businesses - ensuring that even DropVault cannot access customer data - while providing full audit trails for compliance. Founded in 2020 and with offices in the US and Dublin,DropVault supports clients across education, automotive, engineering, and aviation - including a global airline using the solution for $100M+ aircraft leasing transactions. Data Edge is now adding DropVault's highly secure solutions to its portfolio, helping to protect Irish businesses and their customers from communication-based threats such as data breaches, business email compromise, wire fraud, and ransomware linked to insecure file sharing. Designed for organisations operating in heavily regulated industries, DropVault enables teams to share confidential documents securely, carry out private encrypted conversations, and maintain full visibility and audit trails to support compliance with standards such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and the upcoming NIS2 directive. This ensures that businesses can operate securely and confidently as cyber threats continue to rise. Data Edge has partnered with DropVault due to its expertise in securing organisations' digital infrastructure. Data Edge and DropVault will provide peace of mind to businesses with guaranteed data sovereignty for critical information, with built-in anomaly detection and defensive monitoring against suspicious access attempts. Neal O'Farrell, CEO, DropVault, said: "Too many organisations still rely on email, phone calls, and text messaging to share sensitive discussions and documents, and often with only rudimentary security measures in place. "At a time of global uncertainty and the surge in AI assisted cybercrime, DropVault can help companies maximise the security, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of their conversations, discussions, and documents. And all without the challenges and frictions that come with most traditional security measures." Paul Phelan, CEO, Data Edge, said: "This partnership combines DropVault's world-class data protection capabilities with our expertise in delivering top-tier network security offerings to businesses. DropVault's unique position in the encryption space will provide invaluable insights and streamline ways of working for customers. "It will enable us to effectively secure organisations' most valuable data, while helping them to stay one step ahead of would-be hackers. As methods of attack are evolving at an unprecedented pace, this solution will underpin operations for organisations dealing with highly sensitive or confidential information and allow the day-to-day running of the business to continue uninterrupted." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

We look at the 2025 paperback version of this book. See more about The Farming for Nature Handbook - A Practical Guide to Protecting and Restoring Nature on your Farm here. The Farming for Nature Handbook - Protecting and Restoring Nature on your Farm, reviewed A good up to date and practical guide for farmers and land owners to try and improve the amount of nature and biodiversity on your land. Korean Natural Farming was a new concept and one that we will now be researching. There have been some bad dead ends in the past, in terms of government led, heavy handed approaches to trying to support and help more positive nature focused initiatives, both at and Irish and EU level. This book seems more tuned to the specific needs of Irish farms, and is certainly a welcome addition to the debate and conversation about ecological best practices. It could certainly be a thought provoking stocking filler for the greener aspiring farmer in your life! More about the book here Farming for Nature, was set up in 2018, as a non-profit initiative whose mission is to support, encourage and inspire farmers who farm, or who wish to farm, in a way that will improve the natural health of our countryside. With over 76,000 words and stunning original illustrations, this handbook will guide and inspire you on your farming for nature journey, regardless of your farm size, enterprise type, or starting point. Over 50 contributors to this book demonstrate that it is possible to farm productively while safeguarding our natural environment, highlighting the positive role that farmers play in sustaining and enhancing our natural environment. Their stories show that, at a time when external forces, climate change, political unrest, and commodity prices, are unpredictable, farming for nature can restore a sense of control and hope for the future, as well as safeguarding the health and well-being of rural communities. The Authors Created by Farming For Nature this handbook contains contributions from nearly 50 farmers in our network, with over 500 scientific papers backing up their words. Dr Emma Hart, lead researcher, editor and author of the book, runs a nature reserve in Co. Cork and is a conversationist, a farmer and a contributor to a number of leading academic journals. Brigid Barry, co-founder of Farming For Nature, conceived of the idea for the book, developed the outline content, collated the farmers' stories, and managed the project. Dr Brendan Dunford is an eco-entrepreneur starting a number of successful conservation and farming projects including BurrenLife, Burrenbeo Trust, The Hare's Corner, Heritage Keepers and Farming For Nature. Brendan edited and shaped the content of the book at each draft. See more book reviews here.

By Jean-Paul Fonteijn, who is the author of Bring Down The Billionaires! and founder of the SuperRichTax.com, a movement which has already gained over 32,0000 signatures across more than 150 countries. If you ask the average person on the street to name a tech entrepreneur, chances are they will go to one of the 'Big Tech' founders. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg… these leaders have become the poster boys of the wider technology industry, and as well as building hugely successful businesses, have amassed personal fortunes that put them amongst the world's wealthiest people. So of course it makes sense for aspiring entrepreneurs and technology companies to want to follow in the footsteps of these billionaires. But perhaps it is time for us to reconsider what success really looks like? Perhaps the story we have been told for generations isn't really working? SuperRichTax, what is next? Time for a new story? If you turn on the TV to watch the news, browse social media or pick up a newspaper, there is a common theme that echoes across them all - our future is under threat. Climate change is accelerating, relationships between democratic institutions around the world are strained, and inequality simply appears to widen no matter how often we hear politicians promise to redress the balance. There are clearly a multitude of complex factors that contribute to these dynamics around the world, and while I wouldn't suggest that the heroes of modern entrepreneurship are at fault for the situation, there is an argument that we should question whether they are symbols of a system that no longer works. One concept that keeps reappearing in political debates is the idea of trickle-down economics. According to its logic, wealth accumulated at the very top would eventually flow down to the rest of society. For decades this idea has shaped economic policy, investment strategies, and even the dreams of thousands of young tech founders. Many of us believe that becoming extremely rich was not just a personal ambition but somehow a public good. But many economists over several decades have questioned the assumptions of trickle-down theory. While the idea promises that benefits will eventually reach everyone, there is lots of real-world evidence that tells a different story: wealth accumulates faster at the top. The gap between rich and poor continues to widen, and it has accelerated since the financial crisis. We know that inequality casts a shadow over society, and it impacts everything from enterprise to education. Yet despite this, the trickle-down economic model has persisted unchallenged, un-updated, and just deeply embedded in our thinking. Could tech help turn the tide? Interestingly, from talking to a number of entrepreneurs, investors and leaders - particularly in tech industries - it seems many people share the same worries. There is a growing recognition that society feels increasingly unbalanced, and despite lots of talk, the systems and structures that exist rarely help those who needed it most. Tech entrepreneurs are at the forefront of innovation, making positive changes and the industry seems to be thriving, yet somehow the opportunities in society seem to keep shrinking for many people. So whose fault is it? Should we villainize the richest individuals and self-made billionaires? Of course not, but we should at least examine the systems that allow such extreme concentrations of wealth, and see if there could be a framework that aims to restore balance by ensuring that economic gains are shared more broadly, rather than remaining locked at the top. While changing the mindsets of world leaders and systems that global economies are built upon is like attempting to turn a super-yacht in a tight harbour, technology companies and their leaders can be much more agile. Instead of designing companies to chase enormous valuations, they could reimagine their goals. What if tech innovation could strengthen communities rather than byp...

