Category: Irish Tech News

Poolbeg Pharma signs AI deal with OneThree Biotech to identify new drug targets and treatments for RSV

Poolbeg Pharma (AIM: POLB, ‘Poolbeg’ or the ‘Company’) a clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company with a capital light clinical model, has signed an agreement with OneThree Biotech, Inc. a biology-driven artificial intelligence (‘AI’) company, to identify new drug targets and treatments for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (‘RSV’).

 Under the terms of the transaction and as aligned with Poolbeg’s strategy, OneThree Biotech’s state-of-the-art AI analysis tools will identify drug assets which target immune-response pathways, have a higher probability of clinical success and have the potential to prevent and / or treat infectious diseases. The analysis will prioritise drugs with existing Phase I safety data, reducing spend and risk, which can feed into Poolbeg’s rapid, capital light clinical development strategy and its expanding pipeline of assets. The analysis is expected to commence in Q1 2022 with preliminary outputs from this work expected in H2 2022.

OneThree Biotech is a clinically validated AI company with a proven technology platform which integrates chemical, biological, and clinical data with cutting-edge computational tools to answer complex questions surrounding disease biology and drug discovery. The team at OneThree will work closely with Poolbeg’s scientific team to build a tailored AI analysis model which can leverage the unique insights of human challenge trial data to identify disease-relevant cell signalling pathways which could lead to novel drug targets. OneThree will receive milestone payments based on candidate development and royalties on the sale of products derived from this partnership.

The Company believe that this partnership with OneThree Biotech is the first time that AI analysis has been undertaken on RSV human challenge trial data and samples to identify new drug targets. The unique nature of human challenge trials to produce disease progression data with high precision is expected to revolutionise the insights generated from this analysis. Poolbeg’s lead asset POLB 001, which is progressing towards its first human challenge trial in June 2022, was identified using such disease progression data. However, by utilising AI the Company aims to identify more targets, quicker and more cost efficiently than previously possible without this technology. 

Poolbeg entered a partnership with Eurofins Genomics in October 2021 to complete RNA sequencing of Poolbeg’s RSV disease progression samples from human challenge trials. This work was a key step in Poolbeg advancing its AI analysis programme. This RSV discovery dataset has been specifically designed for incorporation into OneThree’s AI platform. The data sets within this project will leverage up to 140Gb of biological data per subject spread over baseline healthy measurements and the course of infection which is expected to unveil unprecedented insights.

RSV is a contagious virus that affects the respiratory tract of children and at-risk older adults; in severe cases, it can cause pneumonia and other life-threatening breathing difficulties. RSV is a significant public health threat affecting an estimated 50-million people annually, leading to 4 million global hospitalisations and up to 74,500 in-hospital deaths in children under the age of 5 years. An estimated 45% of these cases and deaths occur in new-born infants under the age of 6 months.

Jeremy Skillington, PhD, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma, said:

“OneThree Biotech’s AI analysis tools will allow us to break new ground in data-driven drug discovery, by allowing us to evaluate and interrogate human challenge trial data like never before. This is a key part of our growth strategy, as we’ll be able to identify and develop drugs in a more time and cost effective manner, compared with the traditional biotech model. It will enable us to identify potential new treatments which have a higher probability of clinical success and which can feed into our rapidly expanding pipeline in-line with our capital light model.

This will be the first time that AI tools will be used to analyse RSV human challenge trial disease progression data, which illustrates the significance of this deal as well as Poolbeg’s innovative model. We look forward to updating the market on the outputs from this cutting-edge AI analysis in due course.”

Neel S. Madhukar, PhD, co-founder and CEO of OneThree Biotech, said:

“At OneThree our mission has always been to unlock new therapeutic opportunities by understanding biology on a deeper level. The ability to combine our AI platform with the data and expertise from Poolbeg Pharma will enable just that, and create an opportunity to make meaningful progress in the treatment of infectious diseases.”

 

Brad Pryde, co-founder and COO of OneThree Biotech, concluded:

 

“We have been impressed with Poolbeg Pharma’s clear dedication towards using technology and data to create efficiencies in drug discovery and development. We’re excited to demonstrate the strength of this partnership as future developments arise.”

Genesys and Connacht Rugby announce sponsorship extension

Genesys, a global cloud leader in customer experience orchestration, has announced its sponsorship with Connacht Rugby is extended for two years, linking the organisations through 2025.

The prime sponsorship includes Genesys branding featured on all Connacht Rugby apparel, as well as matchday shirts and the club’s full retail range.

