The event brought together approximately 70 attendees, representing around 40 companies. More importantly, it created an opportunity for enterprises to have open and practical conversations with the people and organisations that can support them as they move through different stages of innovation.
We are very fortunate in this region to have the strong support of our Local Enterprise Offices in Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly, together with Enterprise Ireland. That regional network is hugely important because, for many SMEs, knowing where to begin can often be one of the biggest barriers. A business may have an idea, a technical challenge or an opportunity for a new product, but may not necessarily know what expertise, funding or support is available to help move it forward.
That was really at the heart of the day. The event was designed to show enterprises that they do not have to navigate the innovation landscape on their own. Through TUS, the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland, companies can access research expertise, funding opportunities and practical guidance that can help them take an idea from an initial challenge through to a more developed research or innovation project. The programme itself reflected this, with a focus on research partnerships, product development, manufacturing improvements, digital technologies and access to funding.
The morning included contributions from the COMAND Gateway, alongside guest speaker Dr. Sahar Alialy, CEO and Founder of Metabloom, who brought a valuable business perspective to the discussion. The session explored how Innovation Vouchers can be used by SMEs to address real business problems and begin working with research expertise in a practical and accessible way.
This was followed by a presentation from the APT Gateway, which looked at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Partnership funding and how companies can build more substantial research collaborations as their innovation needs develop.
What made these conversations particularly useful was that the focus was not simply on individual funding schemes. Instead, businesses were able to see how different supports can connect with one another. An Innovation Voucher may be the right starting point for one company, while another may be ready for a larger research collaboration through an Innovation Partnership. The role of TUS, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices is also to help companies understand those different routes and, where possible, support them in bridging from one stage of funding or development to the next.
We were delighted to have strong representation from our regional and state agency partners on the day. Two representatives from Enterprise Ireland attended, including Joe Healy, Divisional Manager for Research, Innovation & Infrastructure, who closed the formal programme with a session on choosing the right funding path for your business. Representatives from the Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly Local Enterprise Offices also joined us, including their Heads of Enterprise, along with the Athlone Chamber Manager Tommy Hogan, Claire McGee, Head of the TUA, and a number of other regional stakeholders, including the Western Regional Authority.
Just as important as the presentations was the time built into the programme for networking, questions and discussion. Those conversations gave businesses the opportunity to speak directly with researchers, enterprise advisors and funding representatives about their own challenges and ideas. The day concluded with lunch, further networking and a guided tour of TUS innovation facilities.
The feedback following the event has been extremely positive, with attendees describing it as well organised, informative and very well attended. In particular, there was strong appreciation for the practical nature of the discussions and for having TUS, the Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland and businesses together in the same room.
Events like this are about more than showcasing individual funding programmes. They are about creating connections, building relationships and making it easier for businesses to understand what their next step might be. Whether that next step is a conversation with a researcher, an Innovation Voucher, an Innovation Partnership or another enterprise support, the aim is to make the pathway into innovation clearer and more accessible.
The event was also made possible with the support of TUS RISE, which is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021–2027. This funding support is helping TUS create more opportunities for regional businesses to connect with research expertise, innovation supports and the wider enterprise ecosystem.
Contact Research@tus.ie to start the conversation and your innovation journey.
