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Irish consumers are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated online scams, according to a new set of case studies released by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The warning comes as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the busiest shopping period of the year, creating prime opportunities for scammers to steal from unsuspecting shoppers. With recent research revealing that almost 40% surveyed expect to make a purchase in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, the CCPC is advising consumers to be extra vigilant and to stop and think before rushing into making a purchase. The case studies, which date between November 2024 and August 2025, reveal losses ranging from €42 to €20,000 and highlight the wide range of methods used to scam consumers. These include fake websites, phishing emails, fraudulent job offers, rental accommodation scams, and investment fraud. The CCPC is warning consumers to be especially wary of ads on social media, as scammers are using convincing clones of trusted websites and fake local shops to trick shoppers. To stay safe, always purchase through the retailer's official website or app rather than clicking on the social media link. Stop, search and stay safe To help consumers shop safely during the peak shopping season, the CCPC advises following these three simple steps: Stop: Scammers often create urgency to pressure quick decisions. If something feels off or too good to be true, stop and think before engaging further. Search: Remember that logos, "about us" pages and imagery on websites can be fabricated. Always take a minute to check sites like Trustpilot or Reddit for independent reviews. Stay safe: Watch out for common red flags, including unusually large discounts - "up to 80% off", unfamiliar websites, recently created social media profiles, and all five-star reviews. Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider, rather than a direct bank transfer. Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC, said: "As the busiest shopping season of the year kicks off, it's important that consumers avoid rushing into online purchases and transactions. Online scams have become more and more sophisticated, using convincing images and stories and carefully tailoring their ads to seem like they're a trustworthy business. "For the sake of your finances and your safety, take care when shopping online. Don't let tactics like time-sensitive offers or countdown clocks pressure you into making a decision you might regret. "Do your research, take your time, and don't take risks, no matter how tempting the deal - you can lose an awful lot of money in just a few clicks. Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider like PayPal, rather than a direct bank transfer." What to do if you've been scammed when shopping online If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. You may be able to initiate a chargeback and get your money back, and you may need to freeze your card to prevent further money being taken. An Garda Síochána are responsible for pursuing scam operators, so contact your local Garda office and report it. For information on the different types of scams and how to spot them, visit ScamUniversity.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.

Imvizar, an Irish-based augmented reality firm specialising in spatial storytelling, has teamed up with Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat and Spectacles, to bring a public Spectacles experience in Ireland, debuting at Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights in Merrion Square Park from 1-21 December. For three weeks only, visitors will have hands-on access to the fifth generation of Spectacles which are currently available to AR creators and developers through the Spectacles Developer Program. This experience brings emerging AR technology into a live environment in a way that feels intuitive, magical and rooted in story, offering a new medium of entertainment and a unique chance for the public to experience the future of storytelling. The partnership brings together Imvizar's spatial storytelling expertise and the power of Snap Inc.'s Spectacles to introduce a new immersive layer to one of Dublin's most popular Christmas time events. Imvizar's deep understanding of immersive design and real-world environments has enabled Spectacles to be showcased safely and meaningfully at scale. The experience was designed and developed by Imvizar using Spectacles, and supported by Dublin City Council's Smart City team, marking an innovative addition to the festival programme and positions the city as a global leader in immersive public festival experiences. See Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights through a new lens Inside a dedicated zone in Merrion Square Park, visitors aged 13+ are invited to try Spectacles and explore a new layer of magic brought to life through Imvizar's spatial storytelling. With Spectacles, participants step into a winter wonderland called The Light We Bright, a shared AR experience created by Imvizar that brings festive scenes directly into the park. Using simple gestures, visitors collect glowing stars that appear around them as if the environment is responding in real time. When enough stars are gathered, a Christmas tree forms in front of the group, followed by falling snow and constellations that swirl around their hands. Designed as a Connected Lens for groups of up to five people at a time, the activation transforms Merrion Square into an interactive digital layer that reacts to visitor movement and brings them closer to the magic of Christmas. Access is limited to participants aged 13 and over, in line with Spectacle's platform policies. Partnership with Spectacles Imvizar is a leading innovator in spatial storytelling, shaping how wearable AR can transform public spaces into living stories that unfold around the people who step into them. This partnership with Spectacles marks the company's first step in bringing spatial storytelling to wider public audiences through wearable AR, offering a glimpse of how this technology can add meaningful layers to shared experiences, starting here in Dublin. Michael Guerin, founder and CEO of Imvizar, said: "Spatial storytelling is at the centre of everything we do. We wanted to create a story that brings a real winter wonderland experience to people and moves them from simply watching to actively shaping the moment. Using AR glasses becomes less about technology and more about stepping into an immersive experience. Working with Dublin City Council and Snap on Ireland's first AR glasses experience has been a wonderful opportunity to introduce something new to Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights." Qi Pan, Director of Computer Vision Engineering, Spectacles, Snap Inc. said: "We are excited to team up with Imvizar and Dublin Smart City to turn Merrion Square Park into an AR winter wonderland. Augmented Reality is transforming how we experience and celebrate cultural moments - Spectacles, our AR glasses, will usher in new ways for people to interact with the world around us. In this experience, visitors will collect glowing stars to magically conjure a Christmas tree into existence through Spectacles with their friends and family during this festive season." N...

Continuing its global expansion plan, and its commitment to the African continent, Integrity360 has acquired Redshift, a well-established and highly regarded cyber security services company operating out of Johannesburg in South Africa. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition comes on the back of Integrity360's considerable investment in the region following the 2024 and early 2025 acquisitions of the Grove Group and Nclose. The acquisition brings Integrity360 resources in South Africa to a team of over 230 employees serving the needs of customers across Africa. Integrity360's operations in Johannesburg and Cape Town also serve as key locations for its integrated "global SOC" (Security Operations Centre) operation which delivers a comprehensive suite of managed services, including EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), XDR (Extended Detection and Response), and MDR (Managed Detection and Response) solutions for both local and international customers. Founded in 2015, Redshift has developed a reputation for service excellence amongst its customers, specifically for cyber security testing but also a selection of other specialised activities including cyber crime investigations, anti fraud advisory, scammer group takedowns, cyber intelligence, and a focused range of managed services. Redshift adds approx. 50 customers including many leading South African finance, banking and telecommunications organisations, and an additional team of approx. 40 employees to the group. Redshift will serve as a regional centre of excellence for the group for cyber security testing, and also be connected up with the existing Integrity360 cyber advisory and managed services teams operating in the region. Integrity360 will invest in the development and expansion of the business utilising the considerable resources across the group. Redshift customers will benefit from access to Integrity360's highly extensive and complementary cyber services portfolio encapsulating cyber risk and assurance, highly comprehensive 24/7 incident response and forensics services, infrastructure and technology services, PCI compliance, OT (operational technology) consulting and solutions, and a highly comprehensive range of cyber security managed services ranging from managing cyber infrastructure, to Managed SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), Managed CTEM (Continuous Threat Exposure Management), and a full suite of innovative XDR/MDR solutions. Integrity360's innovative range of services have been recognised five times in a Gartner market guide, most recently for Incident Response and Forensic services. Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at Integrity360 commented: "We are very excited to be welcoming Sean, Cailan and the entire Redshift team to Integrity360. The reputation and expertise they have developed since their formation in 2015 is highly impressive and we are looking forward to helping them provide an enhanced set of services to their customers and expanding further in the African market over the coming years." Sean Howell and Cailan Sacks, Directors of Redshift, commented: "This is a significant moment for us, and we could not be more delighted that Redshift is joining Integrity360 and continuing the growth and development of the business that was initially started by Sean a decade ago. Thanks to the support of our customers and employees, Redshift has grown enormously during that time, and having spent considerable time with Ian, and the wider Integrity360 leadership team, we are confident will continue to do so being part of the Integrity360 group. We areexcited about the future for us as an organisation, for our people and in particular for what the enhanced group can provide our customers moving forward." 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 pl...

The scale and sophistication of fraudulent advertising and AI-generated scams on social media are growing rapidly, making it harder than ever for people to know what's real. New research from Visa in Ireland reveals that people who mistake fake AI-generated content for real are six times more likely to be tricked by scammers online than those who don't (73% vs. 12%). This highlights how digital misinformation directly increases vulnerability and underscores the importance of collective action to protect consumers and restore trust in digital platforms. In Ireland, Visa found that people who are affected by online scams typically lose €124.50 per incident (median amount), costing the Irish economy an estimated €71.8 million annually. The impact goes beyond financial loss, causing emotional distress, increased anxiety and reduced productivity. On average, victims of online scams spend around 8.9 days resolving the issue, which is 44% of the working month. The way people engage with content online plays a major role. Those who share a post without checking its accuracy first are five times more likely to be targeted and impacted by online scams compared to those who tend to take a moment to verify it first (35% vs. 6%). Every day online habits - such as skimming headlines, resharing without verifying and trusting AI-generated content - are creating new vulnerabilities that scammers are quick to exploit: 59% have believed online content was genuine, only to later discover it was an AI-generated fake Over a third (38%) rarely read beyond a headline before forming an opinion Almost a quarter (23%) have reshared a post without checking its accuracy The ripple effect of online scams As online scams grow more sophisticated and widespread, this shift in consumer behaviour is having a tangible impact on the wider economy. Almost half (42%) have changed how they shop online after being scammed, and one in two people (50%) targeted by online shopping scams say they now avoid shopping with smaller or unfamiliar brands. This is having a particularly significant impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99.8% of Ireland's business population and depend heavily on consumer confidence to survive and grow. Stepping up the fight against fraud Visa is stepping up the fight against social media scams - combining decades of experience with cutting-edge technology and working closely with banks, retailers, and digital platforms to restore trust in online commerce. AI has been central to Visa's approach to fraud prevention. For over 30 years, the company has used AI-powered tools to help keep payments secure and stay ahead of evolving threats. In the last five years alone, Visa has invested $12 billion in technology, including building smart, AI-powered systems that detect suspicious behaviour in real time and stop scams before they reach people. Awareness is as critical as technology. With almost two in five (39%) people believing AI will make scams harder to spot on social media, Visa is taking proactive steps to close that gap. Tackling fraud requires a united front, and Visa is committed to collaborating across the ecosystem to set new standards for consumer protection. By working closely with banks, retailers and platforms to ensure consumers have the right advice at their fingertips, Visa is helping people recognise an AI-generated scam, understand how they work, and stay safe in an increasingly AI-driven digital world. Because the more informed people are, the harder it is for scammers to succeed. Visa is calling on all stakeholders - platforms, banks, retailers and policymakers - to work together to raise the bar for digital trust and consumer protection. Conor Langford, Visa Country Manager for Ireland said: "AI is transforming how we live, shop, work and connect, but it's also reshaping the landscape for fraud. Scammers are using the same technology that brings us innovation to deceive and exploit consumers, blurrin...

Maynooth University has joined an international space science mission with the successful launch of Mauve, a small ultraviolet telescope developed by UK-based company Blue Skies Space. The satellite, which was launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-15 on November 28th 2025 at 18:18 GMT, marks the beginning of a three-year mission to study how stars behave and how their activity influences the habitability of distant exoplanets. With funding from Research Ireland, Maynooth University became a member of the Mauve Science Programme in August 2025. A research team from the Department of Physics, led by Dr Emma Whelan, will use Mauve to investigate how stars and planets form, focusing on a class of young stars known as Herbig Ae/Be stars. Herbig Ae/Be stars are in a critical stage of development before they begin hydrogen fusion and become main sequence stars, like our Sun. Dr Whelan's team will study their brightness over long periods to identify variability and search for signs of early planet formation. "I am very excited to be embarking on this adventure with Mauve and eagerly anticipate the research opportunities it will bring," Dr Whelan said. "Until now, my work has primarily relied on ground-based eight-metre-class telescopes, so Mauve represents an exciting new direction for me. Its monitoring capabilities will provide a fresh window on star formation and offer valuable new insights." The group plans to build light curves for a large sample of these stars, tracking how their brightness changes daily for up to three months. Comparing this data to observations of less massive stars may provide key insights into whether larger young stars form and develop planets in the same way as Sun-like stars. The importance of the Mauve Space Programme is not only in its scientific goals but also in how it represents a new, faster, and more collaborative approach to doing space science. Designed and built in under three years, Mauve is a small, suitcase-sized satellite, weighing around 18kg, and equipped with a 13 cm telescope that observes in ultraviolet and visible light (200-700 nm). Its compact design and commercial access model allow research institutions worldwide to subscribe to the science programme, gaining direct access to space-based data without relying on highly competitive national telescope allocations. Research institutions worldwide have already secured subscriptions to access data collected by Mauve. These include Boston University, Columbia University, INAF's Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Konkoly Observatory, Kyoto University,National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Maynooth University, Rice University, Vanderbilt University, and Western University. Speaking about the launch, Professor Giovanna Tinetti, Chief Scientist and Co-founder of Blue Skies Space said: "Mauve will open a new window on stellar activity that has previously been largely hidden from view. By observing stars in ultraviolet light, wavelengths that can't be studied from Earth, we'll gain a much deeper understanding of how stars behave and how their flares may impact the environment of orbiting exoplanets. Traditional ground-based telescopes just can't capture this information, so a satellite like Mauve is crucial for furthering our knowledge." "Our vision is to make space science data as accessible as possible," said Dr Marcell Tessenyi, CEO and Co-founder of Blue Skies Space. "Mauve will undergo commissioning before delivering datasets to scientists in early 2026 and serve as a springboard to launch a fleet of satellites addressing the global demand for space science data." You can learn more about Dr Emma Whelan's MAUVE involvement here. See more stories here.

The Nimbus Research Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU), working through the ENTIRE European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), part of a national programme helping businesses and public bodies adopt new digital technologies, has helped a Cork-based entrepreneur turn a simple recycling idea into an immersive virtual reality (VR) education product and a new business, Envir-Aware Ltd. Working through ENTIRE EDIH and drawing on Nimbus' digital transformation expertise, the MTU team supported Cork entrepreneur Jim Mulcahy in developing Enviro-Bin-Aware, a VR training app that teaches correct sorting and deposit-return choices through short, game-style levels. Jim Mulcahy of Envir-Aware spotted a simple but costly problem, which was that bin colours mean different things. At his home, the burgundy bin is for recycling and the green bin is for general waste, the opposite to the national 'MyWaste' scheme, where black denotes general waste and green denotes clean, dry recyclables. Discussing the journey from idea to innovation with the Nimbus Research Centre, Jim said: "Through our research we found there is obvious widespread confusion when it comes to domestic waste management with the array of multicoloured wheelie bins out there. The attitude and support from the entire Nimbus team was brilliant: there's no such thing as 'we can't' with them. I couldn't say enough about them. They backed my idea, iterated it with me, and brought the technical know-how to bring our Enviro-Bin-Aware VR App to fruition. Nimbus developing the Enviro-Bin-Aware VR app didn't just help our digital transformation; it has created a whole new business opportunity for my company. People were absolutely blown away by the power of the interactive environmental message they were left with. Apart from the many hours of research, workshops & working closely with the Nimbus team, our overall investment has been quite low." Early demonstrations of the Enviro-Bin-Aware VR app have generated strong interest in pilot projects and wider regional roll-outs. Envir-Aware are also delivering their first Enviro-Bin-Aware VR app presentation to a large Cork-based multinational corporation, and a group of Cork County Libraries. Brian Cahill, Nimbus EI TEC Gateway Manager, said: "ENTIRE lets organisations de-risk digital projects through scoping, prototyping and pilot testing. That approach accelerated this concept from storyboard to working VR tool." ENTIRE supports are offered within a time-bound funding envelope. For SMEs, support is provided under the de minimis state aid rules and draws on the company's available de minimis allocation. For public sector organisations, support is fully subsidised, subject to eligibility. With demand increasing, MTU encourages organisations to make contact promptly to confirm eligibility and secure support within the current window. ENTIRE is fully funded by Enterprise Ireland and led by Tyndall National Institute, with consortium partners including Walton Institute, Munster Technological University, University College Cork and Skillnet Ireland.