Genesys will also remain the Principal Partner of the Connacht Women’s team for this extended period. Genesys became the first Title Partner of the Connacht Women in 2020, providing significant support for the growth of the women’s game in Connacht at all levels.

“The values Connacht Rugby display of inclusion and community reflect Genesys’ own deep passion for a healthy lifestyle and sense of community,” said Joe Smyth, senior vice president of Research & Development, Digital and AI at Genesys. “Our roots are firmly established in the West of Ireland thanks to the blossoming tech talent in the region and investments in organisations such as Connacht Rugby who possess the expertise to build strong communities.”

“Genesys is an organisation with huge ambition. They have made a real impact in our community over the years, through their investment in the West of Ireland and the resultant jobs they have created”, said Willie Ruane, CEO of Connacht Rugby. “We’re thrilled to continue our thriving partnership, which continues to present a fantastic opportunity to connect the local community and the wider global rugby audience.”

Following the acquisition of Galway-based AI startup Altocloud in 2018, Genesys has grown its team from 22 staff in Ireland to over 300 as of January 2022. Genesys intends to continue this momentum by hiring more than 100 employees this year, which is a positive reflection of the growing pool of talent available in the West of Ireland. The partnership with Connacht Rugby has been instrumental in helping Genesys establish its brand across Ireland. It also demonstrates Genesys’ ongoing commitment to making investments and creating new jobs in the province

Further expansion and 180 new jobs for Irish software company

Significant investment is being made in corporate expansion of Intact business in the UK and Ireland in the coming year, increasing headcount by over 180 over the next three years. The company currently employs 184 people. New recruitment will facilitate enhanced client service on the ground, locally, as well as European and global growth planning.

Intact this week officially opened its new UK headquarters in Hemel Hempstead, in the Greater London area. In December 2021, the company also opened a satellite office in Cork, with up to 20 Intact staff to be based there, supporting clients in the south west.

In 2016 the software company acquired Ramtac, one of its UK VAR partners, (value added resellers), which has facilitated expansion in the neighbouring market, alongside significant project growth on the island of Ireland.

Annual turnover, currently in the region of €17 million, has grown over 500% in the last ten years, with more than 60% growth anticipated in the coming year.

Intact is targeting around 5,000 new users annually in its target verticals of product-focused distribution and wholesale businesses.

Significant investment is being made in corporate expansion of the Irish business in the UK and Ireland in the coming year, increasing headcount by over 180 over the next three years. The company currently employs 184 people. New recruitment will facilitate enhanced client service on the ground, locally, as well as European and global growth planning.

A number of these roles each year will be via a new graduate recruitment programme, Intact Ignite, launched recently and operating in both territories.

CEO, Justin Lawless, says that dramatic consistent growth in the past ten years has established a firm base from which to roll-out the unique Intact ERP offering further, leveraging the company’s intellectual property in both domestic and global markets.

“Organic and acquisition growth is planned, and will be expedited with partnerships too, leveraging our IP globally. Complementary recruitment right across our locations will span roles from consultancy and software development to sales and marketing”.

Intact work largely with merchant, wholesale and distribution businesses, providing perfect-fit business software and technology solutions, known as ERP systems (enterprise resource planning), that enable businesses to optimally manage, automate and scale their operations.

Intact software is used across Ireland, the UK and parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand by both large and small companies. While the business largely works directly with its customers, Intact also has a network of channel partners implementing software solutions, the largest of which is Micronet Systems, based in ANZ.

Investment specialist and growth strategist, Stephen McGivern of EIIS Management Limited recently joined the Board of Intact as a Non-Executive Director.

Lennox announces acquisition of Focus Scientific Solutions, with 30 high-level jobs created

Lennox, the Irish scientific and medical solutions partner, has announced the acquisition of Focus Scientific Solutions, the Meath-based laboratory equipment specialists. This strategic investment will support the creation of 30 high-level roles over the next two years and results in Lennox becoming the largest independent Irish company in this sector.

Speaking on the announcement, Lennox CEO Leslie Brett said: “Today’s announcement represents a new phase for Lennox, building on our proud 100-year history. Over the last five years, we have prioritised investment in systems, training and logistics and have transformed the company into a tailored end-to-end solutions provider. Eight of the new roles announced today will be fulfilled in the next six months, across engineering, business analysis and ecommerce.

