Category: Press

Press release

The Future of Data Analytics in the Spotlight at Ireland’s National Analytics Conference. #Analytics

Ireland’s professional body for the Data Science and Analytics industry, the Analytics Institute, will welcome a number of global analytics experts to the National Analytics Conference at the Mansion House, Dublin on 6 November 2018.

Headline speaker, author and Hitachi Vantara CTO, Bill Schmarzo will lead the programme with his insights into how data powers big business.   Microsoft’s Global Head of Data Science, John Hoegger, is coming from the US to Dublin to share his analysis of big data and the impact of artificial intelligence with delegates of the National Analytics Conference in Dublin, while EY’s Global Innovation Leader and Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Chris Mazzei, will discuss how data, analytics and AI are impacting business decisions.   Athina Kainouri, Global Chief Data Scientist of Accenture Analytics will also be in Ireland to address this market leading analytics event.

Speaking at the conference launch, Analytics Institute CEO Lorcan Malone said, “We are witnessing the start of a fundamental change in how businesses will deliver products, services and support to customers. Data Analytics is not only influencing how key decisions are made in the Boardroom, it is permeating every aspect of the business – from marketing to operations, from finance to production. Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, RPA, Big Data and IoT will be key enablers for business success in the coming years. The National Analytics Conference brings together global thought leaders in these fields along with our data scientists, analysts, policymakers and leaders from across the private and public sectors.”

Speaking ahead of the National Analytics Conference, Fergal Collins, CEO at Aon’s Centre for Innovation and Analytics (ACIA) said,

“The objectives of this conference align with Aon’s focus on using data and analytics to drive value for our clients. We continuously scan the horizon for new challenges, new analytical technologies and new data sets that, translate interesting prototypes into scalable commercial solutions. The conference will allow attendees to tap into the knowledge and experience of many renowned experts across all these fields. We are delighted to partner with the Analytics Institute on this exciting event.” 

Over 500 delegates have already registered to attend the conference, which is supported by a number of leading organisations including Aon, Microsoft, EY, IBM, SAS, Hitachi Vantara and AIB.  Aon is a leading proponent of analytics and a key sponsor of the event.

See more at https://www.analyticsinstitute.org/

Global analytics and AI leader marks 20th anniversary in Ireland. #SAS #AI #Analytics

SAS, the global leader in analytics, celebrate 20 years of continuous operation in the Republic of Ireland. Of course, Ireland has cemented itself as a capital of analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation which is why in 2016, SAS expanded its operations with a new office at Le Touche House in the heart of Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre. On top of this, SAS is set to complete a three-year, €40 million investment in Ireland which has seen the company’s Irish workforce increase six-fold since 2015.

In recent years, Ireland has cemented itself as a capital of analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. It has become home to many promising start-ups and houses the European headquarters of some of the world’s largest technology companies. SAS has been applying analytics to the toughest business problems for large and small organisations across Ireland for decades, and has been a prominent thought leader in AI for over 40 years.

SAS boasts a strong and growing presence in the region, with its Irish office network serving as a European hub. SAS Ireland supports sales of data analytics software into markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It also acts as a multi-channel service centre for customer enquiries and support. The company employs multi-lingual business development and sales specialists, customer engagement specialists, data scientists and software engineers, all of whom help customers add value with SAS analytics built on a powerful analytics platform.

Earlier this year, SAS Ireland was voted #19 on the Great Place to Work® Institute’s “Best Workplaces Ireland 2018” list of companies with under 100 employees. This was the fourth year in a row SAS had been ranked as a top workplace. The company scored highly for the quality of relationships between managers and employees, with staff citing high levels of trust, credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

SAS is set to complete a three-year, €40 million investment in Ireland which has seen the company’s Irish workforce increase six-fold since 2015.