We look at the new MyFirst Camera 50 20MP AI Kids Camera. See more about it here. MyFirst Camera 50 20MP AI Kids Camera reviewed Tough, robust, bright colours, our testers liked all of these features straight out of the box. The pricing is relatively reasonable, and there were further discounts that you might be able to take advantage of too. In Ireland it is being stocked by some well known outlets too, so, if you decide to give it as a present for Christmas, you have a good chance to be able to source one and have it wrapped and ready before the big day. The usability of the camera is aimed to be pretty straight forward with the ability for the intended child to use it straight out of the box. They should be able to use it fast, and the structured social media options are intended to enable any sharing to be done safely and in a controlled manner. There is also a diary option, with lots of current buzzwords like mental health and parental protection, and an audible shutter clicker, to let you know what they are, and are not taking photos of. Our younger testers were positive about using the camera, feeling that it was fun, and would make for a good stocking filler for later this month. See more about the MyFirst Camera here With its user-friendly design, advanced AI editor, and safe sharing features, Camera 50 empowers your child to capture life through their own lens, craft stories, and share their unique perspective with loved ones. AI-Assisted Curation Pin-Code Protected Video Diary Child-Safety Focused Social Circle Integrated Selfie Light Physical Shutter Button 1080P Video Recording 20MP Rear Lens, 16MP Selfie Lens 1GB RAM, 16GB Storage, up to 128GB Expandable Storage Light and Ergonomic Design Empower Your Child's Creativity with AI Designed specifically for young minds aged 5-12, Camera 50 makes it easier than ever for children to transform everyday moments into creative masterpieces, all with the help of AI. The inclusion of myDiary and our myFirst Circle app fosters good mental health practices from an early age by allowing them to better express themselves, and provide a safe space for them to store their video journal entries and share their stories. Photo & Video Editing AI-Assisted Curation Child-Safety Focused Social Circle Lightweight and Ergonomic Wifi Connectivity Up To 128GB Storage Why Integrate AI in myFirst Camera 50? Camera 50 makes video editing easy and fun for kids! Our AI helps kids create amazing videos without the hassle. With simple tools and cool effects, they can add their own touch with stickers, drawings, and even their own voice! Cultivating Young Storytellers with AI Help kids become filmmakers and vloggers! Our camera teaches them storytelling, boosts confidence, and lets them explore their creative side. It's a safe and fun way to learn about making videos without needing a phone. myFirst Camera 50 AI - Prioritizing Safety and Privacy Not all AI cameras are the same, and the myFirst Camera 50 stands out. Unlike others, our Camera 50 helps kids create unique stories by analyzing their mood to make perfect videos, all while keeping privacy and security a top priority. Privacy First: Camera 50 enhances photos and videos without tracking or collecting personal data. Our AI is focused only on content enhancement Data Protection: No personal data storage or facial recognition. Your content stays secure and private, free from unauthorized access or data breaches myFirst Camera 50 & Circle App - Safety is Our Priority myFirst Camera 50 is designed with a safe and controlled environment for young creators, and our myFirst Circle app is the cornerstone of this safety. Here's how Camera 50 and Circle app ensure safety: Audible Shuttler: Our camera's audible shutter lets you know when a photo is taken, safeguarding your privacy, guarantees no hidden photography Limited Sharing: Through myFirst Circle, parents can control who can see their child's creations, ensuring content stays within a trusted...

Coimisiún na Meán has this week launched a new nationwide campaign raising awareness about harmful content online and how to report it, as well as information available to assist the public on Coimisiún na Meán's website www.cnam.ie. The campaign aims to raise awareness of people's rights under Ireland's Online Safety Framework, particularly regarding the protection of children and young people, and will roll out nationally across radio, print and social media. This campaign is supported by the Department of Health. The campaign will include a series of short videos for users - encouraging them to report harmful material they might encounter online, including cyberbullying and the promotion of eating disorders, self-harm and suicide as well as dangerous challenges. It will also aim to strengthen the public's understanding of the importance of reporting such content to platforms. Coimisiún na Meán has information on its website on how to report and what to do if you are not happy with a platform's response to that report. Speaking on the launch of the new campaign, Coimisiún na Meán's Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett said: "There are obligations on platforms under the Online Safety Framework to protect the safety of children online and to restrict content which impairs their physical, mental or moral welfare. Our strategy is to focus on key outcome areas which include children, public safety and public health. We are happy to partner with the Department of Health on this important campaign and I'd like to thank the Minister for Health for her support and interest in these issues. "We want to remind people that they have rights under our Online Safety Framework, and empower them to report harmful content. Harmful online content is never acceptable. We would encourage anyone who encounters it to report it first to the platform where they see it. For how to report and what to do if you are not happy with the response you get, please visit our website www.cnam.ie." Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said: "Some online spaces contain harmful, inappropriate or illegal content. This campaign, which highlights the importance of reporting such content, will strengthen understanding and empower people to report it where they see it. We have seen the challenges faced by children and young people as they engage with digital environments and I will shortly publish the Final Report of the Online Health Taskforce which contains a comprehensive framework to help tackle these challenges." Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan TD said: "Keeping us safe online, in particular, keeping our children and young people safe online is a top priority for me. Don't stay silent if you see something harmful, inappropriate or illegal online. You can report it to the platform and you have options if you're not happy with the outcome, Coimisiún na Meán is here to help and support you. We can help each other and our children stay safe by using our voice and exercising our right to report." The campaign will be supported by extensive new website resources, including the How to Report guides and parents' information pack. See more stories here.

Klearcom, a global leader in AI-driven IVR and telecom testing, has ranked third in Deloitte's list of the fastest growing technology companies across the island of Ireland. The Waterford-based company, who recently secured an investment from London-based private equity firm, Synova, received its official listing at this year's Technology Fast 50 Awards. The event took place in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin. The Technology Fast 50, running since 1999, is one of Ireland's most prestigious technology award programmes and celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship within the industry. At last year's ceremony, Klearcom received the Rising Star accolade in honour of their promising growth trajectory and future potential. This year represents a major milestone in the company's journey, driven by its expanding market share in the IVR sector and the establishment of its physical base within the US. Klearcom specialises in AI-powered contact centre testing solutions, identifying and resolving issues in telecoms infrastructure for multinational companies such as Pfizer, Google, and Mastercard. Building on this year's success, the company is embarking on ambitious expansion plans for 2026 and are actively recruiting across the entire organisation. This includes senior leadership roles such as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Chief Product Officer (CPO), Head of Engineering, as well as multiple roles across the sales department. Speaking about the company's official ranking, Liam Dunne, CEO and Co-Founder, Klearcom, said: "Our ranking of third on the Technology Fast 50 list is a standout highlight to what has been an exceptional year for Klearcom. We want to take a moment to thank Deloitte for this honour and our entire team for being instrumental to our success. "Following our partnership with Synova, we are incredibly excited to deliver on our vision for 2026. As we continue to scale globally, we are eager to welcome new talent across the organisation and invite prospective candidates to join our rapidly growing team. "Fuelled by this year's achievements, we look forward to reinforcing our position as a market leader in this space and achieve even greater heights in 2026 and the years ahead." 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.

StormHarvester has been announced as the fastest growing technology company in this year's Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards at a ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin this evening. StormHarvester uses its advanced anomaly detection system to analyse data from thousands of sensors to help wastewater utilities predict and prevent issues like flooding and pollution. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards, now in its 26th year, is one of Ireland's foremost technology award programmes. It is a ranking of the country's 50 fastest-growing technology companies based on revenue growth over a four-year period. Previous winners include Wayflyer and Swoop. Reacting to the win, Brian Moloney, founder and CEO of StormHarvester, said: "Achieving the top spot in Deloitte's Fast 50 ranking is a really special moment for all the team at StormHarvester. What started as an idea over ten years ago in Australia for a solution that would reduce the impact of flooding has grown into a proud Belfast-based business that is going from strength to strength. In the last year alone, our funding has enabled us to double our headcount, which will help us fuel our expansion further and create even more exciting opportunities in Ireland. "The Deloitte Fast 50 Awards recognition is a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate all that we have achieved and all that we plan to achieve in the years ahead." Cumulatively, the Deloitte 2025 Technology Fast 50 winners generated €1.76 billion in total annual revenues. The average growth rate of the companies was 442%. The 50 companies employ over 7,500 people and 12 of the ranked companies were first time winners. Announcing the winners of the programme, James Toomey, partner and Fast 50 lead, Deloitte Ireland said: "For 26 years, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards have been a benchmark for Ireland's most ambitious tech entrepreneurs. The combined €1.76 billion in revenues generated by these 50 indigenous companies is a powerful symbol of the exceptional talent and innovative thinkers we have in Ireland. Despite a challenging external environment, Fast 50 companies are still growing, which is a real signal of confidence. "A standout from this year's awards is that companies with Artificial Intelligence (AI) embedded in their operations are seeing the biggest growth, but access to skilled employees who can prompt and deploy AI effectively will be crucial. "The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 is a rigorous, data-driven ranking that provides a trusted measure of success and growth. Congratulations to all the companies that ranked; your grit, resilience and creativity are truly inspiring. I would like to extend a special congratulations to StormHarvester for securing the top spot in this year's rankings." In addition to announcing the ranking of the Fast 50 companies, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards included several award categories. Protex AI, which uses AI to enhance workplace safety and operational efficiencies, won the Rising Star Award in association with Enterprise Ireland, having demonstrated a promising growth trajectory and the potential for inclusion in the Fast 50 rankings in years to come. Receiving the award, Dan Hobbs, co-founder and CEO of Protex AI, said: "Since founding Protex AI, our mission has been to enable organisations to use data-driven insights to drive safer workplaces and unlock meaningful operational efficiencies. The growth of our team and client base has made achievements like this possible, and we are thrilled to celebrate receiving the Deloitte Fast 50 Rising Star Award and to meet the incredible tech entrepreneurs in the rankings." The winners of the awards this year were: Award Winner Growing new technology in association with Google This award recognises a company that has created or introduced a new or innovative product or service to international markets, which helped grow their business over the last four years. Aerlytix Advocate for Women in Tech in association with NetSuit...

Storm Technology, a Littlefish company, has announced survey findings which reveal that 27% of IT leaders are concerned about their ability to detect deepfake attacks over the next 12 months. This concern was felt by more respondents in larger enterprises (33%) than SMBs (23%). The research - conducted by Censuswide and involving 200 IT decision-makers and leaders across Ireland and the UK (100 in each market) - found that the biggest concerns around AI and security over the next year are data breaches (34%), data protection (33%), and increased risk of adversarial or cyber-attacks (31%). Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) consider shadow AI (use of unsanctioned or unpermitted tools) among their biggest concerns. This is not necessarily surprising given that half of respondents (50%) know that people in their organisation are using such tools and some 55% admitted to using unsanctioned or unpermitted tools themselves. Forty-two per cent of IT leaders also opined that company data is not safe for input into these platforms. Perhaps exacerbating this issue, just 60% of companies have been specific about which AI tools are sanctioned or permitted. More broadly, over a fifth (21%) of IT leaders do not have a high degree of trust in AI tools and almost a third (32%) of companies do not have a strategy in place to address any AI risks that arise. The research showed that 79% of IT leaders in Ireland and the UK agree their organisation needs to focus more on the regulation of AI tools and 28% do not believe their governance around AI tools is adequate. This rose to more than a third (35%) among Irish respondents. When it comes to AI and data, 24% of IT leaders do not think their business data is ready for AI, with a similar proportion (23%) of the opinion that that their data governance policies are not robust enough to support secure AI adoption. This could explain why 78% believe a data readiness project is required to ensure successful AI adoption in their company. Sean Tickle, Cyber Services Director, Littlefish, said: "AI is rapidly reshaping the enterprise landscape, but the speed of adoption is outpacing the maturity of governance. When nearly a third of organisations lack a strategy to manage AI risk, and over half of IT leaders admit to using unsanctioned tools, it's clear that shadow AI isn't just a user issue - it's a leadership one. "Deepfake threats, data governance gaps, and a lack of trust in AI platforms are converging into a perfect storm. To stay secure and competitive, businesses must invest in visibility, policy clarity, and data readiness - because without those, AI becomes a liability, not a differentiator." 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.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and SAP, a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, have signed a five-year deal to drive enterprise-wide Cloud and Generative AI transformation. SAP is on a journey to transform its operations through accelerated Cloud adoption and Business AI enablement, driving greater speed and efficiency. In line with this vision, TCS will help SAP in streamlining its complex IT landscape, enabling seamless IT operations, and strengthening AI-led capabilities. The collaboration will deliver faster development cycles, lower total cost of ownership, and greater alignment between IT and business goals. This collaboration builds on a two-decade old partnership with SAP as part of which TCS has set up and scaled Enterprise Cloud Services (RISE with SAP) as part of which TCS has contributed to transforming SAP's business model from license-maintenance to pay-per-use Cloud services enabling rapid scalability and agility. Over the next five years, TCS will focus on reshaping SAP's IT business function to accelerate innovation and improve responsiveness to business needs. Dr. Benjamin Blau, Chief Process & Information Officer, SAP, said, "TCS and SAP partnership is built on trust and excellence. TCS's unwavering commitment and collaboration to drive innovations across products has forged a long-lasting relationship with SAP. Together, we are simplifying our customer journeys and accelerating cloud adoption." TCS will support SAP in delivering critical services towards end-to-end lifecycle for IT applications in enterprise IT transformation through a unified, efficient, and AI-powered model. The engagement will be anchored by four strategic Centers of Excellence (CoE) for Generative AI, Business Technology Platform, Business Data Cloud, and Customer Experience. The CoE for Generative AI will drive innovation to embed GenAI capabilities and features within SAP business processes, the CoE for Business Technology Platform is designed to enable faster development of next-gen features based on low-code, no-code solutions, further the CoE for Business Data Cloud will help create uniform data architecture for SAP to productise enterprise data, and the CoE for Customer Experience will identify modern strategies to evaluate customer experience across the value chain. Together, these CoEs will support SAP in delivering solutions, technologies, and processes that empower its customers, partners, and employees to unlock newer avenues for growth. V Rajanna, President, Technology, Software and Services, TCS, said, "TCS and SAP have been a strategic partnership for more than two-decades, enabling enterprises to navigate complex digital transformation journeys. We support the "SAP runs SAP" philosophy and as we enter the next phase, this collaboration shall leverage transformative potential of AI and cloud to unlock new revenue streams, accelerate business growth, and deliver differentiated experiences for enterprise and their customers globally." Over the last two decades, TCS has remained SAP's trusted transformation partner of choice across the value chain. The alliance has enabled clients to unlock the full potential of SAP's enterprise cloud, business AI and data analytics capabilities. TCS has been operating in Ireland since 2001 and today employs over 1,100 people across its Dublin, Letterkenny and other regional locations. The company is recognised as one of the largest employers in the Northwest region. 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@I...