“There has been a lot of movement in our sector in recent years, with indigenous companies being acquired by outside investment. Our strategy is to grow independently. Focus Scientific Solutions is the first step in this strategy, allowing us to further enhance the technical service business, target new customers and expand our product portfolio.“

Director of Sales & Marketing and co-founder of Focus Scientific Solutions, Liam Coughlan, said: “There is significant scalable potential in this strategic investment, and we look forward to the opportunities, shared learnings and combined expertise that joining Lennox will bring to our customers.

“Focus Scientific has a very capable and experienced team who have partnered with some of the leading global instrument manufacturers in the sector to combine their technical expertise with our own.”

Director of Technical Sales and Service and co-founder of Focus Scientific Solutions Mike O’Connor added: “Our team provides advanced technical services and solutions working with Ireland’s leading biopharma, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. This acquisition will allow our combined resources to expand and bring this to an even higher level. Lennox’s ethos, expertise and experience will ensure we continue to deliver the highest level of personalised service.”

Founded in Dublin in 1923, Lennox employs 50 people across their sites in Dublin and Cork. Focus Scientific Solutions was founded in 2007 and is situated in Stamullen and employees 14 people.

Barry Madden of Focus Capital advised on the acquisition.

66% of people in Ireland find it creepy when their phone delivers ads based on their conversations

Two-thirds (66%) of consumers in Ireland find it creepy when their smartphone delivers ads based on their conversations, according to Deloitte’s 2022 Global Marketing Trends Consumer Survey. The survey also found that 58% are more willing to shop with brands that commit to addressing social inequities.

Deloitte’s 2022 Global Marketing Trends Consumer Survey is a survey of 11,500 consumers globally, seeking to understand emerging trends in purchasing decisions and attitudes towards data usage. 500 consumers in Ireland were surveyed.

Online is the preferred purchasing channel by consumers in Ireland across most categories, including travel (of those who made a travel-related purchase over a six-month period, 81% purchased online versus 10% who purchased in-store or in-person); clothing and footwear (67% online vs. 30% in-person); banking (63% vs. 23%); electronics (57% vs. 39%); furniture (55% vs. 42%); and motor (48% vs. 46%). In-store or in-person remains the preferred channel for purchasing household appliances (66% in-store vs. 31% online) and beauty and personal care products (62% vs. 37%).

Social media platforms are the most popular alternative purchase channel, with almost a quarter (24%) of respondents having made a purchase through a social media channel in the previous month – this rises to 39% among 18-25s and 32% among 26-45s. Social media platforms are followed by streaming services (20% of all respondents made a purchase via a streaming service in the previous month); video games (15%); voice assistants (6%); and virtual reality headsets (4%).

Commenting on the report, David Conway, Partner Lead for Deloitte Digital said: “Following the rapid digitisation that has occurred over the last two years, consumers in Ireland are increasingly using alternative channels to interact with and purchase from brands. Marketing executives should embrace hybrid purchasing solutions, going to where their customers are instead of waiting for customers to come to them.”

Purchase decision & social responsibility

When choosing a brand to shop with, 68% of consumers in Ireland are more willing to shop with brands that take actions to support their communities, followed by brands that strongly align with their personal values (65%); brands that commit to addressing climate change (61%); brands that commit to addressing social inequities (58%); and brands that take a public stance on social issues (53%).

When making a purchase, price and quality are the two most important considerations for consumers across all categories. However, other factors emerge among individual categories:

  • Banking products & services: For a quarter (25%), the most important purchasing consideration in this category is that the brand supports its community, followed by a safe purchase experience (most important consideration for 24%); that the brand commits to addressing social inequities (20%); and that it has high standards for protecting personal data (15%).
  • Motor: A quarter (25%) want to see that the brand commits to addressing social inequities, while a further quarter (25%) believe it is most important that motor brands have high standards for protecting personal data.
  • Travel: A quarter (25%) think it is most important that the brand supports its community.
  • Clothing and footwear: 14% think it is most important that the brand commits to addressing social inequities, while 13% prioritise the use of environmentally-sustainable materials and production methods.
  • Beauty and personal care: The most important consideration for 16% is the use of environmentally-sustainable materials and production methods – this rises to 36% among the 18-25 age group.

When it comes to advertising, younger consumers are more likely to notice diverse or inclusive advertising at time of purchase consideration, with recognition highest among the 18-25 age group in beauty and personal care (28%), travel (27%), furniture (21%), banking products and services (19%) and clothing and footwear (18%). Overall, travel is the category in which all respondents are most aware of diverse advertising (23%) and accessibly-designed products or services (30%).