Bank of Ireland has invested over €370m in its Retail Ireland division over its current threeyear strategic cycle (2023 - 2025). The investment spans fraud protection, technology and telephony, mortgage services, App investment, payments and CRM. A number of first-to-market products and services launched during that time, including EcoSaver - mortgage rates based on BER; Smart Start - current account for children/young teens; 'Coming to Ireland' service - customers can apply for their current account 45 days before moving to Ireland. 2,500 consumers across 120 countries have applied for a current account through the Coming to Ireland service since its launch in April. The Bank also recently launched a new lending product to support homeowners trading down and drive better use of existing housing stock in the market. Bank of Ireland's Retail Ireland division made significant headway over the period, driven by investment and innovation, improved customer experiences and market leadership across key products. This included the largest single investment the Bank has ever made in enhanced customer service systems and technology for frontline colleagues. Susan Russell, Chief Executive Retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland said: "As part of our strategy, we launched a completely new type of mortgage that rewards customers for improving the energy efficiency of their homes, helping us become Ireland's number one mortgage provider. Addressing the challenges faced by homeowners who need a property better suited to their needs, we announced a new lending product to support people trading down. And we're providing tailored products for farmers, young people, and those returning or relocating to Ireland. "We've also invested in our branches and contact centres and are rolling out a brand-new ATM fleet across the island. And through strategic deployment of new technology and AI, we're serving customers faster, protecting them better from fraud, and enabling payments across Europe in seconds. "Over the past three years, we've focused on building stronger relationships by listening more closely and responding for customers in meaningful ways. We've delivered a simpler business by removing friction and making everyday banking faster and more intuitive. And we're building a truly sustainable company, one that is inclusive, responsible and future-ready. This journey is far from over, but we're proud of how far we've come and very excited about what lies ahead." Retail Ireland delivery against strategy: Product and service innovation: Announced new lending product to support homeowners trading down and drive better use of housing stock in the market. Launched innovative products including EcoSaver (mortgage rates based on BER) and Smart Start (current account for children/young teens). New 'Coming to Ireland' service allows customers to apply for their current account 45 days in advance Customer service investment and transformation: The Bank's largest single investment in enhanced customer service systems and technology for frontline colleagues. Improved telephony and CRM systems = faster customer service. 'Single view' of the customer at the touch of a button. More services available 24/7, voice biometrics improving security and efficiency. Branch upgrade programme including refurbishments and accessibility enhancements. New ATMs = greater cash processing capacity, energy-saving technology and better accessibility. Better payments and fraud protection: SEPA Instant transfers now available, and advanced security with Verification of Payee and Fraud Payment Interrupt. €50 million investment in fraud prevention and protection. 225 fraud colleagues and 24/7 customer support. Mortgage and lending excellence: Improved brokers tech platform, new credit scoring model, and automated document reading = accelerated mortgage decisions. Maintaining the #1 position in Irish mortgage lending. nCino platform successfully deployed for small business and agri custo...

40 years the first mobile phone call was made in Ireland, a pivotal moment that began one of the most significant technology transformations in the country's history. On December 11, 1985, the then Minister for Communications, Jim Mitchell TD, phoned broadcaster Pat Kenny. The pair had a brief chat about the broadcaster's Best Dressed Man of The Year award. Since that first analogue call, Ireland has become one of Europe's most advanced digital nations, powered by significant industry investment, best-in-class networks and rapidly evolving digital progress. Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan TD - who reenacted the call this week with now broadcasting legend Pat Kenny - said that the evolution of telephony and digital communications had been well embraced by Ireland, with its benefits reaching into almost every corner of the economy and society today: "Given the recessionary environment here in 1985 it was a significant feat for Telecom Éireann to invest into a new telecommunications market, 40 years ago. Within a decade, market competition really grew and now, incredibly, there are five million smartphone users in Ireland. "If we add that to the parallel revolution in broadband - including the State's successful National Broadband Plan rollout - and major investment by the providers themselves, networks and connectivity are really high quality, which enables more innovation and job creation." Four Decades of Progress Telecom Eireann entered the world of mobile telephony in 1984 after receiving a licence from the Department of Communications. Eircell was launched in 1985, and the first mobile call took place on its network. In the years that followed, Ireland moved through major mobile milestones: 1985: Eircell was launched in greater Dublin area only and network had capacity for only 1,000 customers 1987: Expansion of network to Cork and Limerick 1990: Eircell had 11,300 customers approx. with high cost (device, quarterly rental charge, high cost per minute calls, set up and connection fee) 1993: First digital GSM network launches, introducing SMS and SIM cards 1996-1997: Market competition accelerates mobile adoption 2000: Vodafone enters the market and buys Eircell, enabling new technologies and innovative concepts to grow 2001: 3G spectrum licences issued 2008: iPhone launches in Ireland, ushering in the smartphone era 2025: There are three primary Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that own and operate the network infrastructure in Ireland including Three, Eir Mobile and Vodafone. In addition, there are virtual MNOs including Virgin Mobile, Tesco Mobile, An Post Mobile, Sky Mobile, GoMo, Lycamobile, Sky Mobile, Clear Mobile and 48. Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) are the Ibec representative body for the sector, that also includes cable and fixed, tower companies, network providers and equipment manufacturers. TII Director Nicola Cooke said a recent economic and social impact study completed by Ibec showed just how dynamic the sector is: "There has been €5bn in network capital investment by the industry over the last eight years, in addition to €2.7bn in annual spend with suppliers in Ireland. The telecoms sector - which provides direct employment to 24,000 people in Ireland - is also a huge enabler of the economy and wider society, bring connectivity across the whole country. "Telecoms is one of the few services where consumer prices are now lower that they were 10 years ago, and that is down to major competition in the market, with a huge range of choice and dozens of packages on offer. The fact that around 99% of the population can avail of 4G and 5G is also testament to the commitment and financing, provided by our members. "Ireland has come a long, long way since that first call 40 years ago, and we are now among the most progressive countries in terms of our digital transformation, sitting in fifth place among 27 countries on the EU digital index." See more stories here. More a...

This Christmas, the soundtrack in your car could be shaping your driving more than you think. As millions take to the roads, Allianz is warning that fast-tempo music can subtly increase speed, stress and reaction times and is encouraging motorists to slow both the car and the beat. To support safer journeys this year, Allianz is urging drivers to plan ahead, take their time and never drink and drive. As part of this, Allianz Ireland has partnered with Spotify on a new data-driven initiative that helps drivers manage their mindset behind the wheel, simply by adjusting the tempo of the music they listen to. Building on this partnership, Allianz and Spotify have launched Seat Belters, an in-app experience that creates a personalised, lower-tempo playlist based on each user's listening history. Using Spotify's streaming intelligence, it identifies tracks in the 60-80 beat-per-minute (BPM) range to help promote a calmer mindset on the road - whether it's the school run, inching through town for a bit of shopping, or the long drive home across the country for Christmas. Studies show that music can have a direct influence on how we drive. Songs with a fast tempo (over 120 BPM) cansubconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes much more often. In contrast, music that matches the average resting heart rate (around 60-80 BPM) is associated with calmer, more focused driving. Behavioural Psychologist Dr. Becky Spelman offered insight into the science behind Seat Belters, and how the initiative can have real-world influence on driving behaviour: "As a psychologist, I'm always interested in the small, everyday inputs that shape how we feel and behave. Music is one of those influences that most of us overlook - we usually think of it as something enjoyable to have in the background, but the tempo and rhythm of what we listen to have a very real effect on the body. "When we're driving, these changes matter. A slight increase in heart rate or a feeling of urgency can lead to quicker reactions, more lane changes or a tendency to drive a little faster. These shifts are not usually conscious decisions; they are simply the body responding to stimulation. The research is very consistent in showing that high-tempo music makes us more reactive and more prone to quick decisions, which is not ideal when we are on the road and need calm, steady focus." A nationally representative survey commissioned by Allianz earlier this year found that over half of Irish adults believe music influences their driving style, with belief particularly strong among Gen Z, who are the demographic most likely to stream music while driving. Higher heart-rate variability, increased mental workload and erratic driving patterns have all been observed in response to faster music, making mindful playlist curation especially beneficial this Christmas. Dr. Spelman explains; "This is why the Allianz Seat Belters initiative is so useful. It takes something that people already do every day - listening to music in the car - and turns it into a practical safety support. By selecting music in the range of sixty to eighty beats per minute based on your listening history, the playlist encourages the body to settle. This slower rhythm is much closer to the natural pace of a calm and regulated nervous system. When we're in that state, our thinking becomes clearer, our decision making becomes steadier and we're less likely to behave impulsively, making the roads a safer place for everyone this Christmas." Allianz has also launched Dashboard Drumming, a social video activation pairing legendary drummer Stewart Copeland (The Police) with science content creator Big Manny. In a parked car, they use nothing but a dashboard and a drumbeat to demonstrate how changing tempo affects mindset, mood, and ultimately driving behaviour - making BPM instantly relatable and sharable. It's a fun but powerful way to show how we respond to rhythm behind the wheel. Start Your Better Driving Sou...