LISA is a groundbreaking mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA, to develop the largest observatory ever built. It consists of three satellites in a triangular formation, each 2.5 million kilometres apart, and aims to detect gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are formed by extreme cosmic events such as the merger of black holes and create ripples in the fabric of space-time. LISA stands for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. Each satellite will emit a laser towards the other two and measure tiny changes in the distance between satellites due to gravitational waves. Despite the enormous distance between the satellites (six times the distance from the Earth to the Moon), the sophisticated optical instruments on board can pick up changes smaller than the size of a helium atom and hence detect gravitational waves. The results from the mission will shed light on what happens when black holes collide and provide insight into the origins of the universe, immediately after the Big Bang. Two Galway-based companies, ATG Innovation and EireComposites, will play key roles in the LISA mission. ATG will design the central tube (the chassis of the satellite) based on its patented lightweight, high-stiffness, grid-stiffened structural architecture, and EireComposites will manufacture and assemble the structure. This work will encompass everything from the manufacture of test components and structural assemblies to autoclave curing, bonding, and precision machining. Detailed inspections will be carried out to make sure each part meets strict aerospace standards, using non-destructive testing and dimensional checks throughout the build. By combining advanced computational modelling, hands-on manufacturing, and meticulous quality control, the partners will deliver reliable, high-performance structures that are central to the success of the LISA project. Jacob Pasqualotto, Director of Operations at ATG Engineering, commented, "Leading the Irish contribution to LISA alongside OHB and ÉireComposites is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace with pride. This mission takes gravitational-wave astronomy beyond Earth, extending our reach into the vast low-frequency universe where supermassive black holes and cosmic giants reveal their secrets. For us, this is more than engineering; it is Ireland's signature on the future of astrophysics. Tomas Flanagan, CEO of ÉireComposites, added, "Nearly everything we know about the universe comes from telescopes; LISA provides a completely different approach by focusing on gravitational waves instead of light. It's hard to believe that we'll be making structural carbon-fibre components for the largest machine that humanity has ever built and that we will be seeking evidence to support Einstein's general theory of relativity. The fact that we've been chosen by ESA to partner with ATG for this mission is a huge endorsement of EireComposites, ATG and the Irish Space industry in general." LISA Space Mission: Detecting Gravitational Waves 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 latest book by Chris Smaje. See more about Finding Lights in a Dark Age, Sharing Land, Work and Craft here. Finding Lights in a Dark Age, Sharing Land, Work and Craft, reviewed This is perhaps a curate's egg of a book. We have read and reviewed previous books by Smaje, and they are intelligently written, advocating interesting and thoughtful points of view. You can say the same for this book, or perhaps parts of it. Naturally if you are going to tackle the future, and inevitably the possible dystopias that could lie in wait for us there, then you are going to go to some dark places. Which is directly acknowledged in the title of the book, so no one can feel surprised about where the book ends up. Sort of. Thing is, and it is an interesting concept, for the final chapter of the book we have arguably gone to somewhere 28 months later perhaps, just without the zombies. All fine in a, 'I see a darkness falling across the land' kinda way, but it is perhaps too short, too brief, and too undeveloped to really give much insight. It is of course plausible that Bristol has broken away from the London way of rolling, and you could also include the other two BR bastions of alternative living, namely Brighton and and Bradford too, who might wish to do the same too. This future mind game is of course interesting, and does build on the trends and themes covered in the previous sections of the book. However at times it felt like it needed a stronger narrative to stitch all of these ideas, fears, and observations together. At times, apart from a justified sense of an all too possible future of bad times, it was hard to really gather clear takeaways about what Smaje wanted to say, and how he felt it might all play out. Naturally there are very good reasons for this too, we are talking about the future after all, and also particularly chaotic times, with numerous bad actors. Perhaps it is unfair to hold Smaje to an impossible standard, foolish perhaps to expect greater clarity or a coherent vision of what is coming down the line when so many of the key positions of power are held by simplistic, vengeful, capricious people. A thought provoking book, the trouble is, there might just be no good options for us, humanity inc, down the road. More about the book In Finding Lights in a Dark Age, his latest book, renowned agrarian thinker Chris Smaje explains that society and government are still asking what our countries can yield, and in what quantity. They do so because we continue to live in conquest-based, abundance-for-some societies. In this thought-provoking book, Chris discusses how we can meet the challenges of our age by moving away from the political and economic philosophies of both the left and right, to a more equitable re-organization of society, economy, land and food production. To survive and even thrive, Chris proposes the adoption of new models of political organization, where land and capital are seen as a common good that involves widespread and secure distribution. Work and production should rest on commitments struck in a community rather than on deals in a global market. Ultimately, we should build a sense of future possibility around local societies dedicated to human and environmental wellbeing. Chris explores a world where we live slower lives, more immersed in local ecologies, and generate livelihoods locally in households and communities rather than ones orchestrated through centralised governments or corporations: in other words, communities that work from the bottom up rather than the top down. In Finding Lights in a Dark Age, Chris discusses what this society and landscape might look like in the near future and the longer term. As increasing numbers of people seek a rural, more local and self-sufficient lifestyle, the ideas in this important book will reach a new, eager audience. More about the author Chris Smaje has co-worked a small farm in Somerset for the last twenty years. Previously, he was a univ...

Humans bring gender biases to their interactions with Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to new research from Trinity College Dublin and Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich. The study involving 402 participants found that people exploited female-labelled AI and distrusted male-labelled AI to a comparable extent as they do human partners bearing the same gender labels. Notably, in the case of female-labelled AI, the study found that exploitation in the Human-AI setting was even more prevalent than in the case of human partners with the same gender labels. This is the first study to examine the role of machine gender in human-AI collaboration using a systematic, empirical approach. The findings show that gendered expectations from human-human settings extend to human-AI cooperation. This has significant implications for how organisations design, deploy, and regulate interactive AI systems, according to the authors. The study, led by sociologists in Trinity's School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, has just been published in the journal iScience. Key findings: Patterns of exploitation and distrust toward AI agents mirrored those seen with human partners carrying the same gender labels. Participants were more likely to exploit AI agents labelled female and more likely to distrust AI agents labelled male. Assigning gender to AI agents can shape cooperation, trust, and misuse implications for product design, workplace deployment, and governance. Sepideh Bazazi, first author of the study and Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Trinity, explained: "As AI becomes part of everyday life our findings that gendered expectations spill into human-AI cooperation underscore the importance of carefully considering gender representation in AI design, for example, to maximise people's engagement and build trust in their interactions with automated systems. "Designers of interactive AI agents should recognise and mitigate biases in human interactions to prevent reinforcing harmful gender discrimination and to create trustworthy, fair, and socially responsible AI systems." Taha Yasseri, co-author of the study and Director of the Centre for Sociology of Humans and Machines (SOHAM) at Trinity, said: "Our results show that simply assigning a gender label to an AI can change how people treat it. If organisations give AI agents human-like cues, including gender, they should anticipate downstream effects on trust and cooperation." Jurgis Karpus, co-author of the study and Postdoctoral Researcher at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, added: "This study raises an important dilemma. Giving AI agents human-like features can foster cooperation between people and AI, but it also risks transferring and reinforcing unwelcome existing gender biases from people's interactions with fellow humans." The article, 'AI's assigned gender affects human-AI cooperation' by Sepideh Bazazi (TCD); Jurgis Karpus (LMU); Taha Yasseri (TCD, TU Dublin) can be read on the journal iScience website. More about the study: In this experimental study, participants played repeated rounds of the social science experiment Prisoner's Dilemma - a classic experiment in behavioural game theory and economics to study human cooperation and defection. Partners were labelled human or AI. Each partner was further labelled male, female, non-binary, or gender-neutral. The team analysed motives for cooperation and defection, distinguishing exploitation (taking advantage of a cooperative partner) from distrust (defecting pre-emptively). Findings show that gender labelling can reproduce gendered patterns of cooperation with AI. The participants were recruited in the UK, and the experiment was conducted online. The sample size was 402 participants. 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 subscrib...

We look at the new book by Jack Bialik, see more about Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge here. Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge, reviewed An interesting premise for a book, with some interesting and thought provoking examples. Bialik's topic is the sad, unfortunate, and possibly more often than we realise, the loss of human knowledge. The burning of the library of Alexandria is of course one of the best known examples, but Bialik does a good job of describing many other lost libraries, some even in the last three decades like the Bosnian one. The narrative of the book is good, readable and thoughtful. At times though some of the examples were not much more than thumbnails, which made some chapters feel a little like a whistle stop tour through many different civilisations and cultures. The most disturbing section is arguably the one covering our recent rush into digitalisation and the inherent risks is rapidly changing technologies, especially due to the lack of backwards compatibility. While stone, papyrus and even paper have the capacity to last decades, centuries and even millennia, we already have plenty of photos that haven't even lasted from one phone upgrade to the next one. This really could be the digital dark ages that Vince Cerf highlighted. This book by Bialik is well worth a read, even if the implications and very serious. More about Lost in Time What if the knowledge we depend on today… disappeared tomorrow? Have you ever wondered how much of humanity's greatest achievements have already been lost to time? Do you suspect that ancient civilizations knew things we are only now beginning to rediscover? Do you worry that our own digital civilization might be far more fragile than we think? If so… keep reading. For thousands of years, human knowledge has risen, vanished, and - sometimes - been found again. From medical breakthroughs in ancient Egypt to astonishing feats of engineering by cultures we barely remember, history shows a repeating pattern: discovery, prosperity… and catastrophic loss. Now, with our reliance on digital systems and complex global networks, we may be closer than ever to our own "forgotten age." Drawing on over 40 years of professional experience in engineering, technology, and history - including work with the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Homeland Security, and contributions to critical technology programs> - Jack R. Bialik takes you on a journey across centuries of lost civilizations, vanishing wisdom, and the fragile threads holding our modern knowledge together. Here's a glimpse of what you'll discover inside Lost in Time: How cataract surgery was successfully performed in 2400 BC Egypt - and why we nearly lost that knowledge forever. The shocking truth about technologies invented thousands of years earlier than historians once believed. Forgotten disaster events that erased entire libraries of human understanding in a single day. The hidden risks of a fully digital society - and what history teaches us about protecting what matters. Lessons from the past that can guide business leaders, educators, and decision-makers today. How to recognize the warning signs of a coming knowledge collapse. …and much more. You might think a book like this requires deep academic expertise to follow - it doesn't. Bialik's clear, compelling style makes these stories accessible for curious readers, history lovers, business travelers, and lifelong learners alike. More about the author Jack R. Bialik's 40-year career spans from Electrical Engineering and Project Management to biblical studies, with notable contributions to organizations like the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Homeland Security. His industry-impacting paper, presented at the Motorola System Symposium 2000, stands out among his many achievements. His unique expertise led him to be invited to be a reviewer for the White House's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, marking another career highl...

Rugby fans and supporters at the recent South Africa versus Ireland game last weekend consumed over 2,000 GB of data, the equivalent of two million minutes of music streaming, according to Vodafone Ireland. The surge in data was driven by video recording, sharing and live streaming. Over 15,000 calls were made over the course of match-day - almost one third of the stadium made a phone call. During the Quilter Autumn Internationals, data usage at the stadium reflected strong engagement with fans attending the Japan game consuming almost 1,740 GB and Australia 1,771 GB. The fans at the South Africa game came in with the highest usage. Connectivity demand extended beyond rugby. At this summer's concerts featuring Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa, attendees consumed 5,137 GB of data across two nights. On the Lana Del Rey night alone, usage reached 2,633 GB, roughly the equivalent of ten years of nonstop podcast listening. Vodafone Ireland invests over €100 million annually in network improvements across Ireland, including upgrades at the Aviva Stadium which focus on delivering uninterrupted mobile and 5G coverage. To meet growing demand, Vodafone Ireland has also implemented network enhancements at Aviva Stadium as part of its nationwide investment program. These include: Deploying 5G capacity and spectrum utilisation in busy sectors. Optimising radios and backhaul for peak-hour demand. Continuous monitoring to adjust parameters during live events. Commenting on the figures, Sheila Kavanagh, Director of Vodafone Networks Ireland, said: "The data and voice activity we've seen at the Aviva Stadium this year shows just how essential reliable connectivity is for sports fans and music lovers. Over the course of the South Africa match-day alone, over 15,000 calls were made alongside significant data usage. Our ongoing investment, including 5G upgrades in the Aviva and throughout the country, ensures we can meet this demand and keep people connected during the biggest and most memorable moments." Investment also supported major summer festivals and cultural gatherings across Ireland. Temporary network sites and spectrum optimisation were deployed at events such as Flavours of Fingal, Bord Bia Bloom, Kaleidoscope, All Together Now and Electric Picnic where attendees relied heavily on navigation, social media, and streaming apps. Across these events, Vodafone Ireland managed over 220 TB of data, the equivalent of streaming 73 million songs! As sponsor of Irish Rugby, Vodafone marked the autumn series with a creative activation in Dublin city centre. A mural by artist KinMx on Chatham Row, developed in partnership with Carat, The Collectiv and Rockshot, celebrated the sport and its supporters. 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.

Meta and Deloitte Ireland hosted a Llama for Good Hackathon aimed at empowering Irish NGOs to harness the power of AI for public good. The event, hosted at Meta's International HQ in Ballsbridge, brings together leading NGOs the Open Doors Initiative, Citywise Education and NOW Group to co-create innovative solutions using Meta's Llama AI model. 16 engineers from Deloitte Ireland and Meta will be working on Meta's Llama to develop workable AI prototypes designed to address real-world challenges faced by the participating NGOs, with potential AI solutions ranging from partnering mentors with mentees, to streamlining course delivery for inclusive education programs. Meta's Llama is a free, open source AI model that removes cost barriers and makes advanced technology accessible to NGOs of all sizes. By enabling organisations to build custom solutions tailored to their communities, Llama fosters local innovation and rapid problem-solving. Its efficient design allows deployment even on modest hardware, making it practical for NGOs with limited technical resources. The Open Doors Initiative connects jobseekers with experienced professionals, offering guidance, career advice, and pathways to sustainable employment. Much of this work is currently manual, limiting scale and efficiency. Through the Hackathon, they aim to explore how AI can automate mentor-mentee matching based on industry, experience, and professional goals. Citywise Education, which supports young people in underserved communities on their path to third-level education, is also exploring how to streamline its back-office processes and course delivery - using today's Hackathon as a first step. NOW Group supports neurodiverse people across Ireland with access to training, employment and community opportunities. Through the Hackathon, they aim to explore how AI can link currently siloed data - especially around the publicly available JAM Card - to better identify potential users and business partners and use insights to drive growth and impact. Opened by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, Anne O'Leary, Head of Meta Ireland, and Emmanuel Adeleke, Deloitte Ireland partner in Technology & Transformation, today's event will support NGOs in hands-on AI prototyping, and will feature dedicated AI fluency sessions designed to upskill participants and deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence. These sessions will ensure that all attendees, regardless of technical background, gain practical knowledge and confidence in applying AI tools like Llama to their missions. Opening the event Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said: "I am delighted to take part in today's Llama for Good Hackathon, hosted by Meta and Deloitte Ireland, aimed at actively developing new ways that AI can help NGOs deliver better services to the people and communities they support. Open-source technologies have strong potential to drive long-term innovation, economic growth and competition across our society. Ireland, as a key European digital leader, is building a future where AI is transformative and trusted. Today's event reflects the potential of this technology to create real world impact and positive change". Speaking at the event Anne O'Leary, Head of Meta Ireland, said: "Meta's Llama is a game-changer for NGOs. As an open source and free-to-use AI, Llama removes financial barriers and empowers organisations to innovate locally, building solutions tailored to their communities and missions. Our Llama models have been downloaded over 1.2 billion times, with real-world projects already making a difference - a massive endorsement of the potential for Meta's AI to drive innovation, economic growth, and competition. I'm very proud to see dynamic Irish NGOs like the Open Doors Initiative, Citywise Education and NowGroup benefit from Llama and wider industry expertise at today's Llama for Good Hackathon, and I look forward to seeing how the ideas...

South East Technological University's (SETU) Walton Institute secures €4m MSCA project to train Europe's next generation of quantum innovators. Walton Institute at South East Technological University has been selected to coordinate QUESTING, a €4 million Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) doctoral network that will train the next generation of quantum internet experts. The project brings together nine European universities and 13 industry partners to address one of the continent's most pressing technology challenges. QUESTING is the first doctoral network to tackle the complete lifecycle of distributed quantum networks. Over the coming years, it will train 15 fully-funded PhD candidates as "Q-System Innovators" - specialists with rare interdisciplinary expertise spanning quantum technology, communications, computing, and social sciences. The project addresses a critical skills shortage. Quantum networks promise to revolutionise secure communications and distributed computing, but Europe requires a trained workforce to design, manage, and operate these systems at scale. Dr Indrakshi Dey, Principal Investigator of QUESTING at Walton Institute, is calling on Europe's brightest talent to apply. "We are not just offering 15 PhD positions," she said. "We are inviting exceptional minds to join an elite, interdisciplinary team backed by industry leaders and world-class infrastructure. If you are ready to stop studying the future and start engineering it, QUESTING is your launching pad." For Ireland, the project represents a significant boost to the country's position in quantum research. As coordinator, Walton Institute will manage the entire consortium, enhancing its international profile and attracting top doctoral talent to the south east region. The institute brings extensive experience leading large-scale EU projects to the role. Speaking about the growing demand for quantum technologies, Dr Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at the Walton Institute, SETU, explains the leading role Walton plays in elevating the understanding and capabilities of the technologies. "We are expanding on our existing quantum expertise with the announcement of this QUESTING project here in the Walton Institute. Our team of researchers will be leaders in theoretical modelling and optimisation of advanced quantum networks, which will benefit society in untold ways." The QUESTING consortium includes Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway's Irish Centre for High-End Computing among its partners. Industry collaborators include Airbus Defence and Space, British Telecommunications, Telecom Italia, and the Austrian Institute of Technology. By training specialists who understand quantum systems from design through to deployment, QUESTING aims to give Europe a competitive edge in the race to build the quantum internet. The project will establish a harmonised doctoral curriculum that becomes the European standard for training in quantum network systems. The work addresses what researchers call the "fertile nexus" where quantum and classical computing meet. Rather than treating quantum networks in isolation, QUESTING takes a holistic approach, integrating expertise from quantum physics, complex systems theory, information engineering, and even humanities disciplines to consider ethical and societal implications. Applications for the 15 funded PhD positions are now open. Contact Indrakshi.Dey@waltoninstitute.ie for details.