Conway commented: “Although price and quality are undoubtedly the most important determining factors in purchase decision for consumers, when we look deeper, we see other important factors coming to the forefront that are nuanced to demographics and categories. Investing in understanding what their target demographics want and need – and taking action to respond to those wants and needs – will allow brands to become more competitive.

“Establishing KPIs to support this can help to ensure that brands continuously keep their purpose front and centre, and can also help to prevent brands from leaning into areas for which they are not ready.”

In terms of the purchasing experience itself, timely offers are the most highly-cited factor by consumers in Ireland in encouraging purchase decisions, followed by knowledgeable customer service. A no-hassle returns or cancellations policy is also highly cited as an encouraging factor in purchase decisions in the travel, clothing and footwear, household appliances and furniture categories.

“Timely offers are regularly fuelled by artificial intelligence, while knowledgeable customer service is – or should be – a human-centred endeavour supercharged by AI,” said Conway. “Bringing these together can unlock their full potential.”

Data usage

Respondents were presented with a variety of ways in which brands and organisations access and use consumer data and asked to indicate how helpful or creepy they find them. With regard to active listening – when their smartphone targets them with ads for a product or service following a conversation about said product or service – two-thirds (66%) find this creepy, while 16% find it helpful.

44% find it creepy when they are targeted with ads following an internet search, while 29% find it helpful. 13% find it creepy when they receive a notification of items going on sale from a brand that they regularly shop with; 67% find this helpful.

78% of respondents expect a brand to seek their express permission for all uses of their personal data. 68% are alarmed by the extent to which brands are tracking and using their personal data, while 47% say they have accepted that their data is used everywhere in a digital world.

Conway said: “Brands need to build a human-first data experience, prioritising strong customer relationships – you can’t lead with deeper tracking methods before the consumer trusts you. Empowering the consumer with choice, embedding feedback mechanisms along the way and always being transparent about why specific personal information is needed, will go a long way to fostering trust.”

PayPal study finds online spending within Ireland increases by 41%

Meitheal mentality: Irish spend more locally in 2021

The study of over 1,000 Irish consumers revealed the community spirit and Irish love for local, with the average annual spend increasing by 41 per cent on websites based in Ireland, rising to €503 in 2021 from €357 in 20202. The average spend on websites within Ireland was also more than the average spend on international sites, where the average spend was €329.

Female respondents spent considerably more with Irish websites, estimating an annual spend of €534 (compared to €351 spent by male respondents).

Wicklow consumers spent the most with websites in Ireland with an average of €972. Carlow came in second place (€915), with Meath (€819). Monaghan (€773) and Offaly (€634) finishing off the top five counties in this regard.

Áine Waldron (27), full-time gym instructor and part-time physiotherapy student from Mayo, said: “I work full time Monday to Friday and have college classes at the weekend, so online shopping is often my saving grace when I simply don’t have time to go anywhere. Lots of the local shops have rolled out delivery services and online shopping options since the pandemic began, and it’s made everything so much easier. I’m more inclined to shop local now and can see how important it is to give that support. Coming home to deliveries of books, groceries or clothes from local retailers always feels a bit more special – and it’s super convenient.”

When it comes to spending on websites outside of Ireland, over three quarters (79%) of consumers spent online internationally last year, with people from Carlow spending the most with an average of €678. This was followed by Wicklow (€561), Offaly (€508), Longford (€450) and Kildare (€425).

The most popular non-Irish destinations to buy from were found to be the UK (74%), Europe outside of the UK (48%) and China (28%). Meanwhile, some 16% of respondents bought from websites in the US.

Online spending becomes Main-stream

The study showcased the increasing appetite for online shopping, with 62 per cent of Irish people revealing they plan to shop online more this year. In fact, almost half (49%) agreed they would do all their shopping online if they could, equating to 1.7 million adults3. Those aged 25-34 are most keen on this idea (54%), in comparison to the near quarter (24%) of over 55s who said they would do all their shopping online if they could.

Interestingly, over half (56%) of Irish adults say the pandemic has permanently changed the way they pay for products and services, with almost three quarters (73%) preferring cashless transactions. Digital seems to be the preferred route as, 72 per cent of respondents indicated they prefer digital payment methods (such as paying with their smartphone), while 71 per cent like contactless checkouts (such as self-service tills).

Speaking about the findings, Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President at PayPal, commented: “It’s great to see how Irish people are prioritising their online spending on Irish businesses. Regardless of where we buy from though, it’s clear that online shopping has become a critical convenience for Irish people, not only during the pandemic but as part of our regular, busy lives. 