“Ireland has a very strong pedigree in analytics and AI” said Charles Senabulya, Vice President & Country Manager, SAS UK & Ireland. “Over the last decade, Dublin has established itself as a major European centre of excellence for technology and data science. SAS has been at the forefront of that innovation, and we’re determined to continue driving change and pushing the frontiers of analytics. Congratulations to everyone who has built up SAS Ireland over the last 20 years, and to those who continue to make it one of the country’s best places to work.”

RICOH – Lacking innovation threatens to put a third of Irish companies out of business by 2020

Irish companies are in danger of falling victim to digital disruption, regulatory requirements and economic shifts that are fundamentally changing their markets. According to new research, commissioned by Ricoh and conducted by Coleman Parkes, 35% of the 150 Irish business leaders surveyed say they will go out of business by 2020 if they fail to innovate in response to these changes.

While 94% recognise the impact of digital disruption in their sector, 61% are not yet in a position to take advantage of its benefits. The top benefits of innovation were cited as competitive advantage, increased productivity, improving growth and winning new customers.

Eighty-eight per cent of business leaders in Ireland said that increasing automation will drive significant change in their organisations. Of these, less than a third said that they are ready for automation now and 29% said they won’t be ready in two years’ time.

In the next two years, almost a quarter predict they will be unable to react swiftly enough to changing government regulations. Moreover, 35% of respondents revealed that more government support is needed to support innovation.

Almost half (43%) of Irish business leaders believe greater access to digital technologies would make their businesses more innovative and some are currently exploring culture changes to improve innovation within their organisations.

For example, 55% are looking at setting up employee innovation workshops in order to teach employees how to come up with new ideas. The other two most popular approaches for consideration are the creation of safe spaces for experimentation to trial new ideas or processes and the encouragement of employees to be involved in projects outside of their day-to-day tasks.

Gary Hopwood, general manager, Ricoh Ireland

Gary Hopwood, Managing Director, Ricoh Ireland, says: “It’s very worrying that the future of so many Irish organisations are at risk because of their failure to innovate. Change is happening and it’s happening now, which is why it’s vital that business leaders take action as soon as possible and formulate a strategy that enables them to embrace digital disruption.

“Organisations can’t afford to stand still if they want to remain competitive and continue to grow. They must think about how they are empowering employees, supporting creativity, helping customers and boosting business performance. While every company is individual in terms of their needs, the need to innovate is crucial for all organisations.”

Find out more at www.ricoh-europe.com/thoughtleadership.

The search is on for Ireland’s Tech Hero. #TechHero #GuaranteedIrishHeroAwards #GIHero

Business membership organisation, Guaranteed Irish is calling on individuals and businesses to nominate their ‘Tech Hero’as part of the ‘Guaranteed Irish Hero Awards’.

 Throughout 2017, Guaranteed Irish is championing exceptional individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to creating a better Ireland in their respective sectors. Members of the public are invited to nominate their Guaranteed Irish Tech Hero before the deadline of Friday, 13th October 2017.

 

Music promoter Keiron Campbell Black, pictured with CEO of Guaranteed Irish, Brid O’Connell, was today named as the Guaranteed Irish Music Hero. The Dublin-based promoter, musician and venue proprietor was selected for the accolade following a public nomination process. Mr. Black is a well-known and much-loved figure on the Irish music scene, having introduced acts ranging from The Hot Sprockets to Gavin James. As a songwriter and musician, he played in The Amazing Few and Sack; organised and promoted gigs with Whelan’s, the Electric Picnic and many more. Most recently he began running the East Side Tavern bar and music venue on Dublin’s Leeson Street. The next Guaranteed Irish Heroes will be announced in November and December for their contributions to technology and food, respectively. To nominate a Guaranteed Irish Hero, log on to: http://www.guaranteedirish.ie or nominate and follow the campaign across social media with the dedicated hashtag: #GIhero. PHOTO: Mark Stedman

 

Four of the six Guaranteed Irish Heroes have so far been awarded. Artist, Maser; former Women’s Rugby Captain, Niamh Briggs; Professor Louise Kenny; and music promoter, Keiron Campbell Black were previously named Guaranteed Irish Heroes for art, sport, science and music, respectively.

