Ireland has the potential to become a global digital leader – that was the message from Minister of State for Small Business John Perry at a special ‘digital workshop’ in Dublin recently.
Addressing digital researchers and industry leaders at the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) hosted event, Minister Perry said that Ireland’s “internationally recognised” scientific research base has particular strength in the ICT sector.
He added: “Just as there are a multitude of opportunities in relation to tools, content and digital architecture, there are now also abundant challenges that we collectively need to work through in order to realise the undoubted potential of Ireland in becoming a global digital leader.”
Minister Perry identified the Government’s pledge to developing Ireland as a ‘Digital Island’ as a key policy objective, with specific commitments in relation to cloud computing, e-Government, and the upgrading of ICT across education, healthcare and other sectors.
“By delivering results on many of these challenges we will enhance our potential to create high quality jobs by both small business and large-scale employers,” he added.
SFI’s workshop was hosted to address the most pressing needs of companies operating in the tech/digital arena, with issues such as accessibility, speed, capacity, identity, privacy, trust and security now focal points for businesses in their day-to-day operations.
Also speaking was Dr Ruth Freeman, director of enterprise and international affairs at SFI, who said it is “essential that the upwards trend of collaboration between academics and industry across the sciences also occurs in the area of digital research”.
“We have a large number of the world’s largest technology companies on our doorstep, employing thousands of highly-skilled personnel and working closely with our higher education institutions, so the context for engagement, dialogue and progress is ideal.“
She also highlighted the issue of the ‘digital divide’ within the wider technology industry.
“These digital divisions manifest themselves when resources, expertise and policies are not pooled or where duplication and other inefficiencies are allowed to become part of daily routines,” she said.