GlobalLogic Inc., a Hitachi Group Company and leader in digital engineering, has released a new report, in partnership with HFS Research, that highlights insights into how industrial enterprises are managing AI adoption, sustainability transitions, and workforce transformation. The research reveals that despite executive ambitions, 51% of organisations cite skills gaps as the primary reason AI and advanced technology initiatives fail or underperform. The research, which surveyed more than 100 C-level and senior executives from $1 billion+ industrial firms across automotive, aerospace, chemicals, energy and utilities, and construction, highlights a clear challenge: while leaders acknowledge the urgency of AI, sustainability, and talent transformations, a fundamental misalignment between present priorities and future expectations is halting innovation. "We undertook this research to understand why industrial leaders see AI, sustainability, and talent as top priorities yet struggle to turn them into measurable results," said Srini Shankar, President and CEO at GlobalLogic. "We found many are trying to deploy advanced technologies without the talent, the clear AI governance frameworks, and without transition plans that link today's efficiency pressures to tomorrow's strategic goals. As onshoring accelerates in the United States, leaders face rising domestic demand but scarce and costly specialised talent. "At GlobalLogic, we're moving beyond experimentation to deliver AI-driven industrial ecosystems that create measurable value today. By combining our deep heritage in embedded systems, Edge AI, IT-OT convergence, OT cybersecurity, Industrial IoT, and next-generation connectivity, such as 5G/6G, GlobalLogic delivers the core capabilities industrial clients need to advance their Physical AI journeys. "When combined with Hitachi's proven OT and product excellence, we are empowering organisations to modernise faster, operate smarter, and accelerate their transformation across sustainability, productivity, and talent. Together with our industrial clients, we are advancing next-generation capabilities in servitisation, digital twins, industrial automation, predictive maintenance, and frontline worker productivity and safety - helping them unlock new revenue models while driving meaningful gains in operational efficiency and performance." Key Findings from the Report: The study reveals that industrial enterprises are trapped between ambition and capability, lacking the talent, frameworks, and integration strategies to execute on generational transitions: Upskilling Becomes the New Imperative: While 51% of companies say skills gaps hinder AI and advanced technology initiatives, half lack structured upskilling programs, and 42% struggle to find digital and AI talent. As seasoned workers retire and fewer new candidates enter traditional roles, industrial leaders are turning to agentic AI and sustainability-driven innovation to bridge the divide. Legacy Systems Create Technical Debt & Block Progress: Legacy systems create technical debt and are a clear sign of limited readiness to support the new, 'intelligent,' connected operating models required for technologies like agentic AI. Nearly half (49%) identify integrating new technologies with legacy systems as their greatest barrier to deploying advanced digital technologies. Priorities Shift to AI: Nearly half (46%) of executives currently prioritise reducing operational costs in their top three priorities, but research shows that in 2 years, AI adoption and operational optimisation will take top spot in priorities. Industry Seen as Career Dead-End: 58% believe talent sees limited career mobility in the manufacturing sector, 48% cite lack of innovation perception, and 46% acknowledge underpaying compared to other sectors - fueling a deepening talent crisis. "Industry executives must immediately embed their sustainability, talent, and technology transitions in both strategy and daily operat...

By David Stephen There is a new [December 2, 2025] paper in Nature, Artificial intelligence for quantum computing, stating that, "Quantum computing (QC) has the potential to impact every domain of science and industry, but it has become increasingly clear that delivering on this promise rests on tightly integrating fault-tolerant quantum hardware with accelerated supercomputers to build accelerated quantum supercomputers." Will Conceptual Brain Science Advance Quantum Computing? "However, transitioning hardware from noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices to fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) faces a number of challenges. Though recent quantum error correction (QEC) demonstrations have been performed, all popular qubit modalities suffer from hardware noise, preventing the below-threshold operation needed to perform fault-tolerant computations." "Though high-performance computing (HPC), and in particular, accelerated GPU computing, already drives QC research through circuit and hardware simulations, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) paradigms has only just begun." "Despite the considerable promise of AI, it is critical to recognize its limitations when applied to QC. AI, as a fundamentally classical paradigm, cannot efficiently simulate quantum systems in the general case due to exponential scaling constraints imposed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Classical simulation of quantum circuits suffers from exponential growth in computational cost and memory consumption." "In the broadest of strokes, we can categorize deep neural network (DNN) applications as discriminative and generative. The former seeks to learn the conditional probability distribution P(y?x) of value vector y given feature vector x, whereas the latter seeks the joint probability distribution P(x, y)." "Critical for training all of these deep learning methods is high-quality data. In the case of QC, this data must often be obtained via simulation with supercomputers due to noise and scale limitations of quantum computers, as well as the cost (time and economic) of obtaining quantum data." "AI for quantum computer development and design. Device design. Learning models of quantum systems. AI for preprocessing. Quantum circuit compilation. Unitary synthesis. AI for circuit optimization. AI models to generate compact circuits. AI for device control and optimization. Designing optimal dynamics. Remove unwanted dynamics. AI for quantum error correction. AI for post-processing. Efficient observable estimation and tomography. Error mitigation techniques. Accelerated quantum supercomputing systems. Simulating high quality data sets." "Most importantly, each aspect of QC needs to scale, and AI might be the only tool with the ability to both solve these problems effectively and do so efficiently at scale. AI has only begun to benefit QC, and it is likely that AI will play an increasingly critical role into the realization of useful QC applications and FTQC." AI A simple way to describe AI is a technology that copied what works: the brain. Or, simply, AI is a technology that looked at the best case of intelligence in nature, the human brain, and imitated it, in the ways that is mathematically possible. Also, large language models [LLMs] copied a major basis of intelligence, language. While it is possible to operate intelligence in other ways, language is central - to human intelligence - for thinking, listening, writing, reading, singing, signing, speaking and so on. So, AI is as good as it is, following the lead of the brain, directly. Now, if this made AI relevant more than any technology that has ever existed, what should any other aspirational technology do? Copy the imitation, AI, or copy the source, the human brain? Quantum Computing There are several engineering gaps in quantum computing where fundamental answers should be sought in the brain. While AI can be currently useful for several improvement cases, the brain should be aggres...

AI agents are moving from experimental tools to everyday enterprise workflows. Reporting live from AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas for Irish Tech News, I attended a press-only briefing titled Security and the Rise of AI Agents, where senior AWS leaders Amy Herzog, Chief Information Security Officer, Hart Rossman, Vice President in the Office of the CISO, Gea Rinehouse, Vice President of Security Services and Neha Rungta, Director of Applied Science outlined how the company intends to manage this transition. AWS is pushing ahead with autonomous agents, but only within a security model built on long-standing principles: identity, governance, compliance and clear oversight. What is an AI Agent? An AI agent is a software system that uses artificial intelligence to carry out tasks autonomously in pursuit of a specific goal. Unlike chatbots that only respond to prompts, an agent can reason, plan and take action across different steps of a workflow. It can use tools such as web services or APIs, monitor its progress and adjust its approach as conditions change. Over time, it can improve its performance based on the data and experience it gathers. This distinction matters, because the rise of agents raises new questions about accountability, access, oversight and safety. Security First AWS chief executive Matt Garman shaped much of the week's discussion. Speaking about the reality facing engineering teams, he noted: "Every customer wants their products to be secure, but you have trade-offs. Where do you spend your time? Do you improve the security of existing features, or do you ship new ones?" The briefing returned to this point several times. AWS's position is that strong design-stage security reduces the tension between improvement and innovation. Agents are seen as an opportunity to reinforce security, not dilute it. AWS Security Agent One of the major announcements at re:Invent was the preview of AWS Security Agent. The tool brings several security checks forward in the development process. It reviews designs, analyses code, gathers richer signals for incident response and performs penetration testing that reflects real system behaviour rather than generic patterns. AWS Security Agent is one of the new Frontier Agents introduced at re:Invent, a family of autonomous tools designed to handle multi-step tasks across development, security and operations. Neha Rungta described the significance of this shift. She called the Security Agent "one of these frontier AI agents, a sophisticated class of AI agents that are autonomous and scalable and can work for long periods without human intervention. Security doesn't have to be an afterthought." She added that AWS is expanding its proof-based assurance tools so teams can understand correctness without being specialists in system logic. The broader point is that verification needs to be continuous, not episodic. Guardrails for Autonomy The panel stressed that agents must operate within strict boundaries. Updated policy controls in Amazon Bedrock AgentCore allow organisations to specify what an agent can do, which systems it can reach and how its actions are logged and reviewed. Hart Rossman remarked that each major technology shift has increased the demands placed on security teams. With agents running for extended periods and across more systems, the real pressure points now are scale and speed. Guardrails are essential. The Sandbox Approach A theme repeated throughout the session was the use of sandbox environments. AWS encouraged organisations to test new agents in isolation before considering production use. This allows teams to observe long-running behaviour, confirm access paths, check escalation rules and understand how an agent reacts under different conditions. The sandbox was presented as a practical way to build confidence gradually rather than relying on assumptions. Inside the Press Briefing Questions focused on monitoring autonomy, preventing agents from widening their scope...