Back for Business, the free programme aimed at supporting returned or soon-to-be-returning Irish emigrants to start and develop a business in Ireland, is seeking new applicants for its ninth cycle. The development programme, which is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs, was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland. In opening the call for applicants, Neale Richmond, TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, said: "I am acutely aware of the barriers that are faced by those returning to Ireland, and this is why the Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to provide support to assist Irish people living abroad who want to return. "Back for Business is a concrete example of the practical support that is provided through the Government's Emigrant Support Programme, to equip early-stage entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence, and networks to successfully start and develop sustainable businesses." Those interested in finding out more about the programme should check out the website and register their interest on www.backforbusiness.com, and an application form will be sent to them, with the deadline to apply Friday, January 16th. Up to 50 places will be available on Back for Business 9, which will run from February to June 2026. The Launch Forum and first round table event will take place on February 13th. Back for Business is for returned Irish emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned to Ireland in the last three years, or for emigrants currently living abroad who are planning to return to Ireland in the near future. Since launching in 2017, the programme has helped participants to significantly grow sales and employment. It addresses challenges that all early-stage entrepreneurs encounter but also focuses on additional barriers faced by emigrants who have been living away from Ireland. Those who completed last year's programme, Back for Business 8, were very positive in their feedback with 100% saying they would recommend the programme to others and would like to stay in contact with the Back for Business community. In terms of their overall experience, Back for Business 8 participants rated it 4.5 out of a possible 5, with 93% considering the experience either extremely positive or very positive. A total of 97% felt nearer to achieving their ambitions since participating in Back for Business. At the start of the last cycle, under half of the group were trading, but over the course of the programme, this had increased to over two-thirds. The combined turnover of the participants was €1,425,000 at the start of the cycle. By the end, this had increased to €2,594,000, while employment numbers increased from 29 to 80 during the six months. Participants on Back for Business 9 will meet once a month on a peer-supported round table, facilitated by voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs who have experience of successfully starting and growing a business. Many of them have also lived abroad before returning to Ireland to start their business. This year's Lead Entrepreneurs are: Gillian O'Dowd, Director at Azon; Paul Duggan of The Gardiner Group; Seamus Reilly, co-founder and formerly of Critical Healthcare; Sinéad Doherty, founder and CEO of Fenero; and Thomas Ennis, founder of the Thomas Ennis Group. Back for Business past participant Aoife Mathews was based in Madrid when she co-founded SISTERLY, a female supplement company, alongside Jennifer O' Connell and Louise O'Riordan. She is very clear about the importance of that early support. "One of the best decisions I made when I began my entrepreneurial journey was joining the Back for Business programme. Having spent most of my career outside of Ireland, the programme provided not only structure and guidance, but also a collaborative community of ambitious founders." Back for Business past participant Dave McCormack of Fluent says: "Back ...

Rewilding Affric Highlands has won the Nature and Climate Action Award at RSPB Scotland's prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards 2025. The charity received the accolade at a ceremony held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 20 November, where 53 award finalists from all over Scotland gathered to celebrate with hosts BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams and BBC Scotland Landward presenter Arlene Stuart. Nature of Scotland Awards, Rewilding Affric Highlands The Nature of Scotland Awards recognise individuals and organisations making a difference across local communities, schools, and businesses to support Scotland's wildlife and natural environment. Affric Highlands brings together landowners, local communities, businesses, and partner organisations with the aim of restoring nature across more than 200,000 hectares of the central Highlands. Coordinated by charity Rewilding Affric Highlands, the landscape-scale rewilding initiative stretches from Loch Ness to Kintail, including Glens Affric, Cannich, Moriston, Shiel and Urquhart. "We're deeply honoured to receive this award. It recognises the extraordinary commitment of our partners, landowners, and the local communities who have embraced this vision for a healthier, more connected landscape,"said Stephanie Kiel, Rewilding Affric Highlands executive director. "Restoring nature at this scale is a long-term endeavour, and this acknowledgment strengthens our resolve to keep pushing forward. We hope our work shows that collaboration is not only possible but powerful, and that large-scale restoration can deliver real benefits for wildlife, climate, and rural livelihoods across the Highlands." Through peatland restoration, native woodland expansion, nature-friendly land management, and reconnection of ecological corridors, Affric Highlands is boosting biodiversity, tackling climate change, and creating long-term benefits for people who live and work in the area. The collaborative approach is helping secure the future of one of Scotland's most iconic landscapes, while demonstrating what is possible when local people come together behind a shared vision for nature, says Rewilding Affric Highlands. It was announced last week that both the world-famous Glen Affric National Nature Reserve managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and the Barrisdale Estate had joined Affric Highlands, bringing the landscape's growing partnership to 21 landowners, covering a combined total of more than 81,000 hectares. The separate landholdings forming the partnership have all signed a memorandum of understanding and are making their own decisions on what nature restoration activities are right for them, with the Rewilding Affric Highlands team offering advice and support. The Affric Highlands landscape, which aims to cover over 700 square miles, is mostly owned by 56 large estates, and Rewilding Affric Highlands is encouraging more landowners to join. The Nature of Scotland Awards, delivered by RSPB Scotland and Headline sponsor NatureScot, have now been running for over a decade. Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "What a joy to see the Nature of Scotland Awards shining a light on the growing number of passionate and hardworking people doing so much for nature and climate. A massive congratulations to our inspirational winners. It is incredibly heartening to see the terrific conservation work happening in every corner of the country. Thank you for everything you do." Professor Colin Galbraith, chair of awards headline sponsor NatureScot, said: "This year's Nature of Scotland award winners show the power of people's connections with nature, and how this can inspire innovative conservation action. When we care passionately for our environment great things can be achieved for us all in our daily lives. Congratulations to these nature heroes for their creativity, commitment and achievements that are helping nature and everyone across Scotland." Affric Highlands is a memb...

The largest student start-up programme in the country has been launched today in its 24th year. The Student Enterprise Programme, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, has seen over 500,000 students take part since it began. The Student Enterprise Programme, which is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 30,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2024/2025. Participating students will compete across three categories, Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3rd year) and Senior (4th, 5th and 6th year, LVA, LCA and Youth Outreach). Each student enterprise is challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show viable sales of their service or product. The best student start-ups from each school will then progress to county and regional finals. Students will then be chosen to be selected for the National Finals on the 7th May, where the Student Enterprise of the Year for 2026 will be named, along with winners across the other categories. Gareth Evans, Chair of the Enterprise Education Committee, Local Enterprise Offices, said, "The Student Enterprise Programme really highlights the appetite for entrepreneurship within our school system. In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in participation year on year. There have been some amazing start-ups come out of Ireland, punching well above their weight internationally, and I think this is helping to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs here. "Irrespective of what these students go on to do in their lives they will have learned some invaluable skills taking part in this programme that will help them in their future careers. We're looking forward to seeing what the Student Enterprise Programme Class of 2026 put forward!" The second Alumni Achievement Award for the Student Enterprise Programme will also be handed out in May. The award celebrates former programme participants who have gone on to achieve exceptional success in business. The inaugural award went to sisters Kate and Annie Madden from Fenu Health. Participants in the Student Enterprise Programme in 2016, the company creates supplements for equine health and their customers include five royal families. This year will also see a new award with a Start-Up Stories Competition. This competition is for Junior Cycle students only, and it asks them to imagine themselves as an entrepreneur at a future stage of their lives, having set up a business. Students are asked to write their fictitious story of how they became an entrepreneur, came up with their idea, got funding, overcame obstacles, lessons learned and skills they needed. The objective is to get students thinking and developing ideas around entrepreneurship. The Student Enterprise of the Year for 2025 was "Cannon PC" from Clonkeen College, Dun Laoghaire in County Dublin. The start-up, created by student Jack Cannon, built upcycled high-speed gaming PCs from old PCs being disposed of in office clear-outs and for general sale online. Cannon PC achieved €40,000 in sales while also saving 1,000 kg of e-waste every year. For more information on the programme, visit https://www.studententerprise.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, Tik...

By David Stephen who looks at AI companions in this article. There is a new guest essay in The New York Times, The Sad and Dangerous Reality Behind 'Her', stating that, "We received letters from users who told us that Kuki had quelled suicidal thoughts, helped them through addiction, advised them on how to confront bullies and acted as a sympathetic ear when their friends failed them. We wanted to believe that A.I. could be a solution to loneliness." "Regulation would start with universal laws for A.I. companions, including clear warning labels, time limits, 18-plus age verification and, most important, a new framework for liability that places the burden on companies to prove their products are safe, not on users to show harm. Absent swift legislation, some of the largest A.I. companies are poised to repeat the sins of social media on a more devastating scale." AI companions what could possibly go wrong? "Emotional attachment maximizes engagement. But there's a dark side to A.I. companions, whose users are not just the lonely males of internet lore, but women who find them more emotionally satisfying than men." Mind Assuming the map of the United States is the human mind. There are [stations in] states and there are means [or transportation to get across]. Some transportation can get from one state to the other, say a boat through some states bordering Lake Michigan or a boat to some neighboring costal states. However, in general, a boat may not get to several places within continental U.S. at least directly or easily. Meanwhile, trains would, vehicles would, jetliners would, even motorbikes and bicycles would. Now, if there is a conference in a state, attendees may arrive by different transport modes. As long as they are on time and arrived safely, it may not matter what mode was used. Once you're there, you are there. It may be possible that timing, cost, distance, channel [air, land, water], may decide factors but the objective is to get there. This is a simple and direct way to explain the human mind. Conceptually, all functions are destinations, obtained by the interactions of the components of mind. However, attributes determine the extents to which they interact. Simply, in the mind, there are stations and there are relays. Interaction of components occur at the stations, while transport take summaries of the last interaction to the next. Attributes are sometimes a result of the share of that set or station among the whole. So, stations and relays. In the human mind, whatever gets to a station is experienced. It may not matter the relay that brought it. A relay type could be reality of the external world. It could also be reality, from the virtual or digital sphere. It could also be internally driven, say by thoughts or memories. But if it gets there, then the experience is probable [given the attributes]. There are somethings that do not necessarily matter, at stations [or destinations]. Text on a screen, text on paper or text imagined. Image and sound too sometimes. However, for motion or video, it is different, for what is in reality and then what is viewed on a device. There are several feelings and emotional destinations that are possible by direct reality relays. For example, craving when food is seen or when the aroma comes across. There could also be craving when the food is seen on a screen. There could be craving too by imagination. These are all destinations and it is what gets there that decides. AI Companions AI companions delivering texts, images, audios and videos to several consumers are going directly to [destinations or] stations in the mind, for emotions and feelings. They are using different relays, but getting there however. They are also using attributes that grade those stations or destinations higher. Simply, they are going to destinations in the mind for affection, love, longing, support, togetherness, importance and so forth. While it is clear that the relays are not using the same paths as...

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, operating a global delivery centre in Ireland, has extended its long-standing partnership with ALDI SOUTH - a leading international retailer- to manage their infrastructure and application services and improve stability and IT operations efficiency. This comprehensive, multi-national agreement further solidifies TCS's position as ALDI SOUTH's trusted partner, supporting the retailer's core values of simplicity, consistency and responsibility. The partnership encompasses ALDI SOUTH's operations across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the United States and Australia. TCS will deploy its AI-enabled Cloud Operations Solution and advanced digital services to stabilise, modernise, and optimise ALDI SOUTH's IT infrastructure, enhance cyber resilience, accelerate automation and boost operational efficiency. Leveraging TCS' extensive experience in the retail sector, this partnership will reduce costs and complexity while supporting ALDI SOUTH's commitment to delivering reliable, value-driven customer experiences globally. This partnership is built on a shared focus on service excellence, seamless integration of legacy and modern systems, and dedication to innovation and sustainable growth in the retail industry. Building on years of successful collaboration between both organisations, this renewed partnership positions TCS as a key enabler in ALDI SOUTH's digital advancement by supporting automation, stability, and faster time to market. Together, the two organisations are modernising core systems, strengthening operational resilience, and laying the groundwork for adaptive, future-ready retail operations across ALDI SOUTH's global markets. Daniel Koch, International Technology Officer, ALDI DX, said, "We are pleased to extend our collaboration with TCS to accelerate our digital transformation. Together, we will modernise infrastructure, drive automation, and deliver improved outcomes for our business and customers worldwide. This partnership ensures that ALDI SOUTH is well positioned to respond with agility to the evolving demands of global retail." Abhijit Niyogi, VP and Business Unit Head, Retail - UK, EMEA and India, TCS, said, "This expanded collaboration is a testament to the trust ALDI SOUTH places in TCS to deliver at scale. By leveraging our deep retail expertise along with advanced cloud, automation, and AI capabilities, we will simplify and modernise ALDI SOUTH's technology landscape, strengthen operational efficiency, and enable them to respond with agility to evolving market demands. Together, we are building a future-ready, customer-centric model of retail that creates lasting business value across global markets." TCS has been operating in Ireland since 2001 and today employs over 1,100 people across it Dublin, Letterkenny and other regional locations. The company is recognised as one of the largest employers in the Northwest region. 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.

Zack O'Leary from Co. Kildare representing Clongowes Wood College, has won the overall title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025 for his project M.A.N.T.I.S "Muon Analysis for Non-Invasive Tomography and Image Simulation". Zack will go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona next May. SciFest is Ireland's largest, most-inclusive all-island STEM fair programme for second-level students. The SciFest National Final, held in Marino Conference Centre in Dublin, was attended by students from every corner of Ireland with 51 students from 31 schools qualifying to participate this year. Students secured their place at the National Final by winning one of the top awards at the 15 regional SciFest fairs earlier in the year. This year's programme also featured five international projects from students in Sri Lanka and South Africa, further extending the global network of SciFest Since 2006, the programme continues to grow and expand, reporting an increase in student participation year on year. This growth has been made possible by the continued support of the Department of Education and Youth, Research Ireland and our industry partners, Intel Ireland, Boston Scientific, EirGrid and Keenova. As SciFest prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, the programme's mission remains the same - to encourage students' participation in STEM in an enjoyable and interactive way. SciFest is free to enter and open to everyone across the island of Ireland, no matter their background or circumstance. Speaking today at this year's National Final, CEO and Founder of SciFest, Sheila Porter commented: "On behalf of everyone here at SciFest, I would like to extend a warm congratulations to all the participants, and in particular to Zack O'Leary for winning the title of SciFest STEM Champion 2025. We saw a significant increase in technology projects this year focusing on artificial intelligence and medical devices - it is great to see students take a strong interest in solving real world problems." "SciFest's purpose remains to inspire and empower the next generation to engage with the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It has been a pleasure to watch SciFest continue to grow and to meet with all the immensely talented and bright students that participate every year. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been involved - from our students, teachers, parents and judges to our wonderful sponsors - all of whom have contributed to this extraordinary event. " Other award winners at the SciFest 2025 National Final include: Two Regeneron ISEF Awards went to Eoin Cashman and Alex Thompson for their project Dust Dynamic: analysing planetary bodies through the ballistic motion of lofted dust particles, and to Addison Carey for her project on advancing post quantum latticed based cryptography by developing efficient shortest vector problem approaches. Ronan Lyons who won the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award, for his project Capill: Compliance aid promoting independent living long-term. Kinga Tobianska and Paulina Varuyeva who won the runner up Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award for their project Chill 'N' Heal bandage. Jack McCormack who won the EirGrid Cleaner Climate Grand Award, for his project on engineering a new vertical axis wind turbine design for use in urban areas to promote sustainable energy production. Amber McDonald who won the runner up EirGrid Cleaner Climate Grand Award for her project Energy crisis - let me kelp you! Simona Gaubtye and Ema Sasnauskaite who won the Intel Technology Award, for their project on MedSync+: Identifying patterns in patient data to support evidence-based care. Luke Blackwell who won the Keenova STEM Excellence Award, for his project on addressing wheelchair inaccessibility in urban environments through quantitative modelling. Jack McCormack who won the Berlin Long Night of Science Award, for h...

