A new report has found that 63% of businesses in the Irish immersive technology sector expect to grow in the coming 12 months. The sector, which shows significant potential for future growth, is currently worth over €43 million.
Titled ‘The Irish Immersive Economy’, the report found that there is ample opportunity for Irish immersive tech businesses to excel on a global scale, with 80% of Irish immersive businesses are exporting to Europe and internationally.
Investment in the sector is also robust with a majority of organisations surveyed certain they will either make a major investment (22.2%) or exploring new applications (40.5%), with a further 18.5% seeing a possibility of investing in the next 12 months.
Commissioned by Immersive Technologies Skillnet, Animation Skillnet and Screen Skillnet, all promoted by Dublin Business lnnovation Centre (DBIC), the report outlined Ireland’s current immersive technology capacity and capabilities.
The report also explored the most critical barriers to growth in the sector, and highlighted that significant strategic support is required to capitalise on these new opportunities. Five main barriers to growth of the sector include shortages in talent (44.9%), funding (44.1%), knowledge (31.5%) and time (31.5%), as well as a lack of an ecosystem (29.9%).
Sectors where immersive technologies are finding the widest application including education and research, software development, and training and skills.
Real-life impact
It also showed the real-life impact of immersive technologies and the benefits it can offer Irish businesses and people.
BioPharmaChem Skillnet recently collaborated with TU Dublin to develop a VR programme called Powder Handling for Pharma Manufacturing. Using VR, the programme allows participants to learn powder handling essentials – a critical process in pharmaceutical manufacturing – in a low-risk environment – significantly reducing training costs as workers virtually perform activities in a simulated environment.
Immersive tech is also helping many organisations who are unlikely to go back to a full “office only” model. MeetingRoom has built a secure and scalable end to end VR enterprise solution to encourage collaboration where people cannot be in the same room together, proving especially useful for sessions that do not work well on standard video calls, such as workshops, brainstorming, site tours and audits.
“Immersive technologies have evolved rapidly in recent years,” said Tracey Donnery, executive director, Skillnet Ireland. “For Ireland to be a global leader in this space, we need to ensure the immersive technologies talent base reflects not just current business demands but the challenges of future growth in existing and new markets. Central to achieving our potential in this space will be developing a robust skills and talent pipeline, a world class research and development framework, and relevant business supports to start-ups and scaling up existing businesses.”
Susan Talbot, network manager, Immersive Technologies Skillnet, said: “This much needed body of work not only gives us a baseline for future research around the Irish immersive ecosystem, but will help align thinking and aid key decision makers moving forward. From a Network perspective, the recommendations will ensure a continued industry-led approach in building Ireland’s immersive talent pool.”
“This important report was commissioned to gain a better understanding of Ireland’s emerging immersive technology ecosystem and talent needs,” said Camille Donegan, director of Eirmersive and creative director of Solas VR. “It responds to a growing demand from industry itself to articulate Ireland’s unique voice and contribution to the national and global immersive technology marketplace. The report will also help inform how key government stakeholders can go further in supporting the needs of this emerging sector.”
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