We look at the recently published collection of writings by Anthony Bourdain. See more about the book here. The Anthony Bourdain Reader, reviewed We are fans of Anthony Bourdain, partly due to a lock down project of watching, in no particular order, his complete TV seasons on Netflix, as well as some other shows he created elsewhere. His humanity and empathy comes through, again and again across these shows. We also, like many others we imagine, became aware of him via his Kitchen Confidential memoir first and foremost. Overall the reader mostly works, but, if you came in via having read Kitchen Confidential, and, or some of his other books, you may well feel justified in wondering why some of the excerpts from those books are quite so long. Mostly the reader is well curated, and to balance these over long chunks of too familiar content, the editors have done a good job of trawling the archives to add rarer grooves. Towards the end of the book there are the initial chapters from an unfinished book he wrote. Initially these seemed like a bit of a red herring, why get invested in something that you know won't be resolved. Funnily enough though, after awhile we found ourselves getting into it, and then feeling disappointment that it is an unfinished fragment. This is of course perhaps a more than apt metaphor for someone who left us at the tender age of 61. Bourdain cared, was passionate and not willing to accept BS from fake or insincere people. As introduction highlights, Bourdain was someone who could bond with and emphasize with the poor and downtrodden around the world. Sure the programs were ostensibly about food, but really they were about humanity, and what it means to remain human and able to give and receive kindness. He was naturally indignant about what his own country had done to Vietnam and Laos, and then everywhere and anywhere else he visited. While some sections of the reader work less well than others, they do help to build up and capture a sense of the author, which is what he always wanted to be. The excerpts will only inspire you to chase down those books that you haven't read before, but there is also unique, original content here, which ensures this book has value and is not a mere retread. Well worth reading or putting into someone's Christmas stocking. More about the book The definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, including unpublished and never-before-seen material, with an Introduction by Patrick Radden Keefe. Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people - and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him than that of a writer; it was one of the central ways he saw himself. Revealing Anthony Bourdain's observant, curious and hungry mind, The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of Bourdain's best writing and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the 'low life', from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris and Shanghai. With pointed opinions on the specific use of brioche buns, the devastation of Western foreign policy and the pain and pleasure of hot pot, this new collection encapsulates the unique brilliance of a once-in-a-generation mind and one of our most distinctive writers. After Bourdain's years of travelling the globe in search of the very best of cuisine and culture, The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a testament to the enduring and singular voice he crafted, with eclectic and curated chapters, including visceral graphic novel excerpts, some of his most well-loved recipes and never-before-published pieces. Edited by Bourdain's long-time agent and friend Kimberly Witherspoon, and with a new Foreword by Patrick Radden Keefe, this is an essential reader for any Bourdain fan as well as a vivid and moving recollection of his life and legacy. See more book reviews here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and oft...

The range of red squirrels in the Scottish Highlands has increased by more than 25% following a 10-year reintroduction project by rewilding charity Trees for Life. Surveys show that over a dozen new populations of reds are now thriving and breeding successfully - with many spreading and linking up, and others likely to do so in future. Red squirrel range in Highlands increases, Scottish rewilding Following the latest reintroductions this year, Trees for Life has so far relocated 259 red squirrels to 13 new sites in the northwest Highlands from which the species was missing. Reds are now present as far north as Ullapool and Brora, at multiple locations on the northwest coast, at Morvern to the southwest, and across all areas of suitable habitat in the central Highlands as far north as Lairg, Trees for Life's latest survey found. "This rewilding success story is offering hope for the long-term survival of Scotland's much-loved red squirrels, and shows how we can make a real and positive difference to our native wildlife," said Trees for Life's Becky Priestley. The charity now plans to expand the species' range further as part of an ambitious new Missing Species Programme for the Highlands, which it is to launch to bring back four of Scotland's keystone animals which are partly or fully missing from Scotland. Although an iconic Scottish species, the red squirrel was brought to the edge of extinction in Britain by historic habitat loss and human persecution. Its recovery remains at risk due to competition from the non-native grey squirrel, which also carries the fatal squirrel pox virus. During the NatureScot-licensed reintroductions, Trees for Life carefully relocates small numbers of reds from healthy populations around Inverness-shire, Moray and Strathspey to suitable woods in the north and northwest, where they will be safe from greys. Red squirrels can't reach these havens without help, because they avoid crossing large open spaces. The latest releases this year saw 12 reds reintroduced to woodlands along the coast from Letterfearn to Ratagan on the Glenelg peninsula, to bolster the population after seven squirrels were released the previous autumn. Estimates of UK numbers of reds range from just 160,000 to 287,000. Scotland is today the British stronghold for the woodland-loving species - home to 80% of the population. Before the reintroductions, reds were absent from most of their former range in the north and northwest Highlands, with the last records generally from the 1970s. Trees for Life's surveys show reintroductions have been highly successful, already increasing the Highland red squirrel range by more than 26%. Prior consultations are carried out at each release site. Only a few reds are relocated from each donor site to leave those populations unaffected, and these sites are regularly changed to ensure genetic diversity. Checks ensure only healthy animals are relocated. With animal welfare paramount, the reds are transported in hay-lined nest boxes and released into habitat with plenty of natural food and shelter. Additional food is provided for several months as the reds get used to their new habitat. Since launching the project in 2015, Trees for Life has established new populations of reds in Shieldaig, Coulin, Plockton, Inverewe, Reraig, Attadale, Letterewe, Lochaline, Spinningdale, Golspie, Arisaig, Drimnin, and Ratagan. Combined with the previous work of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, which pioneered the reintroductions to three other sites, in total more than 340 red squirrels have been relocated to 16 new sites in the Highlands since 2008. "Our local community volunteers have been at the heart of this project - from identifying donor sites, to helping with supplementary feeding and taking part in citizen science by reporting sightings and monitoring camera traps," said Becky Priestley. A detailed new red squirrel distribution map for the Highlands to inform future restoration initiatives has been cr...