Qualcom, a leading Irish provider of IT and cybersecurity services, has announced that it has invested €250,000 to support the continued expansion of its team and enhance facilities at its Dublin headquarters. Since the start of the year, the company has hired six support desk specialists - boosting the headcount within its support centre by 33% to 24 people. In turn, this equips Qualcom for future business growth. The increased capacity and capabilities within the support desk team will enable Qualcom to further expand its client base - particularly across managed and co-managed services. Furthermore, it will enable the company to better meet increasing customer demand for outsourced helpdesk services, driven by the growing need for highly-skilled technology talent to manage ever-increasing workloads. As well as bolstering the team, the investment also includes the rollout of cutting-edge technology platforms, new equipment, and a modernised office interior. This will help to improve efficiency and productivity within Qualcom's team, which consists of 76 cybersecurity and IT professionals across its locations in Dublin and Belfast. The investment comes as the organisation marks 30 years in business in 2025. Earlier this year, Qualcom announced that it expects to grow its revenues from €13.5 million to €18 million in the next three years, representing 10% year-on-year growth for the business by the end of 2027. Ken Ryan, Managing Director, Qualcom, said: "This investment in our people and business is futureproofing our operations as the demand for helpdesk support continues to grow. It equips our proactive customer-first team with the increased ability to meet the evolving needs of businesses, ensuring maximum IT uptime for customers and delivering right-first-time technical services. "In addition, we can better help businesses to fill the skills gaps within their organisations, relieving the mounting pressure on IT teams and ensuring that they can focus on growth and innovation. We are excited for the next chapter as we continue to add to our team at our state-of-the-art headquarters." See more stories here.

Rethink Ireland has launched Impact Fund 2025, a €1.1 million initiative designed to support innovative, community-led projects across Munster and Wexford. The fund, established by Rethink Ireland in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, as well as a suite of philanthropic donors, will back up to eight high-impact projects strengthening social inclusion, wellbeing, and environmental resilience at a local level across the south of Ireland. Applications are now open at rethinkireland.ie/open-funds/ and will close on Friday, 16 January at 1 pm. Rethink Ireland is the national funding body supporting the most innovative non-profit organisations and social enterprises working to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland. Impact Fund 2025 is created by Rethink Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in partnership with the Parkes Family, Limerick; the Estate of Mary Coffey c/o Pat Toomey, Tipperary; the Hospital Saturday Fund; The Luan Fund, Cork; Ed Murphy, Wexford; Turas Nua and The Ireland Funds. Speaking at the launch of Impact Fund 2025, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer TD, said: "This fund is a partnership in action with government, philanthropy, organisations and communities working together. We know every county has pockets of disadvantage, and the most effective response is targeted, place-based support. Impact Fund 2025 will put resources where they can have the greatest effect, empowering local people to deliver inclusion, wellbeing and climate resilience from the ground up." Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Rethink Ireland, added: "Since 2016, Rethink Ireland has invested over €15.8 million in supports for over 150 projects in the Munster region. We've seen first-hand the extraordinary creativity and leadership that exists in local communities across Ireland. Previous versions of the Impact Fund proved that when you trust communities to lead, the results speak for themselves, from schools pioneering climate education to young women building confidence and connection. "Impact Fund 2025 underscores the power of investing in local solutions to deliver national impact. With this funding, we can help communities to thrive and create lasting change for generations to come." Colin Healy, Co-founder of Kinsale-based charity, Sailing into Wellness, a not-for-profit social enterprise that delivers therapeutic sailing programmes and an awardee of Rethink Ireland, said: "Thanks to the support of Rethink Ireland, we've been able to bring our therapeutic sailing programmes to those who need it most. This funding has turned our vision into action, using the sea as a unique setting to deliver wellbeing, inclusion and transformation for people who might not otherwise have access. We're more confident than ever that place-based investment like this delivers deep and lasting impact. We encourage other organisations to apply to the Impact Fund 2025 for the critical funding and capacity building supports it offers." To be eligible to apply for Impact Fund 2025, projects must meet the following criteria: The project must address a critical social issue The project proposed must be innovative in an Irish context The project must be based on the island of Ireland and must make its main impact in Munster or County Wexford The project must have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland The project must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested at least in a minimal way Applicants must come from an entity with a not-for-profit legal form, e.g. a company limited by guarantee, a co-operative, a trust or a charity 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 ...

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) as secretariat of CIRCULÉIRE is delighted to announce the shortlist for the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards. Ten ventures will pitch to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media on 27th November to compete for a €10,000 prize pool. Open to late-stage start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland, the All-Island Circular Venture Awards are designed to recognise companies pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition. The ten shortlisted companies include Arcology System, Biographene Innovations Ireland, BladeBridge, Circular Food Co, Ecoroots, Gemell Technology Limited, HaPPE Earth, Harp Renewable, Integrated Materials Solutions and Kinset Limited. Circular Venture Awards €10,000 prize pool, Nov 27th The selected ventures represent an extremely broad range of sectors including commercial fitout infrastructure, construction waste management, compostable PPE, biobased production and packaging solutions; repurposed wind energy infrastructure; digital enablement of circular processes; aerobic digestion; additional manufacturing for textiles; and upcycling of food residuals. Referring to the recruitment and shortlisting process, Agnese Metitieri, Circular Economy Venture Lead at IMR, said: "We are very pleased with the wide range of applications we received. Their variety and ingenuity reflect the growing momentum for an emerging and healthy circular ecosystem, with great opportunities for ventures to express transformative potential and build a zero-carbon future for the island of Ireland." To compete for a prize pool of €10,000 plus coaching with international entrepreneurship and circular economy experts, the ventures will pitch to a judging panel of leaders in circular economy innovation, venture investment, and advanced manufacturing. Mark Nodder, Joint CEO of Makers Alliance; Jamie Rowles, Partner at Regeneration.VC; Faye Walsh Drouillard, Founding & Managing Partner of WakeUp Capital; and Dr. Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research will adjudicate on the day. The 10 companies pitching on the 27th November are: Arcology System enables adaptive, circular, and waste-free interiors through a modular, sensor-enabled construction system. Bio Graphene Innovations Ireland transforms agricultural waste into bio-graphene materials that decarbonise concrete, enabling seawater use, and establishing a scalable circular manufacturing model for Europe. BladeBridge repurposes retired wind turbine blades into durable infrastructure. Circular Food Co recovers food waste to turn into high value ingredients. Ecoroots transforms agricultural waste into compostable mycelium packaging powered by a data-driven platform for scalable, zero-waste biomanufacturing. Gemell Technology Limited reduces unnecessary textile waste through data-driven 3D visualisation and analytics. HaPPE Earth makes single-use PPE into a circular solution, replacing plastics with compostable materials, converting waste into fertiliser, and delivering ESG insights cutting costs, carbon, and complexity. Harp Renewables supplies advanced, fully circular food waste solutions for all industries. Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) accepts C&D wastes and processes them into certified low carbon secondary aggregates for reuse in the construction industry. Kinset connects supply chain, material, and lifecycle data in one trusted system, making it simple for brands to demonstrate transparency, enable reuse and recycling, and engage consumers through interactive digital experiences. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards are designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE). About Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) IMR partners with industry to demystify emerging technologies, de-risk adoption, a...

Dell Technologies and NVIDIA are delivering the future of enterprise AI with advancements to the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA. These advancements provide simplicity, performance and flexibility for advanced environments and support enterprises across AI applications, from traditional to agentic. Why it Matters A new era of high-performance computing (HPC) and enterprise AI is here. As enterprises scale, many face challenges such as managing complex ecosystems of hardware and software or gaining control over their data. According to recent research, 95% of enterprises believe working with a trusted technology partner like Dell Technologies reduces the risks associated with adopting new technologies. Additionally, 90% agree that bringing AI to their data creates greater value through enhanced control, fresh insights, and secure access. Enter the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA - a game-changer for enterprises looking to accelerate outcomes, reduce complexity and maximise ROI. By integrating Dell's robust end-to-end infrastructure with NVIDIA AI technology, backed by expert guidance from Dell Professional Services, organisations can transform ideas into tangible results and stay ahead of evolving technologies and scaling needs. Accelerate deployment with integrated, automated platforms Dell's storage and AI solutions offerings help enterprises automate deployments, optimise performance and deliver real-time AI applications with greater efficiency and reliability. Dell ObjectScale and PowerScale, the Dell AI Data Platform's storage engines for unstructured data, are now integrated with the NVIDIA NIXL library, part of NVIDIA Dynamo. This integration enables scalable KV Cache storage, reuse and sharing, achieving a 1-second Time to First Token (TTFT) at a full context window of 131K tokens - 19X faster than standard vLLM - while reducing infrastructure costs and overcoming GPU memory capacity bottlenecks.[iv] The Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA now includes solutions with Dell PowerEdge XE7740/XE7745 servers featuring NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs and NVIDIA Hopper GPUs. These proven and validated offers feature next-level AI acceleration and computing power to execute advanced use cases - from large-scale multimodal models to emerging agentic AI applications and from enterprise-grade inferencing to training workloads. The Dell Automation Platform, now expanded to the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, will deliver smarter, more automated experiences by deploying validated, optimised solutions with a secure framework. This approach will produce repeatable outcomes, eliminate guesswork, and help unlock the full potential of AI-driven use cases powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing. Software-driven tools like the AI code assistant with Tabnine and the agentic AI platform with Cohere North are now automated, getting AI workloads into production faster, streamlining operations and enhancing scalability. Beyond the traditional data centre, Dell's ecosystem enablers for AI PCs offer organisations expanded silicon options, now supporting NVIDIA RTX Blackwell GPUs and NVIDIA RTX Ada GPUs, ensuring compatibility across a broader range of Dell devices. Dell Professional Services provides turnkey interactive AI use case pilots using real customer data to validate business value ahead of scaled investments. These expert-led pilots offer a hands-on preview for experimentation with clear success metrics and KPIs, delivering tangible ROI. Uplevel AI performance with next-generation infrastructure Dell infrastructure updates accelerate HPC and AI innovation by delivering platforms with powerful performance, scalability, and streamlined management. These solutions will help organisations build efficient systems for modern workloads. The Dell PowerEdge XE8712 server, available next month, sets a new standard by delivering the industry's highest GPU density in a standard rack with up to 144 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs per Dell IR7000 rack. This b...

'Europe's EV market is evolving into a study of contrasts. Norway's near-total adoption demonstrates that a combination of policy, incentives, and infrastructure can drive almost complete electrification, while countries like Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovakia reveal persistent structural and economic hurdles that could slow the EU's broader green transition. The surprising dominance of hybrid-electric vehicles indicates consumers are hedging bets, favouring transitional technologies as fully electric adoption struggles with cost and charging access. Looking ahead, Europe risks a two-speed electrification landscape: frontrunners pushing aggressively toward BEVs, while laggards require urgent policy support to prevent widening market disparities, shaping both manufacturer strategy and the continent's climate trajectory.' Michael Fisher from Tradingpedia. European EV adoption trends Europe's 2035 ban on new petrol cars is now back under debate as leaders question whether the deadline is still realistic amid slowing EV adoption. With automakers pushing for a more 'pragmatic' transition, the conversation around Europe's electric future is shifting. In light of this, I am reaching out with highlights from our latest report, which sheds light on the sales of electric vehicles in Europe and the brands selling the most units in 2025. To outline which nations in Europe are leading or falling behind in the shift to electric mobility, our team at TradingPedia analysed EV sales using new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) for January-September 2024 and 2025. We also examined the top-selling brands and compared the revenues of leading automotive groups using their official financial reports for the same period. The full dataset is available on Google Drive via this link. Recent data highlights the Nordics as the clear frontrunners in Europe's shift to electric mobility, with Sweden and Denmark each seeing more than 60% of new cars registered as either battery-electric or plug-in hybrids, whereas Norway is in a league of its own, reporting an extraordinary 96.81% EV share. Eastern Europe, however, continues to lag, with countries such as Slovakia, Croatia, and Bulgaria still below the 10% mark. Here are a few key takeaways from the report: Norway is racing towards 100% electric adoption, with 107,606 battery-electric cars and 2,198 plug-in hybrids registered so far in 2025, a share that puts 96.8% of all new vehicles firmly in the fully electric column. EV registrations continue to surge, rising 31.5% year on year, even as plug-in hybrids fall by 14.3% Interestingly, new registrations of conventional hybrids plunged by 66% in the same period. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland are not far behind, reporting EV shares of 68.73%, 62.04%, 56.58% and 56.07%, respectively. Finland has seen the biggest leap in the Nordics, with its EV share of all newly sold cars surging by almost 18 percentage points since 2024. Among these countries, Denmark is the only one to record a sharp fall in plug-in hybrid sales, down 29.35% from 2024. The lowest EV shares of new vehicle registrations in 2025 are found in Croatia (4.43%), Bulgaria (5.82%), and Slovakia (8.58%), where petrol and diesel still dominate the market. Bulgaria stands out in particular, with petrol and diesel cars accounting for 90.63% of new registrations in 2025, despite EV sales rising by more than 46%. Slovakia, meanwhile, has increased its battery-electric registrations by an impressive 72.52%, whereas Croatia reports a steep decline of 51.92%. Germany, Europe's largest car market, continues to dominate in battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales, recording 382,202 newly registered units, with the United Kingdom close behind at 349,414 and France at 216,310. Together, these three markets account for more than a third of all BEVs sold across the continent. While Germany and the UK saw total EV sales (BEV + PHEV) soar by 46.6% and 32.2% respecti...

AI One, the enterprise context management platform that helps organisations give AI the business context it needs to make decisions, has announced it has raised $11 million in total funding. The round includes $7 million in Series A funding with participation from Vestigo Ventures and existing investors. AI One's platform enables large organisations to transform their operations by connecting directly to SaaS platforms like Salesforce and Workday, as well as on-premise and legacy systems, extracting context from fragmented data, and delivering measurable outcomes in weeks, not years. AI One addresses a problem that's become increasingly visible as companies try to move beyond pilots: AI models don't understand the context of the businesses they're deployed in. Despite billions spent on data infrastructure, most enterprises still operate across disconnected systems that make it nearly impossible for AI to make informed decisions. AI One tackles this with a new class of technology called Enterprise Context Management (ECM), which connects directly to existing systems to interpret how data, processes, and policies relate across the organisation. By managing context safely and consistently, the platform enables companies to automate complex workflows and decision-making without costly data migrations or replatforming. It delivers results in as little as 10 weeks and reduces operating costs by up to 80% AI One was founded in 2024 by Conor Twomey and Fergus Keenan, who spent over 15 years in enterprise data and analytics, and saw the pitfalls of large enterprises over-investing in expensive infrastructure overhauls to drive innovation. "Most companies are brute-forcing AI into workflows by endlessly rewriting generic prompts and connectors - a slow, brittle process that's impossible to scale," says Conor Twomey, Co-founder & CEO at AI One. "AI can only perform as well as the context it understands. We created AI One to give enterprises control over that context so their AI isn't guessing, it's operating with understanding." Since its inception, AI One has already delivered measurable results for its clients: A global bank cut reconciliation errors by 90% in four months, saving millions annually and reducing manual review from 400,000 cases to under 5,000. A healthcare provider reduced member onboarding time from 15 days to 3 days, accelerating revenue recognition and patient access. An insurance group improved its straight-through processing rate from 89% to 97%, shortening claims cycles and boosting customer satisfaction. "AI One is solving one of the hardest problems in enterprise AI: perception," said Mark Casady, General Partner at Vestigo Ventures. "The platform's ability to activate enterprise context without requiring data migration or replatforming is a breakthrough. It turns AI from a concept into measurable business impact in record time." AI One intends to use the funding to expand its customer base, targeting Fortune 500 businesses in financial services, energy, healthcare, insurance, and private equity, and continue to build its platform. The team has grown to 20 employees since inception with recent hires across GTM, platform, and field engineering. 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.