“There is a real opportunity for online retailers to make a difference,” Maeve Dorman continues, “but businesses need to have an e-commerce platform in place that can meet their customers’ needs, wherever they are – online, on the go, or in-store. With a range of solutions designed to capitalise on the increasing reliance on digital spending and help serve the needs of Irish businesses, whether just getting started with e-commerce or already a thriving business, PayPal is here to help.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific launches 2022 Apprenticeship Programme

Global life sciences company Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of its 2022 Apprenticeship Programme. Seeking applicants from across the country, the four-year salaried programme at the contract pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Currabinny, Carrigaline, Cork, is for anyone interested in an Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship or Mechanical Apprenticeship where they can earn while they learn. Delivered in partnership with further education and training agency SOLAS,  applications are open from March 1 to March 18, and a virtual open day for teachers and pupils will be held on March 2. Information on the open day and applications is available at https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/ireland-apprentice-programme.

Speaking on the launch of the exciting 2022 Apprenticeship Programme, Lead Craftsperson and Apprentice Programme Coordinator at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Declan Carroll said: “This programme is the perfect opportunity for people who want to kickstart a practical career in a dynamic industry. We are so aware that people take different directions in learning, and different options need to be available to them to access the life sciences industry. This programme will suit anyone interested in STEM subjects in school, is doing engineering, science and machinery subjects and is naturally curious.  

“Our Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentices and Mechanical Apprentices are a vital part of our team maintaining the facilities and helping to design, install and test new equipment that keeps our site going. When they finish, they are fully qualified craftspeople ready to work in a growing industry that’s full of opportunity and, because they become such an integral part of our team, many of our apprentices stay with us after they qualify.” 

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Cork facility is part of the company’s Pharma Services business and manufactures and supplies Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to customers for use in clinical trials and approved medicines for commercial supply. This includes medicines to treat cancer, Parkinson’s disease, depression, HIV, congestive heart failure, diabetes and respiratory diseases, along with raw material for consumer healthcare products. 

The apprentices’ time will be divided between the Cork site where they will complete on-the-job training and at training centres and third level institutes where they will complete the SOLAS curriculum modules. Successful apprentices will be awarded an internationally recognised apprenticeship (Level 6 Advanced Certificate) at the end of the programme and be eligible for consideration for entry into a related Level 7 and 8 Degree programmes provided by the Institutes of Technology.

Shane Brosnan, who is currently in the Electrical & Instrumentation apprenticeship programme, said: “I applied to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s apprenticeship programme because I wanted a practical start to my career where I could learn and earn at the same time. 

“I’ve always loved problem-solving and understanding how things work and, as an apprentice, I get to see engineering in action every day. We are not only taught the theory, we get to put it straight into practice.” 

Header image by Darragh Kane

60% of short taxi trips could be replaced by an electric scooter

Bolt, the largest scooter operator in Europe, and the Institute of Transport Economics, TOI, have shown that in-app encouragement will cause up to 60% of users to shift from ride-hailing to scooters for shorter trips. A shift in mobility habits was observed for long-term app usage as well. In Oslo and Lisbon, users performed additional scooter searches for similar trips after the initial encouragement was performed in-app.

Last year, Bolt ran a pilot program aiming to switch shorter ride-hailing trips to scooter trips. During this modal shift study, randomly selected groups of Bolt customers from 10 European cities have received in-app encouragement to switch from ride-hailing to a scooter for trips shorter than three kilometers. Groups actively encouraged were compared to groups that didn’t receive the encouragement, which allowed scientists to measure the shift in mobility habits.

The data resulting from the three waves of piloting was then independently analyzed by the Institute of Transport Economics, TØI, in Oslo, Norway. According to the final results, up to 60% of users on average shifted from a ride hail to a scooter for short trips if the scooter was 300 meters away or closer.

The implications of the findings are considerable. In Europe, most car trips are less than five kilometers long. Around 25% of Bolt car-hailing trips globally are shorter than three kilometers. This means that encouraging users to adapt their shared mobility option to their trip distance has a considerable impact on the environment. According to Bolt’s data, a scooter’s CO2 emissions are on average three times lower than a car’s CO2 emissions.

Martin Villig, Co-Founder of Bolt said: “Bolt is on a mission to advocate for better cities built around people. Encouraging customers to use scooters to replace personal vehicles and short car trips is part of that mission. We are constantly working with cities to make sure our scooters fit in the urban transportation ecosystem. The report we are launching today confirms that our app is the ideal tool to help build more sustainable commuting habits because customers can be encouraged to shift from cars to scooters, according to the distance they travel. This can significantly reduce pollution but also help manage urban congestion.”