Salesforce, the world's #1 AI CRM, has unveiled its 2025 Cyber Week results (November 25-December 1), analysing shopping data from over 1.5 billion shoppers. This was another record-breaking shopping week, with overall industry global sales increasing 7% year over year (YOY) to €286billion, with Black Friday sales in Ireland increasing 19%. These results signal a strong consumer appetite for buying this holiday season despite increasing global prices, and they demonstrate AI and agents as fundamental accelerators for purchase and productivity in commerce. AI and agents deliver outsized impact on Cyber Week sales and service AI and agents were pivotal elements in shoppers' path to purchase, driving €57 billion in sales by delivering personalised, high-converting shopping experiences. Across Cyber Week, AI and agents influenced 20% of all global orders via personalised product recommendations and conversational customer service. Pandora, Shark Ninja, and Funko and other retailers who utilised Salesforce's Agentforce 360 and their own branded agents saw sales grow 32% faster than those without. Beyond purchases, AI agents efficiently managed the influx of inquiries to emerge as customer service heroes. Agentic customer service conversations grew 55% week over week. Crucially, the volume of agent actions - including updating delivery addresses and initiating returns - surged by 70% compared with the previous week, offsetting administrative loads for service teams and lowering operational costs. Salesforce powers Cyber Week with trust, scale, and AI agents The foundation of Cyber Week's success for global retailers was the trust and unified power of Agentforce 360. Brands drove profitable growth and scaled their operations, supported by Salesforce's 100% uptime the entire week, including Agentforce Commerce, which powered 61 million orders on digital storefronts. The scale extended across channels as retailers managed 76% more orders on the Order Management System (OMS) platform while Agentforce Marketing delivered personalised outreach by sending 56.3 billion marketing messages. On Black Friday, historically the largest day of the year for in-store shopping, Salesforce's Retail Point ofSale (POS) saw 96% YOY growth in order volumes. 2025 Cyber Week Industry Insights Cyber Week sets a new global record: Consumers demonstrated strong activity, continuing to spend throughout the week and driving healthy sales growth numbers for retailers. Black Friday drove €67 billion in global sales (up 6% YOY), up 19% in Ireland. . Black Friday also accounted for 31% of all in-store sales during Cyber Week, making it the largest in-store shopping day of the week. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday drove €45 billion in global online sales, which was up 15% in Ireland. Mobile shopping becomes the digital default: Mobile devices drove 70% of online orders both globally, and mobile wallets continued to grow as a top form of payment, used for 27% of all global orders. Meanwhile, social media is becoming a critical entry point for shoppers, driving 15% of all global digital traffic to retailers' sitesConsumer spending stays strong: The average selling price (ASP) across Cyber Week increased 6% YOY. But in the end, consumers were undeterred by these price hikes - Cyber Week order volumes still grew by 2% globally and 1% in the U.S. compared with last year. This signals that shoppers saw this time frame as the best week of the year to make purchases regardless of price hikes. "Irish shoppers with their well known eye for value continue to embrace Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a key moment in their Christmas shopping plans. This year's growth highlights the power that agentic AI can bring, with significant increases in predictive recommendations and conversion across the week. It shows the scale of the opportunity for Irish businesses of every size to adopt these new capabilities and deliver faster, smarter, and more personal experiences that meet rising custom...

RxSense, a leading US healthcare technology company delivering pharmacy benefits solutions and savings on prescription costs, has announced the opening of its European office in Dublin. This expansion represents a strategic investment in Ireland's talent and innovation ecosystem and will support the continued growth and scale of the company's US operations. Over the next two years, RxSense plans to hire 75 full-time engineering and product roles in Dublin. The team will play a central role in supporting the company's mission to make prescription medicines more affordable, a challenge in the United States, where 1 in 5 US adults have not filled their prescriptions due to cost. RxSense is addressing this challenge by transforming pharmacy benefits through technology, building cloud-based platforms that deliver transparency and efficiency. The new Dublin centre will help develop the next generation of RxSense products that simplify healthcare, advance AI innovation and strengthen collaboration across product, engineering and design teams. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke: "RxSense's decision to establish its first European office in Dublin is very welcome news and I thank the company for its commitment to creating 75 high-quality tech jobs. This investment is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's world-class talent and thriving innovation ecosystem. RxSense's presence here will not only strengthen our position as a global leader in healthcare technology but also contribute to the development of solutions that make healthcare more accessible. I wish the RxSense team the very best for the future and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this expansion will make." Rick Bates, founder and CEO of RxSense, said: "Ireland has a well-earned reputation for excellence in technology, and many US companies have found tremendous success expanding here. We want to build a team that is deeply aligned with our culture and mission and works collaboratively in a high-performing environment. Dublin offers that in abundance, it's talent-dense, innovation-driven and culturally in sync with our US roots." Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: ''I am delighted to congratulate RxSense on choosing Ireland for its first European office. This decision to create 75 high value jobs here is a strong endorsement of Ireland's reputation as a global hub for technology and innovation. Our pro-business environment and highly skilled talent pool make Ireland an ideal location for companies looking to expand into Europe. I would like to wish RxSense every success as it drives healthcare technology forward from its base in Dublin.'' To connect with RxSense or learn more about the open roles and positions in Ireland, please visit: https://www.rxsense.com/dublin. See more stories here.

The ISPCC is honoured to announce that GroSafe, the technology-enabled safeguarding platform designed to combat child grooming through education, support and reporting, has received the Prize Award from Research Ireland's National Challenge Fund in the OurTech pillar. This acknowledgement of potential of GroSafe to have an incredible impact on the lives of so many children and young is extremely welcome and will enable the GroSafe team to make a true societal impact. By empowering children and caregivers through this platform, the GroSafe team aims to build societal resistance, reduce exploitation and foster a culture of safe and trusted disclosure. The project is led by TU Dublin's Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden and ISPCC's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Fiona Jennings, acts as Societal Impact Champion. The GroSafe project is one of six research teams across four challenge programmes under the National Challenge Fund, to receive part of €8 million in prize phase funding. Funded by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland's Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them. Fiona Jennings, ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said the project is specially focused on how children and young people are groomed into criminality or for sexual exploitation purposes."We are extremely grateful that the possibilities offered by GroSafe have been acknowledged by the Prize Award from Research Ireland's National Challenge Fund. "The GroSafe team has gone to great lengths to ensure that the voices of stakeholders were heard and that their needs and requirements were understood. In particular, I believe that the engagement with children is the perfect example of true participation in action. "The ISPCC wants to particularly acknowledge the steadfast vision, dedication and determination of the leadership provided by Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden. They have ensured that the GroSafe potential for real societal change will be realised. "As Societal Impact Champion, I am increasingly convinced that the only way to meaningfully tackle child grooming is by working together cohesively and respectively. I also want to acknowledge the incredible input of Research Ireland. I have been hugely impressed by the design of the National Challenge Fund competition and the continuing support and mentoring offered by members of Research Ireland throughout the process." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is launching a new call under the EIT Higher Education Initiative to boost STEM education and shape Europe's future workforce. For the first time, the call will also strengthen cooperation between its Knowledge and Innovation Communities and the European Universities alliances. The 2025 EIT Higher Education Initiative's call for proposals will strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of Europe's STEM talent pipeline, contributing to the EU Union of Skills, in particular to the STEM Education Strategic Plan. It will train 200 000 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students, academics, and non-academic staff in innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property management by 2028. With a total budget of up to €70 million and up to €2 million per selected project over 24 months (2026-2028), it is the largest call under this initiative so far. It will strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM fields, while also inviting the European Universities Alliances to deepen their collaboration with Europe's largest innovation ecosystem. The EIT Higher Education Initiative strengthens Europe's innovation capacity by helping universities work with industry, develop talent, and support startups - already empowering over 500 HEIs, 118,000 learners, and 2,000 ventures. €70 million to strengthen capacity of Europe's STEM talent pipeline Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, said 'Europe's future depends on people - on the skills, creativity, and resilience of our students, academic staff, and researchers. With this new call, we are investing directly in them, empowering universities to equip the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with the future-ready skills Europe needs. By advancing our Union of Skills and the EU's STEM Education Strategic Plan, we are turning Europe's talent into our greatest strategic advantage.' Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said 'Europe's universities have the potential to be powerful engines of innovation, helping students and researchers turn ideas into ventures that shape our future. Focused on the early stages of the innovation journey, this programme supports them in translating knowledge into real impact. With its strong emphasis on STEM, it contributes to the Startup and Scaleup Strategy and strengthens Europe's ability to scale breakthrough ideas.' Martin Kern, EIT Director, said 'Europe's future competitiveness depends on our ability to turn knowledge into impact. We want to strengthen the bridge between universities, business, and research empowering STEM talent and institutions to translate ideas into new solutions, which lead to new companies and jobs. By investing in skills and partnerships, the EIT is ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship.' Consortia of higher education institutions, businesses, research institutes, public bodies and other non-academic organisations are encouraged to prepare their applications by consulting the full call text and connecting with potential partners through a matchmaking platform. A new interactive guide will help applicants check their eligibility and readiness to apply. Info sessions in December 2025 and January 2026 will provide practical guidance on the process, project focus areas, and collaboration opportunities (information will be available here). Consortia can submit their applications until 4 March 2026, 17:00 CET, with the selected projects to be announced later in 2026. ABOUT THE EIT HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVE The EIT Higher Education Initiative is the only funding programme dedicated entirely to driving innovation in higher education. It connects higher education institutions (HEIs) with industry, fostering success from the earliest stages of the innovation lifecycle. Since its launch in 2021, t...