Three out of every four people seeking work feel that AI could be unfairly screening out their applications, according to a new survey. And a majority feel automation is making some aspects of the recruitment process impersonal and dismissive. This lack of human interaction, according to the inaugural Collins McNicholas Workforce Insights Report, is making professionals less interested in working for particular companies. Overwhelmingly, the one piece of advice professionals would give to companies is to "keep a human touch" in the recruitment process. Of the more than 2,500 respondents to the Collins McNicholas Workforce Insights Report, some 75% agreed or strongly agreed that AI could be unfairly screening out their applications. Only five per cent strongly disagreed. Almost three out of four (74%) felt automated rejection emails were impersonal and dismissive, with only six per cent strongly disagreeing. The survey was carried out by Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group over a two-week period (from October 7th to October 21st) among professionals on the company's database. A total of 2,541 responses were received from professionals working across a range of sectors and age profiles. Collins McNicholas is an award-winning Irish company that sources talent and provides hiring solutions across a wide variety of sectors for its client companies. Other automation-related findings included: A total of 69% felt that a lack of human interaction made them less interested in working for a company. More than half (54%) said the one piece of advice they would give employers if using AI in recruitment was to 'keep a human touch in the process'. This was followed by urging employers to only use automation at certain stages (16%) and to improve communication and feedback (14%) Almost half (46%) disagreed that automated messages made the recruitment process more efficient Collins McNicholas' Director Michelle Murphy said: "The findings of our inaugural Workforce Insights Report are extremely interesting and show that employers face a huge challenge in balancing the use of AI and automation to speed up their recruitment process while ensuring that the applicants feel like they are being treated equally and receiving that human touch that they are clearly saying they want. Employers - and recruitment companies - are under increasing pressure to keep up to date with advances in AI but this report is a warning shot that we need to be careful about how we are implementing AI and where we are inserting that into the process. "Collins McNicholas carried out this survey to capture the perspectives and priorities of professionals actively seeking new career opportunities in Ireland. All responses were collected anonymously to enable a comprehensive analysis of the trends shaping the Irish employment landscape in 2025. We plan to carry out an annual report in order to gain further insights to help employers gain real-time insights into the concerns and priorities of professionals." The survey also asked those who have been seeking work during 2025 about other issues. Here are some of those key findings: Career progression (27%) and company culture (24%) are the main non-monetary priorities for those seeking new career opportunities right now. Professionals put these items ahead of remote/work from home options (23%) and flexible working hours (19%). A majority of companies have not changed their hybrid or remote work policy in 2025. Despite much talk in the media about the increased move back to the office, some 59% said that their company had not changed their policy so far this year, with 16% saying they had. The remaining surveyed are not currently with a company full-time. Of those who made a change this year, the majority are now working in the office three days a week. Professionals also do not believe that working remotely or on a hybrid model negatively affects opportunities for career advancement. A total of 51% either stro...

New research has found that some 58% of Irish shoppers plan to make Black Friday purchases on retailer websites with a .ie domain, citing stronger trust, security and a desire to support Irish businesses as key reasons. The research, carried out by Core Research on behalf of Ireland's national domain registry (.ie) also showed that some 55% of respondents plan on making a purchase during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I caught up with David Curtin, Chief Executive of .ie to find out about more of the surveys results and how to shop online safely. David talks about why .ie is safe, online shopping tips, consumers rights, tips for business owners and more. More about David Curtin: David Curtin joined Ireland's national domain registry (.ie)in November 2002, and was appointed interim Chief Executive in October 2003 and Chief Executive in January 2004. David worked for eight years in Dublin and Paris with the Jefferson Smurfit Group plc. He was Chief Executive of Smurfit Software Services, project manager for the Smurfit Group's Hyperion systems implementation, and internal auditor of Smurfit Ireland. Prior to this he worked for KPMG in Dublin and Philadelphia. David is a graduate of UCD, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a first class honours MBA from the UCD Smurfit School. See more podcasts here.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, NCI's Mayor Square campus building will host the College's very first Sustainability Day. At this event, live poster presentations will highlight NCI's work in sustainability. These presentations will be followed by an afternoon of skills sharing sessions alongside NCI's annual Bring and Buy Sale in partnership with NCISU. All proceeds from the Bring and Buy Sale will go to a charity nominated by the Students' Union. This event is open to the public. Event Details: When: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. Time: 10am to 5pm. Where: NCI's Mayor Square campus building. Who: Open to the public. Free to attend. To view the full schedule of Sustainability Day visit NCI's Event Page. At National College of Ireland, sustainability is not just a buzzword; it's a guiding principle that permeates every aspect of our institution. From our academic programmes to our campus operations, we prioritise sustainability to ensure a thriving future for generations to come. Days such as this give everyone at NCI, staff, students, and faculty, along with friends, family, and community neighbours the chance to come together. While days like this showcase the warm atmosphere that NCI consistently strives to create, it is highly rewarding when these days also serve a good cause. Being aware of sustainability issues and knowing how we can make changes is so important, and as nights grow colder and the festive season approaches, the Bring and Buy Sale allows the NCI community to come together to help others. Every little step creates the bigger picture. Sustainability in Action NCI has put sustainability at the very heart of our 5 Year Strategic Plan. The College aims to become one of the most sustainable third level institutions in the country and will align our teaching, research and campus to ensure sustainable practice across everything we do. "We are excited to welcome the community to NCI for Sustainability Day 2025. Community engagement and education are essential to achieving our sustainability goals. This event not only highlights NCI's own research and work in sustainability but also shares practical skills and ideas to empower the community to contribute through meaningful, everyday changes of their own." ~ Frances Sheridan, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Programmes and Learning and Teaching at NCI's School of Computing. You can learn more about sustainability at NCI by visiting their Sustainability page. #ChangingLivesThroughEducation 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.

AssistiV, an innovative technology designed to support sustainable employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that has the potential to support 1,000 jobs by 2030 is being rolled out nationally. AssistiV plans to scale up to support jobs for 100 people nationwide within two years and reach 1,000 users by 2030, helping to close Ireland's significant employment gap for people with disabilities. AssistiV's screen-based technology simplifies complex workplace tasks into easy-to-follow picture, text or audio clues, empowering individuals with learning or intellectual disabilities or autism to perform their roles independently and confidently to the correct standard. The rollout is being supported by HEINEKEN Ireland, which has worked with AssistiV to pilot the technology in hospitality venues and to raise awareness of the potential for inclusive employment in the sector. The launch took place at the Hyatt Centric Hotel, in Dublin, where two sisters, Emma and Kate Connolly, are using the AssistiV technology to work in the hotel. The sisters are among 18 people working in hospitality across Ireland now using the technology, with 20 more employed in retail and manufacturing roles in companies ranging from owner-run local businesses to large multinationals. Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD was also in attendance at the launch. Emma and Kate recently joined the Hyatt Centric restaurant team, where they work alongside colleagues taking orders, waiting tables, and serving guests. They previously completed a programme delivered by HEINEKEN Ireland to train and upskill people for roles in the hospitality sector. Emma Connolly said: "I love working here at the Hyatt. Everyone has been really kind and supportive and using AssistiV helps me remember my tasks and feel confident doing my job. It's great to be part of a busy team and to meet new people every day." AssistiV is working closely with Down Syndrome Ireland, NOW Group, and the National Learning Network to support more people with learning disabilities into employment, ensuring they can access the right training, skills development and on-the-job support. Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary TD said: "I want to commend AssistiV on their latest partnership with the Hyatt Centric and Hodson Bay Group. AssistiV represents the very best of innovation - technology that makes a tangible difference in people's lives. It demonstrates how the right tools and supports can open doors, create opportunity, and allow people to reach their full potential at work. "As Minister for Social Protection, I am committed to supporting more people with additional needs into meaningful employment, and initiatives like AssistiV show what's possible when technology and empathy come together. One of the great opportunities here is the ability to bring inclusive employment into every community in Ireland, and the hospitality sector gives us a powerful platform to do that." Alan Craughwell, CEO of AssistiV Ireland, said: "Our goal is simple - to create a world where anyone who wants to work, can work, and choice is not a luxury, it's standard. Every person deserves the chance to contribute meaningfully at work. We're proud that AssistiV has already helped almost 40 people achieve just that, and with today's launch, we're ready to bring those opportunities to hundreds more people across Ireland. I would like to thank HEINEKEN Ireland for its continued support of AssistiV. They have backed this initiative from the start, and we look forward to continuing to work with them. If just 1% of Irish pubs used this technology for example, we could support 600 jobs throughout the country." Sharon Walsh, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Ireland, said: "At HEINEKEN Ireland, we believe inclusion and belonging should be a core part of the workplace. We're proud to be using AssistiV technology to support employment at our brewery in Cork, and to see firsthand the huge imp...

Auxilion, the leading Irish IT managed services provider, has announced the results of its latest survey which reveals that almost a third (31%) of office workers in Ireland use their work device for personal use. The survey of 1,000 office workers in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Auxilion and HPE. The research identifies several risky behaviours among office workers that has the potential to put cybersecurity at risk. One common behaviour includes clicking on a suspicious link or email at work, cited by 32% of respondents. One in five (22%) also admitted to using public wi-fi to access sensitive company documents. Over a quarter (26%) have input sensitive company or customer data into an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. In addition, a third (33%) have used unauthorised tools to get their work done faster. Despite these behaviours, the majority of office workers (73%) are confident in their ability to spot a potential cyber threat. Password protection was also highlighted as an area for concern, with almost a fifth (19%) of office workers admitting to sharing their work password with friends and family. A further 14% have used the same password for both work and personal accounts. While over half of respondents (54%) feel confident in their password security, one in ten do not. As such, it may come as no surprise that 23% organisations have suffered a cybersecurity breach in the last 12 months. This was highest among the public sector at 28%. In addition, 23% of office workers admitted that they did not report a known security breach (i.e. where a cybersecurity attack was successful). With the prevalence of high-risk behaviours among office workers, over half (55%) of companies have run simulated phishing tests to raise awareness about cybersecurity. Despite this, a quarter (25%) of respondents believe their organisation does not have adequate security and data loss prevention measures in place. A third (32%) of office workers also revealed they do not receive regular cybersecurity training from their employer. Martin Patterson, Head of Innovation, Auxilion said: "While it's unsurprising that many employees use work devices for personal tasks, our survey highlights a far greater concern - the ease with which everyday actions, such as opening a link in an email or using AI tools, can expose organisations to security risks. "Human behaviour remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in cybersecurity. That's why investing in ongoing training and building a culture of awareness are just as important as having the right technology in place. By equipping employees with the knowledge to spot and avoid potential threats, businesses can strengthen their first line of defence." 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.

UGREEN have a number of products from their 3C Power Series and NAS device range on special offer for Black Friday. We have covered a number of these devices on the site over the last few months, and all are worthy of your attention if you are in the market for some top-quality power accessories for your devices or if you are planning to add a NAS device to your home or office. Here's a list of the top UGREEN offers available for Black Friday: UGREEN 165 W Retractable Cable Power Bank (20,000 mAh) • Built-in USB-C retractable cable - no more loose cables • Fast-charge phones, tablets and laptops up to 165 W • Perfect for travel and everyday carry • Amazon UK link UGREEN 45 W 20,000 mAh Power Bank • Three ports for multi-device charging (USB-C & USB-A) • Ideal for laptops, MacBook users, and digital creators • Smart power distribution for maximum efficiency • Amazon UK link UGREEN Nexode 65W Foldable Fast GaN Charger 3-Port USB-C Plug • Compact foldable plug design for home & travel • GaN technology for efficient cool charging • Power up a laptop and phone simultaneously • Amazon UK link UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 25W Wireless Fast Charging 10000mAh Magnetic Portable Charger MagSafe-compatible design for iPhone 12 and later • 25W fast wireless charging + USB-C wired option • Slim, pocket-friendly build perfect for travel • Amazon UK link UGREEN MagFlow Qi2 Certified 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger • Combines a phone stand and MagSafe wireless charger • Ideal for desk, bedside, or travel use • Fast charging with adjustable viewing angle • Amazon UK link UGREEN NASync DH2300 2 Bay NAS • 2-bay NAS for beginners - simple setup & intuitive UI • Ideal for home users transitioning from cloud storage • Affordable entry model for secure local backup • Our Review • Amazon UK Link UGREEN NASync DH4300 Plus 4 Bay NAS • 4-bay NAS for professionals and content creators • Powerful CPU and expandable storage for 4K video and media servers • Supports RAID, multimedia streaming and private cloud access • Our Review •Amazon UK Link Be sure to check out all the deals on offer from UGREEN for Black Friday on Amazon.

Leading shipping companies are joining forces to combat ocean plastic pollution through the launch of the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS): a new industry alliance driving measurable reductions in plastic and operational waste at scale. Founded by Seven Clean Seas (SCS), an ocean impact organisation, MACS unites founding members including Berge Bulk, X-Press Feeders, and others from across the global maritime value chain. Clean Seas to tackle ocean plastic Our oceans underpin global trade and face mounting plastic challenges Oceans carry around 90% of global trade and provide livelihoods for more than 2 million seafarers worldwide. Yet they face unprecedented pressure, with 14 million tonnes of plastic entering and damaging marine ecosystems every year. While the maritime sector contributes only a small fraction of this pollution, even isolated cargo losses or poor waste handling on board or quayside can have serious consequences which could be prevented, especially with plastic pellets, films and light packaging. By advancing best practices, innovation, and collaboration across the value chain, the industry can play a pivotal role in reducing plastic leakage and protecting the very waters it relies on. A pivotal moment for maritime sustainability MACS builds on the IMO's established Plastic Marine Litter Action Plan and responds to the growing global sentiment for coordinated, industry-wide action on plastic pollution. As scrutiny around environmental and community impact intensifies, MACS creates a unified front for maritime players to reduce plastic use, share best practices, and inspire change across adjacent sectors with even larger plastic footprints. Collective action for measurable impact MACS builds on SCS' track record of tackling plastic pollution at its source. Operating in some of the world's most polluted coastal regions, SCS develops holistic certified recovery projects that not only recover ocean plastic but also deliver fair employment and community impact on the ground. The Association brings maritime leaders together to tackle two core objectives of ocean plastic recovery at scale and waste reduction across the maritime value chain, with the initial focus for 2026 on three key areas: Sustainable procurement and material use; Vessel waste measurement and reduction; And improved portside waste reception. These efforts align directly with the IMO's 2030 Action Plan. It also marks a key milestone in SCS' mission to recover 100,000,000 kilograms of plastic and improve 200,000 lives by 2030, proving how targeted collaboration can drive systemic change and inspire far-reaching environmental progress. "Seven Clean Seas has always believed in collective action as the most powerful lever for change," said Tom Peacock-Nazil, Founder & Chairman of MACS. "With MACS, we're providing the maritime industry with the tools it needs to make measurable progress against plastic pollution. Not in isolation, but together." Driving systemic change through collaboration Founding members Berge Bulk, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), X-Press Feeders, and Britoil Offshore Services represent a cross-section of the global maritime sector, from bulk carriers and ship management to offshore operations. Their participation reflects a shared commitment to operational excellence, environmental leadership, and data transparency. "At Berge Bulk, the oceans are at the heart of our business, so we have always felt an obligation to protect them and a responsibility to keep them clean," said Michael Blanding, Head of Sustainability & Communications. "Our long-standing work with SCS has already delivered tangible results, and through MACS, we're proud to help lead a united industry response that can achieve change at scale." Francis Goh, Chief Operating Officer of X-Press Feeders, added, "As a global shipping company, we recognise the responsibility we have to safeguard the oceans that sustain global trade. Our collaboration with S...