The most successful findings come from cities where there is a high availability of shared scooters. In Lisbon, for example, in-app encouragement led to a 210% increase of users opting for a scooter instead of a shared car ride.

Significant results were also observed in the Scandinavian markets: Stockholm (up to 40% bigger chances of the customer opting for micromobility), Gothenburg (54%), Oslo (42%). In Krakow, the encouragement increased the probability of using a scooter up to 68% and in Madrid 41%.

Bjørn Gjerde Johansen, Chief Research Economist at the research area Economic Models at the Institute of Transport Economics, TØI said: “TØI carries out research aiming to advise authorities, the transport industry and the public at large. This report analyses data from an experiment in which Bolt`s app-users were encouraged to switch from ride hailing to e-scooters. We found the share of users choosing e-scooters to be higher in virtually all experiments and the results demonstrate that encouraging users through changing information in multimodal interfaces can be an effective way of switching users away from cars, at no cost to the user.” 

 

Aisling Dunne, Head of Public Policy for Ireland, said: “This research is aimed at advising authorities, the transport industry and the public at large. It shows that multi-modal platforms have the power to nudge people towards more sustainable and appropriate modes of transport, depending on their needs. For short journeys, where there are alternatives, we now unequivocally see that users will make the switch. As local authorities across Ireland consider the best way to meet our ambitious Climate Action Plan targets, this research shows them the potential for shared mobility services to really shift users’ behaviour.”

Bolt and the Institute of Transport Economics will continue to work together on a modal shift program aimed at improving mobility habits for cities.

This project is aligned to the approach of the new European Urban Mobility Framework released in December 2021. The framework considers new mobility services as part of a multimodal, integrated approach to sustainable urban mobility, reinforcing public transport and substituting car use. By working to build a modal shift program, Bolt is contri

Stats Perform Limerick will celebrate a significant milestone by reaching over 300 employees by year-end

Stats Perform, the sports tech leader in data and AI, has announced it has established a Global Rugby Centre of Excellence in Limerick City.  Stats Perform operates across 25 countries, including Ireland.

The company is actively recruiting for a number of open positions and by year-end will celebrate the significant milestone of reaching 60 full-time and 280 part-time employees by year-end.

Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar TD said: “Congratulations to the Stats Perform team on this really significant milestone.  Stats Perform is a leader in sports tech data and AI. The establishment of a new Global Rugby Centre of Excellence in staLimerick demonstrates the company’s continued dedication to the region and proves that Ireland remains an attractive location for industry leaders in all areas of business. I wish the team continued success in all of their operations.”

Gráinne Barry, SVP Global Operations at Stats Perform said: “In 2017 Limerick was chosen by Stats Perform as an EMEA base due to its lead location for the sports technology cluster in Ireland, and the availability of talent within the local region. Establishing a Rugby Centre of Excellence in Ireland was a natural next step for the company.  Stats Perform is the world’s leading data provider (media and performance) to the world’s top rugby governing bodies and teams. Stats Perform will be providing global rugby and teams with media solutions, digital platforms and team performance analysis services. Stats Perform services every part of the rugby world, including the British and Irish Lions, the Six Nations, Premiership Rugby, The New Zealand All Blacks, Pro 14, France, Australia, along with working with World Rugby during their global competitions.”

The expansion of functions to create Stats Perform’s Global Rugby Centre of Excellence has created over 100 new full and part-time roles in Limerick over the past 12 months, in the areas of Rugby Union, Rugby League and Soccer, as well as supporting functions in video operations, data quality control and business intelligence.

Seamus Monaghan, Director of Business Operations at Stats Perform said: “Limerick is the ideal location for our Global Rugby Operations. The passion and knowledge for Rugby in Limerick, and the greater Mid- West region in general, is well known and has contributed heavily to our success in the sector. Access to Third Level Institutions and overall talent in the area has been a real partnership for Stats Perform and we are extremely positive about our future in the region.”

IDA Ireland’s Executive Director Mary Buckley said: “Stats Perform’s decision to designate the Limerick facility as its Global Rugby Centre of Excellence, demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the Midwest region. This announcement exemplifies IDA Ireland’s track record in winning jobs and investment in regional locations. I want to congratulate Gráinne and Seamus at Stats Perform on reaching this significant milestone and wish the team every success with its operations in Limerick.”

To view open positions please follow this link Careers – Stats Perform