Ekco, one of Europe's leading security-first managed service providers, has announced the results of new research which reveals that one-in-five (22%) consumers in Ireland are purchasing fewer items online because they fear cyberattacks. For the same reason, 19% say they have started to pay in-person, in cash, when they can. The research, commissioned by Ekco and carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 1,000 adults in the Republic of Ireland, exploring their attitudes to online spending as the volume of cyberattacks and scams continues to rise. It comes at a time when major fashion retailers are considering a return to the high street after declining footfall, exacerbated by the pandemic, drove both shoppers and retailers online. The research suggests that cyber fears could drive more to physical stores this festive season. Despite year-on-year growth in online spending, just 30% of those surveyed believe they know how to check if a retailer's website is safe or not. In fact, in the last 12 months, more than one-in-10 (14%) have entered their payment details on a fraudulent website, thinking it was legitimate, while 26% have found themselves on a fake website which was attempting to mirror a real one. Ekco's research suggests that the constant desire for convenience could be making consumers less focused on security. When offered, 31% opt to store payment details on websites to save time during the check-out process, and the same percentage have payment details stored on multiple websites. However, many consumers are unforgiving when retailers suffer a cyberattack. In the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) of consumers have avoided purchasing from, or using the services of, a retailer because it suffered a cyberattack. Two-thirds (66%) say they would stop shopping with a retailer permanently if their data was stolen in a breach, even if no money was taken. Conor Scolard, Director of Cyber Resilience at Ekco, said: "Our research shows that while consumers want a hassle-free shopping experience - with conveniences such as having their payment details stored - they are also concerned about the security of their information. It is vital that retailers have the robust infrastructure in place that enables them to assure customers that their data is safe, regardless of how they choose to pay: in-person in cash, or online (with or without stored card details). "As we have entered the busiest time of the year for shopping, retailers need to ensure that their systems can both stay onlineand protect customers' data from cyberattacks. Our research highlights that a cyberattack will not only have a negative impact on operations, but it can also cause lasting damage to a business's reputation. In addition, shoppers evidently lack confidence in identifying safe websites from compromised or fraudulent ones, which will undoubtedly lead to hesitation. The retail sector must consider this and its own role in providing convenience and confidence." See more stories here.

A world-first demonstration combining tidal power, battery storage and hydrogen production has been completed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. Led by EMEC, the demonstration successfully integrated three technologies - Orbital Marine Power's O2 tidal turbine, vanadium flow batteries supplied by Invinity Energy Systems, and an ITM Power 670 kW electrolyser, at EMEC's onshore site on the island of Eday. EMEC completes 3-in-1 tidal energy, hydrogen and battery demonstration Multiple energy flow scenarios were trialled. During high generation periods, power from the O2 was used to charge the battery system, supply electricity directly to the electrolyser and export power to the grid. When tidal generation was low, the battery system discharged power to the electrolyser to keep the electrolyser operating. This approach effectively smoothed out the cyclical nature of tidal energy, enabling on-demand electricity to power the electrolyser for hydrogen production. In addition, battery power was used to support operations at EMEC's onshore Caldale site. This is the first time globally that tidal power, vanadium flow battery storage and hydrogen production technologies have been integrated into a single energy system. This approach could help overcome future grid constraints and open up new offtake opportunities, paving the way for more resilient, responsive renewable energy systems. All planned operational scenarios were completed, demonstrating the flexibility of the integrated system. Additional safety mitigation measures were put in place during the demonstration and proved effective. As an example, the team responded to an electrolyser trip within seconds to prevent a full site shutdown. The demonstration validated the 3-in-1 concept, highlighted areas for improvement such as battery management and electrolyser controls, and underscored the value of increased automation to minimise human error and enhance system reliability. The demonstration was part of the Interreg North-West Europe funded project, ITEG, which explored how tidal and hydrogen production could be combined as a solution in coastal areas to overcome grid constraints. It has also been supported with funding from Scottish Government via Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and by the EU-funded FORWARD2030 project which has completed detailed monitoring study into how to optimise the integration of tidal energy and battery storage with hydrogen and other offtake routes. Graeme Harrison, Head of Marine Energy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "HIE and Scottish Government are pleased to have supported the deployment of innovative technologies at EMEC which have combined in this ground-breaking demonstration. "The project illustrates how the highly predictable flows of power from tidal streams can be successfully harnessed in a variety of forms to meet the energy needs of business and communities throughout Scotland and beyond." Leonore Van Velzen, Operations and Maintenance Manager at EMEC said: "This world-first demonstration represents the culmination of years of effort to integrate tidal energy, battery storage and hydrogen production. Bringing together three innovative technologies was a complex challenge, but reaching this milestone has provided invaluable insights. "Running all planned scenarios, responding swiftly to an electrolyser trip and identifying opportunities for greater automation have given us a clear roadmap for optimising future systems. The trial also highlights an alternative pathway for tidal energy in scenarios where grid export capacity is limited, a likely feature in the future as we transition to a fully renewable energy system. "Building on our practical experience with hydrogen, we're now exploring other offtake routes such as synthetic fuel production using renewable hydrogen as a feedstock, a practical solution to decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and maritime. This is especially relev...

Julie Collison entrepreneur was a winner in the UK and Ireland's longest-running recognition programme for female founders, the Tide everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF. The Scale Up Award, sponsored by BGF, which celebrates a woman who has founded a company in a period of high growth, was presented to Julie Collison, director of Clear Strategy Limited. The prestigious event was held on 2nd December 2025 at The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, where over 300 business leaders, investors and supporters of female entrepreneurs united to celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary women and their businesses. The winners span a vast array of industries and stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from pioneering start-ups disrupting traditional sectors to established leaders steering multi-million-pound enterprises and purpose-led founders using business as a force for good. Julie Collison wins Tide everywoman Entrepreneur Awards Data from the Female Business Owners Index 2025 from Tide and everywoman paints a picture of a challenging year for women-led enterprises, with the most common setbacks including falling consumer spending, inflation and political uncertainty. Yet female entrepreneurs across the UK are displaying remarkable resilience in the face of economic headwinds with 67% expecting their revenues to grow over the next year. Nicole Goodwin and Sophie Catto, joint managing directors of AllBright everywoman, said: "Female entrepreneurs across the UK and Ireland are demonstrating extraordinary perseverance, optimism and ambition in one of the toughest business climates in recent years. Female founders are working longer hours and navigating multiple pressure points, yet their determination has never been stronger. "By bringing together a powerful community of role models, investors, mentors and partners, these awards not only celebrate success stories but actively create them by opening doors to funding, commercial opportunities and strategic support. This year's finalists and winners are bold innovators, breaking down deep-rooted barriers for the next generation of female founders. We are immensely proud to celebrate their achievements and champion the unstoppable women who are reshaping the UK's entrepreneurial landscape." Julie's entrepreneurial journey has been defined by long-term vision, ambition and extraordinary resilience. She founded Clear Strategy, a data and analytics consultancy, in 2018 while raising three young children as a single mother. With no external funding, Julie and her business partner built the company from the ground up, playing multiple roles while laying the foundations for sustainable, scalable growth. Julie has steered Clear Strategy to compete successfully in a market dominated by global consulting giants. As a woman in a highly technical and male-dominated sector, Julie has faced bias and felt the need to prove her credibility, but her expertise and exceptional delivery track record have earned the trust of C-suite leaders across many industries. Julie's ability to balance personal responsibility with professional ambition is a powerful testament to her grit, personal drive and impact, overcoming significant challenges to build one of Ireland's fastest-growing data firms. On accepting the award, Julie said: "This award isn't just for me - it goes out to our team and my business partner. I never dreamed eight years ago we would be anywhere near the size we are today. I would like to thank everywoman for this platform. Women are still underrepresented in the tech industry, and it's incredible to get this recognition." George Schmidt, Tide UK/Europe CEO, said: "This year's winners and nominees capture exactly what makes female entrepreneurship such a powerful force. Many women have been navigating tougher conditions, yet the founders recognised today have shown remarkable ambition and creativity in how they are building and growing their businesses. "The Tide ev...