Capital Evolution, the New American Economy - Book Review American capitalism is at a crossroads. Economic anxiety, political polarisation and the thinning of the middle class have made this unavoidable. Capital Evolution addresses this moment directly. Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride ask what form of capitalism can still offer a fair chance to most people, and what kind of economic model the United States is now drifting toward. The authors begin with the lived reality behind the debate: rising costs, fragile families, people shifting from job to job without building assets, and communities that never fully recovered from de-industrialisation. These examples are not used as anecdotes but as signs of a deeper structural shift. The economic model that shaped the late twentieth century no longer reflects the experience of many Americans. This is part of the backdrop to the political turbulence of recent years, including the return of Donald Trump and a renewed argument about the purpose of markets. The end of the old economic story Levine and MacBride argue that the neoliberal period, shaped by the influence of Milton Friedman, has reached its limits. Shareholder primacy, deregulation and faith in markets once promised efficiency and growth. Over time, these ideas widened inequality, weakened mobility and left many workers exposed to risk. The authors do not call for abandoning capitalism. Instead, they ask what form of capitalism can replace a model that no longer sustains the broad middle class it once relied upon. Policy Instability and Economic Uncertainty One of the strongest parts of the book examines the instability created by unpredictable policy. The authors describe how shifts in tariffs, trade rules and regulatory signals have increased uncertainty for businesses of all sizes. Several interviewees note how difficult long-term planning has become when rules can change quickly. This is not a debate about ideology but about reliability. Markets need steady ground beneath them. When policy becomes erratic, investment weakens and risk-taking declines. A System Moving Toward Industrial Strategy The authors place this in a wider context: the United States is experimenting with a more assertive industrial posture, particularly in strategic sectors. They describe the expansion of trade barriers and the emergence of a modern industrial policy, without judging it as good or bad. The question they raise is whether these changes are building a more productive system or simply adding volatility. What Dynamic Capitalism means The centre of the book is the idea of Dynamic Capitalism, it is not a blueprint but a direction. The authors argue that capitalism evolves, and that the next stage must focus on widening access to ownership, rebuilding economic mobility, reinforcing the rule of law and restoring trust in reliable information. Their emphasis on information is particularly strong. The epilogue argues that capitalism cannot function without truth. Reliable information underpins markets, contracts and risk-taking. If access to trustworthy information narrows, power concentrates and innovation suffers. As they write, "Capitalism cannot function without truth," and, "If these foundations erode at a national level, the viability of the American free market system itself could be at risk." Real-World Voices: What Entrepreneurs Say A number of founder and leader interviews illustrate this point. Dan Schulman of PayPal describes how redesigning pay structures and improving transparency changed internal culture. "Employee engagement skyrocketed," he told the authors, and he dismissed the old dichotomy outright: "This whole idea that profit and purpose are at odds with each other is ridiculous." These examples support the authors' argument that values, incentives and clear information matter inside real businesses. Other perspectives Viewed from outside the United States, many of the pressures described in Capital Evolution resonate ...

Vodafone Business has announced it has won the prestigious 2025 Microsoft Telco Partner of the Year Award. The company was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. With over 2.4 million customers in Ireland, Vodafone is the leading tech and connectivity partner to six in ten Irish businesses, supporting SMEs, large, and public services. Vodafone Ireland, in partnership with Microsoft, enables businesses of all sizes to unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365. We drive Copilot adoption, strengthen security with Microsoft Defender, and deliver unique Teams Phone Mobile integration to support secure, connected hybrid workforces. Our Microsoft service offerings extends to Azure cloud migration and managed services, ensuring compliance, performance optimisation, and peace of mind. Combined with Vodafone's industry-specific connectivity solutions, we empower organisations to thrive in a secure, connected, and future-ready environment. "When two technology leaders come together, we can make a real difference to our customers." said Marika Auramo, CEO Vodafone Business. "Winning this accolade is a real testament to our exceptional sales and technology teams, who work tirelessly to build industry leading services that deliver value. Our partnership with Microsoft sets the blueprint for combined scale, expertise and offers a diverse product portfolio to empower small businesses to thrive in a digital world." The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognise Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft Cloud applications, services, , and AI innovation in the past year. Awards were classified in various categories with honourees chosen from more than 4,600 nominations across more than 100 countries. Vodafone Business was recognised for providing outstanding solutions and services in telecommunications. Also welcoming the award, Director of Vodafone Business in Ireland, Jo Gilfoy said: This global recognition reflects the investment we've made in our Microsoft business, both locally and globally, and our commitment to helping customers embrace digital transformation with confidence. Whether it's AI-driven tools, cybersecurity, cloud, or telephony, our combined expertise empowers businesses to unlock growth and resilience in a rapidly changing market." The award highlights Vodafone's ability to secure scalable Microsoft solutions for Irish businesses, backed by global expertise. Recent initiatives include enhanced managed services for Microsoft 365 and Teams integration tailored for SMEs and enterprise customers in Ireland. This commitment is backed by significant investment in local expertise - with Vodafone Ireland contributing to the expansion of Microsoft-certified professionals across the business, to ensure best-in-class support for Irish businesses. Leading to Vodafone Ireland also recently being awarded Microsoft's Infrastructure designation for Azure. "Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards," said Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft. "This year, our partners have harnessed the transformative power of Microsoft's Cloud and AI platforms to deliver transformative solutions that redefine the boundaries of innovation. The energy and ingenuity across our ecosystem continue to inspire us. The 2025 honourees exemplify what's possible when technology and vision unite to empower customers around the world." The 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced ahead of Microsoft Ignite, which was held in San Francisco between the 18th to 21st of November. For more information on the award, please visit: Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards 2025 See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's ...

Ahead of the busiest retail weeks of the year, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping period, Bank of Ireland is advising consumers to remain vigilant of purchase scams. Recent analysis by Bank of Ireland's Fraud team revealed that purchase scam cases rose by 47% in the first half of 2025 when compared to the final six months of 2024. The monetary value of losses associated with these scam cases rose by 16%, with consumers being defrauded on items ranging from cosmetics to electronics, garden tools to concert tickets. Online purchases tend to rise in the second half of the year, as Bank of Ireland card spending analysis reveals that online outlay was higher on cosmetics (+34%), and electrical goods (+39%) between July and December 2024 when compared to the first six months of 2025. This consumer trend is emphasised further with online clothes shopping spend 22% higher in the second six months of 2024 when compared to the first half of 2025, as demand for the latest fashions increases as the year draws to a close. Given these spending pattern hikes it is not surprising that many consumers will be looking to grab an on-trend beauty product, the latest fashion item or a tech bargain over the coming weeks. With purchasing overall reaching peak levels, fraudsters take advantage of the increased online retail traffic, targeting these key gifting categories including electronics, beauty products and clothing. They are highly skilled at creating fake websites that appear genuine, displaying the latest "styles" at "keen" prices to lure people into purchasing top-end clothing at seemingly giveaway rates. Once the payment is transferred, the scam is complete and the seller usually cuts all contact, and the product doesn't arrive. Bank of Ireland's advice to customers when making a purchase during the busy retail period: Before paying in full, ensure you have enough information about the item, and where possible, view it in person. Beware of pop-up ads on your social media feed or ads on online market places (fraudsters can pay to have their ads appear there). Go directly to the online shopping site by typing the web address into your web browser. Links in unsolicited emails or on social media are not always safe and should be avoided. Research and read trusted reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine. Try and pay by debit or credit card, as this could give you additional protection such as chargeback claims. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: "With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas fast-approaching fraudsters will be redoubling their efforts to target people. It's only natural that consumers will be on the lookout to snap up the latest bargains over the coming weeks, but our advice continues to be that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. The 47% rise in purchase scams in the first half of this year underlines the need for people to stay vigilant, to buy from trusted outlets and websites, and to avoid complacency when shopping online or in person." Anyone suspecting they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can try to stop the fraud, and try to recover the funds. 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, Fa...

Ekco, one of Europe's leading security-first managed service providers, has announced the opening of its new headquarters, featuring a state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC), in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock. The opening comes as Ekco is targeting revenues exceeding €100 million in Ireland and €200 million globally by year-end 2025. Together, the new HQ and SOC will enable Ekco to accelerate its growth in Ireland, boost cyber resilience for businesses, and deliver an enhanced offering to customers. This is Ekco's third global SOC and builds on the success of its existing cybersecurity facilities in the UK and Malaysia. It will help to meet growing customer demand for advanced cybersecurity products and services. The SOC will combine advanced threat detection capabilities with Ekco's expert analysts to identify and respond to threats quickly, and protect businesses from evolving cyber risks. It will also support compliance and enable businesses to align with regulatory requirements, while safeguarding personal and company information. The SOC can automatically take action when serious threats are detected, including isolating affected devices without the need for manual intervention, helping to ensure faster protection. Ekco's incident response team has also grown in order to respond to security incidents more effectively, with responses to potential threats increasing by more than 200% over thepast six months. Following a number of strategic acquisitions in Ireland - amounting to seven in the last two years - the new HQ will provide a central hub for Ekco's approximately 500 employees in Ireland. It will contribute to enhanced collaboration between teams to facilitate more comprehensive customer solutions, while also streamlining processes and service delivery. In addition, the new HQ provides boosted capacity and will enable the company to expand its customer base in Ireland, with plans to increase the number of customers by 15% in 2026. This will include growth in the public, finance, legal, and professional services sectors. Ekco is also on a path of aggressive global growth and is continuing to expand in key international markets including the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S. Steve MacNicholas, CEO Ireland, Ekco, said: "The opening of our new Dublin headquarters signifies our commitment to safeguarding businesses and driving consistent growth for Ekco in Ireland. We are on an exciting acquisition path, supplemented by planned organic growth, and this new hub will provide a central location for employees to collaborate. Furthermore, as our team continues to grow internationally, this state-of-the-art facility cements our commitment to Ireland as a leader in cybersecurity. "The launch of our third SOC represents a significant step for our business as we look to meet the ever-increasing demand for future-ready cybersecurity services. This will enable us to deliver an enhanced service to our customers, ultimately helping businesses to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, and provide our solutions to an increased client base." 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 opportunity to unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs across the island has been given a boost with the announcement that InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, is launching three new programmes to enable women-led businesses to grow, innovate and scale. The suite of programmes, set to commence at the start of 2026, will support women entrepreneurs at every stage, from early ventures to scaling already established businesses. Participants will gain access to expert mentorship, tailored support, workshops and networking opportunities that will accelerate their business growth. The three new programmes, supported by the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme funded by the Government of Ireland, include: WeBuild - A tech programme designed to empower women entrepreneurs to accelerate their tech-driven business ideas, and develop tech-enabled ventures focusing on innovation, AI learning and building strong, future-ready businesses. This programme is delivered by TechFoundHer. WeGrow - A growth programme for established women-led SMEs who are aiming for growth and expansion across the island and seeking to reflect on their business potential. This programme is delivered by Women in Business NI and Network Ireland. WeScale - A scaling programme dedicated towards empowering women entrepreneurs to scale strategically and sustainably, blending world-class learning, bespoke mentoring and investor access. This programme is delivered by AwakenHub. Speaking about the launch of the new programmes, Michelle Billham, Assistant Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, said: "We are proud to lead the way in supporting women's entrepreneurship across the island. InterTradeIreland, in collaboration with our key delivery partners, is delighted to facilitate the delivery of these new programmes to empower women-owned businesses to scale operations, secure investment, and enhance leadership for international expansion, ultimately leading to increased confidence and market entry readiness for participants." Mary Gormley, Head of Entrepreneurship at Invest Northern Ireland, said: "We recognise the extraordinary potential, innovation, and resilience that women entrepreneurs bring to our economy, and we are delighted to be working in partnership to support women's entrepreneurship. "Driving entrepreneurship through collaborative working is central to economic growth. Alongside Invest NI's Ambition to Grow: Supporting Women programme, these new programmes will empower our women entrepreneurs to start, grow and scale their businesses and connect them with other ambitious female founders across the island. "By providing targeted support and fostering an inclusive business environment, the programmes will bolster our work to increase the number of female entrepreneurs and help them to unlock new global opportunities and create good jobs." Carol Gibbons, Head of Entrepreneurship at Enterprise Ireland, said: "Enterprise Ireland is committed to encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting female entrepreneurs in achieving their growth ambitions in international markets. As part of our commitment to diversity, we are passionate about ensuring women founders have the support they need to succeed. Together with InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, we are delighted to announce the Women Entrepreneurship programme aimed at ambitious women looking to take their businesses to the next level. This trio of programmes engages participants with insights and experiences to succeed and provides the right connections to strengthen and accelerate their business." Applications for WeBuild, WeGrow and WeScale are now open. For more information on the programmes or to apply, visit https://intertradeireland.com/entrepreneurship/womens-entrepreneurship-enquiry-form. 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. ...

A new national survey challenges the popular narrative that Irish people are largely fearful of AI, and uncovers a clear generational divide in attitudes toward it. When asked about AI and employment, the survey of 1,039 adults - conducted by Ipsos B&A on behalf of Irish tech company, the UX Design Institute - shows 41 per cent expressed a negative view, 31 per cent were positive, and 28 per cent were neutral. This suggests that while concern exists, 59 per cent are neutral or positive, indicating that most people do not see AI as an inevitable threat to jobs and are keeping an open mind about its impact. Positivity towards AI is strongest among younger adults: 42 per cent of 16-24-year-olds feel positive about AI's impact on jobs, compared with just 22 per cent of those aged 50 and over. The research also shows that AI tools have gone mainstream in Irish workplaces, with 65 per cent of employees saying they now use them in their jobs at least occasionally, and 14 per cent using them daily. This rises to 20 per cent for 16-24 year olds. "The conversation about AI and jobs has become dominated by fear," said Colman Walsh, CEO of the UX Design Institute, which has recently launched a suite of AI courses for those working in the digital space. "But our data shows a more balanced reality. Yes, some are cautious but most people are open-minded or optimistic about its potential impact. They're curious, not panicked." "That's a very healthy place for Ireland to be as we navigate this technological shift." Only 35 per cent of all adults say they never use AI at work - a figure that drops to 24 per cent among 16-24-year-olds, but rises to almost half (48 per cent) among those aged 50 and over. This highlights how generational exposure is influencing adoption. However, only 15 per cent feel very confident they're using AI to its full potential. This drops to 6 per cent amongst those aged 50 and over, showing how older workers risk being left behind. Those who feel positive about AI and are confident using it are significantly more likely to be using it often in their work. 63 per cent say that training would be valuable. This rises to 71 per cent among desk-based workers, suggesting particularly strong demand for AI training among professionals in roles where these tools are most relevant. "Irish professionals are already using AI. They just want to get better at it," Walsh added. "The findings suggest a workforce that's keen to learn and experiment, but still figuring out how to make AI part of everyday work. The next step is helping people gain the confidence and skills to use it more effectively." To help address the confidence and skills gap revealed by the survey, the UX Design Institute has launched a new suite of live online certificate courses for digital teams to harness AI in their day-to-day work. "Our training programmes bridge the gap between curiosity and confidence," Walsh added. "They are designed for anyone working in digital who wants to stay up to speed with this new world." "With AI developing at an incredible pace, we've designed these courses to be delivered live, allowing us to respond quickly to new developments and emerging best practices." The new UX Design Institute courses cover customised AI training for teams working in the digital space as well as specialist courses covering AI for UX, user research and prototyping. See more stories here.

Satellite-based Earth observation provides a unique and powerful tool in tracking climate adaptation, an international study involving University of Galway researchers has shown. A team at the University's Ryan Institute is helping to pioneer new methods of combining data recorded from space with artificial intelligence to measure actions that help communities, ecosystems and infrastructure adjust to current and future climate impacts in the global agrifood sector. Title image details : captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission on 26 October 2025 shows the 'brightness temperature' at the top of Hurricane Melissa as it barrelled through the Caribbean Sea towards Jamaica. Credit - European Space Agency. Satellites to track climate adaptation The science behind it allows assessments of even the most remote agricultural regions in the world, where ground measurements are sparse or too challenging. The findings feature in a European Space Agency (ESA)-led study, published this week in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science to coincide with COP30. The researchers mapped the potential for Earth observation in supporting different targets in the framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), a key action under the Paris Agreement from 2015, which aims to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate impacts. Their analysis found that many of the most critical changes to climate, known as Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), can be directly used to understand and support climate adaptation action. Focusing on four key sectors - agriculture, biodiversity, extreme events and health - the study reveals how space-based data offers something no other monitoring system can provide: truly global coverage with objective and repeatable measurements spanning up to 60 years. Professor Aaron Golden, research team leader at the University's Ryan Institute and co-author of the study, said: "The analysis highlights the vital and unique role satellites play in supporting the Paris Agreement's Global Goal on Adaptation. The knowledge capability of consistent, long-term observations offers policymakers tools to measure progress and identify regions at risk." The research team highlighted concrete applications of earth observation science across four key themes: Agriculture: satellites monitor water productivity, irrigation efficiency, and crop migration patterns. Biodiversity conservation: platforms like Global Mangrove Watch and Global Forest Watch provide crucial geospatial information on ecosystem extent and changes. Extreme events: satellites characterise flood extent, drought anomalies and urban heat islands at scales impossible with ground-based stations alone. Health sector: Earth observation data on land surface temperature and air quality inform heat exposure assessments and disease outbreak forecasting. Dr Sarah Connors, Climate Applications Scientist at ESA, the study's lead author said: "Earth observation data should be considered as an integral part of the Global Goal on Adaptation indicators. Our research demonstrates that satellite data can inform adaptation tracking across many sectors, but it must be integrated into the indicator framework from the outset - as experience with the Sustainable Development Goals shows, it's much harder to introduce later." Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the University of Galway's Ryan Institute, said: "This research exemplifies the world-class, impact-driven research emerging from the Ryan Institute and our growing Geospatial Centre. By using satellite Earth observation data to better understand and track global climate adaptation, Professor Golden's work reinforces the vital role that cutting-edge interdisciplinary research plays in addressing the climate crisis and shaping international climate policy." Professor Golden added: "I am delighted the impact our research in quantifying climate adaptation in food production using AI and earth observation data has had in providing a direct ...

