A new strategy document entitled “The Global Technology Hub: How Ireland enables success for international and indigenous technology companies” has been launched by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.
The document from ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association sets out their vision for future opportunities, with trends for the industry in Ireland.
The authors argue that if the recommendations are supported, they will deliver further investment, growth and jobs. The document makes recommendations for government, academia and industry.
“This strategy provides a roadmap to future opportunities and trends for the industry which, if supported, will deliver further investment, growth and jobs. A number of key recommendations are detailed for Government, academia and industry in the implementation of this strategy,” says the document.
The document highlights six key areas for growth, digital services for business, smart cities and smart infrastructure, analytics and big data, applications, content and mobility, cloud computing and high-tech manufacturing.
The document emphasises what has been achieved already in the high tech industry here, citing figures to say that “93% of multinational companies rate their investment in Ireland a success”, while being home to “3 of the top 3 global enterprise software companies, 4 of the top 5 IT services companies” and “the top 10 ‘born on the internet’”.
The high-tech sector here, according to the document, “is responsible for €72 billion of Ireland’s exports – 40% of the national total – and 4 of the top 5 exporters in Ireland are technology companies.”
The technology industry in Ireland employs over 105,000 people across an array of diverse companies, it states. It also highlights “a scaling indigenous digital technology sector”.
According to the document, the employs more than 30,000 people with total sales of over €2 billion per annum.
“Opportunities now exist for greater collaboration between the indigenous technology sector and the burgeoning multinational technology companies. This collaboration will allow the technology community to be greater than the sum of its parts, enabling the country to become a true global technology hub,” says the document.
There are challenges, which are being experience globally, the document argues, such in the areas of skills, macro-economic conditions and a new digital landscape.
The document makes key recommendations for government, the industry and academia, under the headings of these challenges.
For the Government, under the heading of skills, education and intellectual capital, the document recommends meeting the target of doubling the annual output of honours degree ICT undergraduate programmes by 2018; increasing the number of students with strong maths skills choosing technology related undergraduate programmes; providing continuous professional development for all maths teachers; fully implementing the new National Numeracy and Literacy Strategy; building on the visa reforms outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs and implementing the recommendations and proposed actions of the report from the Research Prioritisation Steering Group in its entirety.
Under the same heading, the document recommends that industry engages with academia on ICT course content – ensure graduates are ‘work ready’; provides work placements as part of undergraduate and postgraduate courses; support Skillnets programmes and encourage the up-skilling of existing staff and promotes ICT as a career and Ireland as a location of choice to develop that career.
Under the heading of economic conditions, there are nine recommendations for government, which include: adopt technology to improve efficiencies, working through the State CIO office; reduce the burden of labour taxation in order to attract inward investment and entrepreneurship; complete the National Broadband Plan to invest in high-speed broadband at the national level; attract new entrants to the Irish banking market – review the barriers to entry, expansion and exit and encourage Irish banks to lower their cost structures to stimulate investment and drive growth.
The document also recommends that Central Technology Transfer Office, announced in the Action Plan for Jobs, should be extended “to serve as a one-stop-shop to direct researchers, innovators and companies through the range of services and funding opportunities offered by Government”.
The strategy concludes by saying that “in order to sustain our competitiveness” the six key prospects for strategic investments will deliver “investment, growth and jobs” if supported.
“In order to develop these high-potential areas for growth, it is necessary that all stakeholders are aligned in a collaborative manner and avoid duplicating efforts.”
“We must be smart and efficient. Ireland must build on its strong history of supporting and growing its technology industry. We will regularly review this strategy with a particular emphasis on the metrics identified in the report. By embracing the recommendations outlined, Ireland’s technology sector will continue to excel. We will strengthen our international reputation as a global technology hub,” the document concludes.
“With over 18,000 jobs announced in the technology sector since 2010 and exports continuing to grow, the industry is thriving,” said Paul Sweetman, director, ICT Ireland and the ISA. “The sector has the potential to deliver so much more. In order to realise this ambition, we have worked with our member companies to devise a blueprint strategy. This document sets out our vision for Ireland to retain and build upon its reputation as an attractive location for business.”
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