Viatel Technology Group has achieved Cisco Premier Provider Status, marking another significant milestone in its partnership with Cisco. Following a rigorous audit process, Viatel also achieved Cisco Powered Service designations in Meraki Security & SD-WAN and Meraki Access. Cisco Powered Services is an elite designation for partners that have demonstrated their expertise in delivering outcomes built on Cisco technologies. To be designated as Cisco Powered, services must be organised into a structured portfolio with the requisite personnel, certifications, and technology to guarantee the highest level of quality and expertise. This achievement follows Viatel's success in securing three other key Cisco specialisations earlier this year: Customer Experience Specialisation, Cisco Select Integrator, and Environmental Sustainability Specialisation. Sheila Greaney, Cisco Partner Account Manager, commented: "Viatel's attainment of Premier Provider Status reflects their unwavering commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions. The audit highlighted a knowledgeable and professional team that demonstrated excellent teamwork. From their comprehensive onboarding and detailed ticketing system to their vibrant marketing, Viatel's dedication to the customer experience is evident. With a customer first ethos and an exceptional Net Promoter Score, Viatel is setting the benchmark for excellence in the Irish market." Eilish O'Connor, CTO, Viatel Technology Group, added: "Achieving Premier Provider Status is the latest chapter in our Cisco success story. Viatel has been a pioneer in the field of Cisco SD-WAN networking, deploying hundreds of sites across nationally and internationally. Our team of certified Meraki specialists delivers a fully managed service that allows organisations to maintain secure, high-performance connectivity while they concentrate on their core business." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ireland's cybersecurity sector delivered its strongest year in 2024, closing 40% more VC deals than in 2023 while European cybersecurity funding fell 9.5%, according to a new report powered by PitchBook data and published by Enterprise Ireland. This performance helped Ireland maintain its position as first or second in Europe for cybersecurity VC deal count per capita every year since 2017. Enterprise Ireland participated in more than three-quarters of all deals over the past decade, making it Europe's leading cybersecurity investor by deal count. This sustained ecosystem support has enabled Irish cybersecurity companies to launch, scale rapidly and attract world-class global investors - most recently demonstrated by Tines' €120.7 million Series C raise in Q1 2025, which was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, one of the largest venture rounds ever secured by an Irish-founded company. Key highlights from the report: • Since 2014, Irish cybersecurity companies have raised over €450 million across more than 100 VC transactions. • Irish firms such as Tines, Siren, UrbanFox, Cytidel and Vaultree are winning global enterprise and government clients with automation workflow, investigative intelligence, AI-driven threat detection, vulnerability prioritisation and fully encrypted data-in-use solutions. • Ireland is home to over 140 pure-play cybersecurity companies and has ranked first or second in Europe for cybersecurity VC deal count per capita every year since 2017. • The sector currently employs more than 8,100 professionals, projected to grow to 17,000 by 2030. Anna-Marie Turley, Head of Fintech, Financial Services and Cybersecurity at Enterprise Ireland, commented: "Ireland continues to punch well above its weight in European cybersecurity investment, consistently attracting top-tier global investors. With Irish solutions now trusted by leading enterprises and governments worldwide for AI-driven threat detection, investigative intelligence and regulatory compliance, we are seeing unprecedented international demand. Looking ahead, cybersecurity is set to become an absolute non-negotiable priority for organisations everywhere. This positions Ireland's ecosystem for sustained high-growth investment and global leadership in the years to come." The full report, Ireland's Cybersecurity Landscape, is available for immediate download at Ireland's Cybersecurity Landscape | Enterprise Ireland See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

EnergyCloud, the Irish charity focused on energy poverty, has published the first of its monthly Wasted Clean Energy Reports. This is a monthly analysis of renewable energy lost and the missed opportunity to lift households out of energy poverty. In January 2025 the Government published the Programme for Government and committed to use surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise be wasted, to help those in fuel poverty, ensuring that the whole community benefits. Since this commitment over €414 million in renewable energy has been wasted, an equivalent of €1.3 million per day and enough renewable energy to have heated over 390 million tanks of hot water. This waste is occurring during a cost-of-living crisis when, according to the ESRI, 550,000 homes are in energy poverty and at a time when over 300,000 homes are in electricity arrears. Metric Value Source Days since Programme for Government commitment to use surplus renewable energy to help those in fuel poverty 314 Programme for Government January 2025 Renewable energy wasted (kWh) 1,169 GWh EirGrid to 31 October Approx. retail value of wasted energy (€) €414 million Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Equivalent tanks of hot water heated 390 million EnergyCloud average 3 kWh/tank Average waste per day (€) €1,318,000 Calculated See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ibec, the group representing Irish business, has called on the Irish Government to increase investment in defence and security. According to Ibec, ongoing global conflicts require increased efforts to ensure Ireland can protect itself and the businesses that operate here, adding that robust security is the bedrock for business, ensuring security of supply, the ability to transact, and confidence in the rule of law. This call coincides with the publication of Ibec's latest priorities paper for Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency, which focuses on security and defence as essential elements for future-proofing European resilience in the context of global instability. Danny McCoy, Ibec CEO, said: "The world has changed fundamentally in the last five years. Europeans realize that our defence and security infrastructure is very vulnerable to external attack. Defence is not just about militarisation. However, we cannot simply avoid militarisation when the rest of our European Union colleagues- the Union, which is the domain for our economic success and prosperity- are increasing their capabilities. We must be part of a secure Europe." "This does not involve abandoning our neutrality, and we need to ensure, in having realistic conversations about our defence capabilities, that we do not conflate the two. However, neutrality does not mean being defenceless. Being part of the defence of Europe is to make our contribution, and this can be in non-lethal aspects like radar systems and cybersecurity." "Within Ireland, we need to ensure we have the people and capabilities to defend us in our seas and in our air. While the Government has committed to achieving Level 2 of the Commission on Defence Forces' ambition by 2028, a truly comprehensive national defence capability would necessitate aiming for the Level 3 capability within that timeframe rather than beyond it, which requires an investment of approximately twice the current policy commitment. Businesses rely on our ability to protect our undersea cables, our grid connection, energy, and defend against cyber threats, among others. We saw with the visit of President Zelenskyy last week and with Ireland's EU Presidency fast approaching, that our vulnerabilities are going to become more scrutinised internationally. In the future world of investment, the realities of business will require a country to be able to prove that it can defend and secure its assets. So this is of paramount national importance, not just in protecting ourselves but also ensuring future prosperity." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