Northern Ireland based Plaswire, a leader in recycling solutions, has announced a groundbreaking initiative that uses blockchain, IoT and AI technology to revolutionise the recycling of wind turbine blades, unlocking a seismic opportunity for other sectors, including aerospace. Wind Turbine Blade Recycling Partnering with digital trade specialist company ubloquity, the new system sets a new global standard for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, delivering transparent and granular traceability for Plaswire's RX polymer - a recycled composite material derived from decommissioned wind turbine blades. This marks the world's first application of blockchain to track and verify recycled polymers throughout the entire lifecycle, from blade collection to reuse. Andrew Billingsley, CEO of Plaswire, explains: "By 2035, millions of wind turbine blades installed in the 2000s and 2010s will reach the end of their 20-30 year lifespan, creating millions of tonnes of composite waste. Europe alone is expected to generate around 350,000 tonnes of end-of-life blades by 2030 - this presents both a significant challenge and opportunity for sustainable recycling and circular economy solutions, such as those pioneered by Plaswire. "This collaboration with ubloquity marks a major step forward for the recycling of wind turbine blades. For the first time, we can provide complete transparency on the journey of every kilogram of our RX polymer, from its origin in decommissioned wind turbine blades to its next life in new products - all in real-time. That level of traceability is transformative for industries under increasing pressure to cut their environmental impact and achieve ambitious sustainability goals. We are particularly excited about the opportunities this creates for the aerospace and defence sectors where the highest levels of traceability and transparency are not just desired; they are essential." Working with the major global wind developers, Plaswire fully recycles wind turbine blades into durable RX polymer, which is then used for construction, packaging, logistics parts and furniture. With this new blockchain solution added to the process, the company offers its extended customer base a fully traceable, sustainable solution supporting the principles of the circular economy. Rick Atherton, Technical Project Manager at ubloquity, added: "Trust and transparency are essential if recycled materials are to be widely adopted. By implementing our digital product passport (DPP) and combining Plaswire's processing and shop floor recycling data, we can demonstrate exactly where their polymer originates and how it is reused. This gives industries the confidence to choose recycled composites over virgin materials and helps them deliver on their sustainability commitments." Plaswire believes this solution could extend beyond the energy sector, particularly into aerospace, where thousands of aircraft are expected to be retired over the next decade, producing significant volumes of composite waste. The company estimates that its new system could cut carbon emissions by 2.7 tonnes of CO? for every ton of material processed, significantly driving a circular economy. Dr Leslie Orr, Director of ADS Northern Ireland said: "Net Zero carbon is a key goal for the aerospace industry. It is great to see two Northern Ireland companies working together addressing a global issue. This recycling tracking solution from Plaswire and ubloquity is an innovative contribution to our industry, to recycling and to the environmental protection of our planet." About Plaswire Plaswire develops recycling solutions for hard-to-process materials such as wind turbine blades and aircraft interiors, creating new resources like RX Polymer to replace high-carbon virgin materials. Plaswire is deeply committed to the pursuit of a net-zero future, where every action and decision is guided by the principles of environmental responsibility. About ubloquity Based in B...

HRLocker, Ireland's leading HRIS platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the country's premier payroll services provider, Paycheck Plus by IRIS, to deliver a seamless, end-to-end, integrated payroll and HR experience for SMEs across Ireland and the UK. By uniting HRLocker's management platform with Paycheck Plus's payroll expertise, the partnership addresses a critical gap in the SME market: a lack of integration between HR systems and payroll services. The seamless all-in-one solution eliminates data silos, streamlines processes, and ensures greater accuracy across the employee lifecycle. With a phased rollout in the fourth quarter of 2025, existing customers will benefit from the combined offering in the months ahead. Notably, SMEs will gain a single source of truth for employee data, automated information flow between HR and payroll, and synchronised processes that improve compliance while reducing errors. "This partnership is about giving SMEs clarity and confidence," said HRLocker CEO, Crystel Robbins Rynne. "HRLocker is focused on delivering the practical tools SMEs need to manage growth with accuracy and ease. By connecting HR and payroll into a single solution, we're enabling businesses to spend less time on admin and more time on their people." "Paycheck Plus's mission has always been to simplify payroll for businesses. Partnering with HRLocker extends that simplicity across the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency for our clients," added IRIS Senior Director, Brona Grogan. "This collaboration reflects IRIS's commitment to improving the way people work by making business processes more efficient. Together, HRLocker and Paycheck Plus are setting a new standard for integrated HR and payroll in Ireland and the UK." As part of the new strategic partnership, HRLocker CEO Crystel Robbins Rynne and Paycheck Plus Lead Product Manager Niall Clarke hosted a free 45-minute webinar on Thursday 20th November at 11am. This informative and practical session will help employers understand and prepare for changing compliance demands arising from Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme, which begins on 1 January 2026. For more information, and to receive a recording of the webinar, visit: https://www.hrlocker.com/webinars/auto-enrolment-in-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.

Technology to improve rowing athletes' performances, zero-waste clothing design, and a safer and more comfortable Intrauterine Device (IUD) were among the start-ups highlighted at this year's University College Cork's IGNITE Autumn Showcase. The third-level graduates supported by the university's flagship incubation programme began working on their ideas this year and are hoping to develop them into a company with the assistance of IGNITE. The 2025 Autumn Showcase follows IGNITE's recent success in securing a €1 million Higher Education Authority (HEA) Award for exemplary performance and impact. The HEA evaluated Impact Assessment Case Studies, which were submitted by higher education institutions earlier this year. IGNITE emerged as one of five winning submissions. IGNITE is based at UCC and is open to anyone who has graduated from a third-level institution in recent years and has the passion and ambition to work on an idea that has the potential for economic, environmental or social impact. The annual showcase gives the IGNITE participants an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and potential investors. IGNITE has supported nearly 250 founders since it was established in 2011. The programme is a joint initiative by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork and North and West Cork and University College Cork. Eamon Curtin, Director of IGNITE, said: "We are proud at IGNITE to support talented founders in developing their innovative business ideas into scalable and sustainable start-ups that deliver real social and economic value. The HEA Award is a testament to not only the great work carried out by our community of entrepreneurs, but also to the support provided to us by the Local Enterprise Offices, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Bank of Ireland, without whom the programme would not be possible." Among the 14 start-ups currently supported by University College Cork's IGNITE Start-Up Incubation Programme are: Roteq - founded by Will Gunnarson and Sam O'Neill. Roteq empowers rowing athletes to reach their full potential by providing actionable insights into their performance. By processing data from a phone's built-in sensors, the programme delivers real-time performance metrics. These quantifiable metrics allow instant feedback and tracking of an athlete's technical and physiological progress on the water, making it easier than ever to achieve their goals. The Zero Waster - founded by Sarah O'Neill. Sarah is a designer whose work is grounded in the principles of regenerative design. With a deep-rooted respect for natural materials, traditional craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility, Sarah challenges the norms of the fashion industry through innovative reuse and transparency. Creating unique, wearable pieces from reclaimed and natural materials, showing that waste can be reimagined without compromising creativity or quality. Elithiya - founded by Isabelle Curran. Isabelle is a Product Design & Technology graduate from the University of Limerick and the founder of Elithiya, a women's health innovation focused on redesigning the intrauterine device (IUD) experience. Over the past year, she has collaborated with clinicians, FemTech founders, and patients worldwide to identify gaps in reproductive healthcare and develop a softer, more informed IUD insertion experience through redesigned tools and supportive digital technology. 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 no...

New research published by Repak has revealed that the Irish public will be more eco-conscious this Christmas. Almost 1 in 3 (30%) adults in Ireland are going to upcycle items to gift to a loved one and a similar amount (33%) will buy gifts that can have a second life to ensure that they last longer. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) shoppers see sustainability as an important factor when buying gifts, looking for products that are locally produced and whose packaging is recyclable. This eco-conscious mindset extends beyond gift giving, with almost half of households planning on reducing how much they spend on food and drink in a bid to cut back on waste. The days of buying mountains of wrapping paper are also over, with 57% opting to put presents in reusable or recyclable gift bags and over 4 in 10 (43%) planning on using wrapping paper that they have saved or newspaper to wrap gifts. Two thirds (66%) of the public are also planning on saving and storing gift packaging for next year. Local recycling centres are also set to see a spike in footfall after Christmas day, with two thirds (66%) of households planning to make a visit to dispose of waste. The Irish public is also getting creative with how they are giving their home a festive makeover, with approximately a third (30%) planning on using homemade decorations. Commenting on the research Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh said: "Irish households are finding creative, thoughtful ways to make Christmas more eco-friendly, from upcycling gifts and reusing wrapping paper to cutting down on food waste. The fact that almost four in five shoppers are actively seeking locally produced and recyclable products speaks volumes about how engrained sustainability is becoming as part of our Christmas planning. At Repak, we want to make recycling simple, and we're here to help households recycle right this Christmas. Small actions like making sure all items are clean, dry and loose before recycling, make a big difference". Approximately 102,000 tonnes of packaging waste will be generated this Christmas and Repak is encouraging households to give back to the environment where possible. To make a real difference, shoppers should focus on recycling the packaging we use most in December: wrapping paper, boxes and mixed packaging. Repak's key Christmas recycling tips to follow are: The golden rule: Clean, Dry and Loose. Separate & flatten: Break down boxes; keep items loose (don't bag out items into each other) Waste in the right place: Check out repak.ie for guidance on what can go into your recycling bin this Christmas. Recycle it all: Cardboard, paper, all plastic, metals, tins and foil belong in your recycling bin. For dedicated Christmas recycling tips, visit repak.ie and follow Repak on TikTok and Instagram for the chance to win a €100 OneAll voucher as they share more top Christmas recycling tips. Instagram: @repakrecycling Facebook: @RepakRecycling 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.

Trees for Life is to launch a pioneering Missing Species Programme to bring back four of Scotland's lost keystone animals - lynx, beavers, red squirrels, and modern-day aurochs - to the Scottish Highlands. The plans aim to tackle the nature and climate emergencies while generating significant benefits for communities, including through nature tourism, says the rewilding charity. This ambitious programme will require £3.6m to fund its first five years and achieve its aims, including for detailed habitat assessments and community engagement to meet Scotland's strict licensing requirements. Aurochs will benefit landscapes Alongside a supporter appeal launched this month to raise an initial £25,000 to kickstart the initiative, Trees for Life is reaching out to major funders - including individuals, businesses, foundations and grant-making bodies - to help resource the ambitious new programme. Keystone species play a vital role in healthy living ecosystems. Many such species are now fully or mostly missing from Scotland, one of the world's most nature-depleted countries, where centuries of persecution and habitat destruction have caused localised extinctions or serious declines. "By bringing back the forest-planting red squirrel, flood-preventing beaver, deer-managing lynx, and landscape-shaping aurochs through their modern-day descendant the tauros, we can restore nature at scale and breathe new life into the Highlands, so people and wildlife can thrive together," said Trees for Life's chief executive Steve Micklewright. "Returning these four important, carefully-chosen architects of the wild is about restarting the natural engines of Scotland's ecosystems - boosting biodiversity, climate action and local economies, and giving people the chance to discover the wonder of a wilder landscape. The Highlands can become a beacon of hope in the fight against extinction and wildlife loss." Ensuring successful coexistence between wildlife and people is crucial, says Trees for Life. This includes thorough community discussions, management measures, and ensuring local people can enjoy the social and economic benefits. Successful species reintroductions in Scotland require extensive technical work, including habitat assessments and engagement with stakeholders, meeting the standards set by NatureScot, Scotland's nature agency. This allows nature to recover, while promoting coexistence between people and wildlife, and ensuring each species finds its rightful place. Beavers create wetlands that support wildlife, purify water, and reduce flooding. Sometimes the species can cause issues for farmland, although these can usually be managed. Officially reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 after being hunted to extinction 400 years ago, beavers have only been restored to a few sites, and are missing from much suitable habitat. A Trees for Life and Forestry and Land Scotland partnership project led to the historic reintroduction of beavers to Glen Affric in October. A community discussion by Trees for Life and Beaver Trust is looking at the potential for returning beavers to the Loch Ness area. Elusive and no threat to humans, the forest-dwelling Eurasian lynx preys on deer, complementing other methods of managing deer numbers - enabling more young trees to survive and woodlands to regenerate. Scotland - where lynx were made extinct in the Middle Ages - is one of a few countries of the species' range from which it remains missing. Research shows the Highlands has the habitat to support a breeding population of 250 lynx. Through the Lynx to Scotland partnership, Trees for Life has worked for five years with diverse stakeholders to assess what an official reintroduction might involve, from sheep predation to eco-tourism benefits, and is preparing for further local discussions in 2026. Tauros are classified as domestic cattle, but have no equivalent breed. They have been 'back-bred' by scientists in the Netherlands to be as similar as possible to the anci...

Bonsucro, the global leader in promoting sustainable sugarcane, has announced a new partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to advance the Climate Resilience Platform (CRP) and extend its utility for sugarcane and cotton producers globally. This collaboration is delivered in close partnership with Better Cotton, as part of Bonsucro's Climate Action Toolkit initiative. Farmers Tackle Climate Challenges, COP30 Developed initially by Pepsico, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Climate Resilience Platform translates the latest climate science into actionable information for farmers and agri-businesses, helping them anticipate yield risks and implement strategic, targeted interventions. The open-access, digital platform is powered by CGIAR, the world's largest public agricultural research partnership, guaranteeing robust, unbiased insights trusted by over 100 countries.? This latest phase of the Climate Resilience Platform will extend its capabilities to sugarcane producers in Latin America, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, and Southeast Asia, as well as cotton growers in India and Brazil. Bonsucro members will be able to use the newly developed tools to assess local climate threats and prepare resilience plans, offering practical support to tackle climate impact challenges.? Mike Ogg, Regional Manager for Africa and Middle East, Bonsucro commented "Climate resilience is critical for producers in regions facing increasingly unpredictable weather and market conditions. By joining the Climate Resilience Platform, Bonsucro will help more producers harness the latest scientific insights and practical tools to plan and protect livelihoods." The Climate Resilience Platform brings scientific rigour to a range of agricultural practices and increases public access to research, supporting sustainable food and energy systems at a critical time for the sectors. "Bonsucro is investing in innovative tools to enable our members and partners to adapt to fast-changing risks of the climate emergency and support collaborative efforts to transform agriculture systems in critical sectors and regions." said Danielle Morley CEO, Bonsucro.? "We are proud to partner with Bonsucro by bringing the benefits of the Climate Action Toolkit to cotton producers. Recognising the crucial role of adaptation to support farmers in the face of a changing climate, this collaboration exemplifies our commitment to meeting farmer needs and sharing innovation across agricultural sectors." said Klara Shepard, Senior Climate Impact Coordinator at the Better Cotton Initiative. These developments happen as COP30 gets under way, reflecting the urgent focus on resilient, sustainable food and agricultural systems worldwide. The Climate Resilience Platform's open-access, collaborative approach aligns with Bonsucro's mission to make sustainable sugarcane the economic, environmental, and responsible choice for producers, communities, and markets everywhere.? About Bonsucro Bonsucro is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the sustainable production of sugarcane. As a multi-stakeholder membership platform, convening more than 350 members in over 50 countries, Bonsucro enables collaboration, certification, and innovation for continuous improvement. Bonsucro is ISEAL Code Compliant. Its system has been independently evaluated against ISEAL's Codes of Good Practice- a globally-recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. About ISEAL Innovation Fund The Bonsucro Climate Action Toolkit project is possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund. The ISEAL Innovations Fund is ISEAL's grant making-facility, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and UK International Development from the UK government. It supports the exploration of innovations that help sustain...