By Susanna Ray Microsoft AI is entering a new phase, one defined by real-world impact. After several years of experimentation, 2026 is shaping up to be the year AI evolves from instrument to partner, transforming how we work, create and solve problems. Across industries, AI is moving beyond answering questions to collaborating with people and amplifying their expertise. This transformation is visible everywhere. In medicine, AI is helping close gaps in care. In software development, it's learning not just code but the context behind it. In scientific research, it's becoming a true lab assistant. In quantum computing, new hybrid approaches are heralding breakthroughs once thought impossible. As AI agents become digital colleagues and take on specific tasks at human direction, organisations are strengthening security to keep pace with new risks. The infrastructure powering these advances is also maturing, with smarter, more efficient systems. These seven trends to watch in 2026 show what's possible when people join forces with AI. AI will amplify what people can achieve together Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft's chief product officer for AI experiences, sees 2026 as a new era for alliances between technology and people. If recent years were about AI answering questions and reasoning through problems, the next wave will be about true collaboration, Chennapragada says. "The future isn't about replacing humans," she says. "It's about amplifying them." AI agents are set to become digital coworkers, she says, helping individuals and small teams punch above their weight. Chennapragada envisions a workplace where a three-person team can launch a global campaign in days, with AI handling data crunching, content generation and personalisation while humans steer strategy and creativity. She predicts organisations that design for people to learn and work with AI "will get the best of both worlds," helping teams tackle bigger creative challenges and deliver results faster. Her advice for professionals: don't compete with AI, but focus on learning how to work alongside it. The coming year, she says, "belongs to those who elevate the human role, not eliminate it." AI agents will get new safeguards as they join the workforce AI agents will proliferate in 2026 and play a bigger role in daily work, acting more like teammates than tools, says Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president of Microsoft Security. As organisations rely on these agents to help with tasks and decision-making, building trust in them will be essential, Jakkal says - starting with security. "Every agent should have similar security protections as humans," she says, "to ensure agents don't turn into 'double agents' carrying unchecked risk." That means giving each agent a clear identity, limiting what information and systems it can access, managing the data it creates and protecting it from attackers and threats, Jakkal says. Security will become ambient, autonomous and built-in, she says, not something added on later. In addition, as attackers use AI in new ways, defenders will use security agents to spot those threats and respond faster, she says. "Trust is the currency of innovation," Jakkal says, making these shifts vital to helping organisations keep up with new risks as AI continues to become more central to how work gets done. AI is poised to shrink the world's health gap AI in healthcare is marking a turning point, says Dominic King, vice president of health at Microsoft AI. "We'll see evidence of AI moving beyond expertise in diagnostics and extending into areas like symptom triage and treatment planning," King says. "Importantly, progress will start to move from research settings into the real world, with new generative AI products and services available to millions of consumers and patients." That shift matters because access to care is a global crisis. The World Health Organisation projects a shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030 - a gap that leaves 4.5 billi...

The Joint Open Infrastructure for Networks Research (JOINER), a UK-wide experimentation platform created to accelerate future communications and networks research, exploitation and adoption, has announced that its first international connection is live at Trinity College Dublin, opening up new potential for collaboration and innovation. JOINER brings together the cutting-edge capabilities of 15+ world-leading universities and labs in one ecosystem to provide the real-life conditions needed for world-leading research, conducted at a scale beyond what is possible in a single lab. It accelerates the process of validation and co-creation of 6G technologies and applications, coordinating and federating new future networks testbed initiatives for research, innovation and adoption trials. As such, it serves to close the gap between the lab and the market, exploiting research, testing at scale in real-world conditions, working with end users and advancing commercialisation. JOINER is led by the University of Bristol, alongside three core partners who represent each of the Future Telecoms Hubs - CHEDDAR, HASC, and TITAN - supported by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). In partnership, JOINER connects research labs that each bring their own unique specialisations and capabilities. By creating a network of "nodes" that draws together research leaders and test networks internationally, JOINER is facilitating unprecedented collaboration, and access to expertise, at scale. Hosted by researchers at Trinity, Ireland is now home to the first international node in JOINER, located in the Open Ireland testbed, which was launched by the CONNECT Centre and has been headquartered at Trinity since 2020. CONNECT brings together 12 different universities and telecoms research institutes from across Ireland and includes around 200 researchers. The new partnership with JOINER means that this scale - and the potential for innovation - grows significantly. Professor Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre, said: "What becomes immediately clear when you start working with organisations in other countries is that even the most similar research areas can foster markedly different approaches. Whether in policy, desired outcomes, funding directions or even culture, these differences, and the grey space between them, provide an invaluable learning opportunity." "With JOINER, this will undoubtedly inform new approaches and innovation - and far more readily than they might otherwise arise. This, then, is about more than just connecting and comparing technical capabilities and research focuses: the platform actively fosters a collaboration of perspectives. Social, cultural experiences develop alongside scientific, technical interactions." Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, Director, JOINER and Smart Internet Labs, University of Bristol, added: "In the two years since this venture began, incubated through the EPSRC future telecoms hubs, we've stacked up a growing pile of milestones. At first, scaling across the UK felt ambitious. We soon realised that our foundation was strong enough to extend JOINER's reach even further. With the addition of a new node in Ireland, based at Trinity College Dublin, our footprint has gone international. Later this year, we'll expand to new continents, with demonstrations planned through JOINER with Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute." Dr Derek Craig, Deputy Director, Future Communications & Quantum Technologies, EPSRC commented: "JOINER's first international expansion demonstrates its potential to revolutionise the way we do research, by fusing technological innovation with collaboration across academia, business and other perspectives. This approach will also help us to bring the benefits of research out of the lab and into society and the economy, by helping innovative companies to deliver new technology that could benefit us all." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Ir...

We caught up with Declan Watters to learn more about his innovative and powerful tech for good medical app that he has developed. Declan Watters, MediSnap Who are we talking to, is it a logical journey to what you do now? I'm Declan Watters, a practicing paramedic and co-founder of MediSnap. The journey makes complete sense when you look back, though I didn't plan it this way. I started in pharmacy at age 14, working under Jim McCormick at Magees Pharmacy in Letterkenny. Spent 22 years in pharmaceutical retail, progressing through Cara Pharmacy Group, learning everything about medications - from otc, brand, generic and trade along with dispensing and wholesale operations. Then I moved into paramedicine about six years ago, completing my BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Science from UCC this year. I also have a BSc in Computer Science from LYIT back in 2005, which I honestly thought I'd never use professionally. Turns out, having pharmacy knowledge, emergency medicine experience, and computing skills is the exact combination needed to build MediSnap. The platform exists because I live this problem daily. When you meet someone in an emergency situation and they can't tell you what medications they're on - unconscious patients, confused elderly people, language barriers, flustered family members- you're making critical decisions with incomplete information. we built the tool I needed without actually knowing what we had. What are you currently working on? MediSnap - an AI-powered medication identification platform for healthcare professionals. You photograph medication packaging, prescriptions,bottle, handwritten or blister packs, and within 3-5 seconds you get instant identification plus critical drug interaction alerts. Rapidly painting a picture and allowing the medical professional to move ahead with treatment and cuts minutes googling medications, we cant know them all! We've just launched on Google Play Store, with iOS coming shortly. The platform supports multiple languages - English, Irish, Ukrainian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish - because language barriers are a massive issue in emergency healthcare. Especially the Cyrillic alphabet recognition, it read Ukrainian language and packaging. Right now we are managing rapid growth whilst preparing for regulatory approval through HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority). We've gone from company registration in October to 352 registered healthcare professionals using it operationally in emergency situations. We've had nearly 100,000 website hits and over 3,500 people checking out the platform. That's all organic growth - healthcare workers telling their colleagues about it. We dont have marketing or a budget. I'm also in conversations with Enterprise Ireland for seed funding, and we've got national media coverage coming. It's been a whirlwind few weeks. How long did it take you to build up the app, and how has it evolved over time? From company registration to live product took about six weeks. We launched the beta in late October 2025, and we've just gone commercial on Android. It was built on a shoestring budget whilst working full-time as a paramedic - evenings, nights, weekends. But we have been developing this this for the best part of 2025. I should mention - I have a silent partner, my Co-Founder and CTO, who handles all the technical development. We've been best mates since childhood, so working together just clicks. A lot of the best decisions happen over a pint or on the phone late at night, talking through problems. He prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but I couldn't have built this without him. Having someone you trust completely makes the hard days manageable. We compiled the proprietary medication database using my 22 years of pharmaceutical knowledge, designed the clinical workflows based on what I actually need in the field, and handled all the testing with colleagues. My co-founder built the platform architecture and makes sure everything actually works tech...