 The remaining two Guaranteed Irish Heroes will be awarded for technology and food in November and December this year.

 Launching the call for the Guaranteed Irish Tech Hero, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, Brid O’Connell said: “This award is a great opportunity to commend someone who you consider to be a Guaranteed Irish Tech Hero. Ireland has truly become a digital island, and we believe it is time to champion Irish contributions to technology. What better way to do that than to nominate a Guaranteed Irish Technology Hero? 

 “We’re calling on businesses and individuals to get involved and put forward names of anyone who has demonstrated a real commitment to creating a better Ireland with technology through: jobs, community and provenance. If you know someone who fits that bill, then we want to hear from you.” concluded Brid O’Connell.  

 To get involved and to nominate your Guaranteed Irish Tech Hero, simply email info@guaranteedirish.ie before Friday, October 13th 2017 or use the dedicated hashtag: #GIhero on social media with your nomination.

NI’s Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council maps the real-world Westeros for Game of Thrones fans

The season seven finale airs tonight, and fans are no doubt wondering how they’ll spend their Monday nights until season eight premieres!

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council has used its digital mapping platform to create an interactive map of the key filming locations from hit television series, Game of Thrones.

With 38 Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones is one of the most popular and successful TV series ever made. Largely filmed in Northern Ireland, some of the show’s most dramatic scenes have played out against the backdrop of the region’s rugged coastlines, historic castles and expansive plateaus.

 

The new map, created by members of the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council’s IT team, allows fans of the show to locate the real-world settings of some of their favourite scenes. Providing the precise locations for many of the show’s most iconic settings, the map enables people to visit Dragonstone, the King’s Road and the Iron Islands for themselves.

Nial McSorley, digital services manager, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, said: “Game of Thrones has captivated audiences all around the world, and the show’s use of some of Northern Ireland’s most iconic scenery plays a large part in its ability to hold the attention of viewers, season after season. In creating this map, our team wanted to encourage fans of the show to come and visit the real-world locations of some of their favourite scenes and discover the beauty of Northern Ireland for themselves.”

Paul Synnott, director and country manager, Esri Ireland, said: “Game of Thrones has significantly raised the profile of Northern Ireland as a tourist destination and now, with this map, fans of the show from across the world can embark on a road trip that will take them through some of the series’ most impressive locations. Attractions such as The Dark Hedges near Stranocum, Ballintoy Harbour, and Downhill Beach have all been mapped out on Esri’s ArcGIS platform, providing a convenient point of reference for visitors to the area.”

Those who wish to use the map can do so at http://arcg.is/2vXy59A

Pure Telecom parents survey: Almost half of children being held back by poor school broadband.  

From where I sit stuck between two cabinets this comes as no surprise. Currently I enjoy really poor speeds and have done so for quite some time now and been told I’ve fibre. Laughable at best..

Pure Telecom today announces the results of a survey, which shows that 46% of Irish children are being held back in their educational achievement due to poor internet at school, according to parents. The online research*, carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom, surveyed parents of primary and secondary school children from a group of 1,001 adults.

The survey revealed that two-thirds of parents (67%) believe the internet supports children’s learning – and many consider it a factor in their choice of schools. Some 34% of parents would consider moving their child to a school with better internet availability if their current one didn’t have satisfactory broadband access or speeds.

The research also found that 16% of the typical child’s homework relies on the internet. On average, parents spent €213 per child on internet-connected devices and tools intended for schoolwork this year.

Almost half (48%) of children use laptops or tablets for some or all of their classes, but one-in-four parents (26%) believe their child’s school isn’t doing enough to encourage learning via internet-connected educational resources.

Under the Schools 100Mbps project, the Government rolled out 100Mbps broadband to all 780+ post-primary schools in Ireland. Earlier this year, the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D., launched the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Action Plan 2017, which includes €30 million in ICT grants to schools, as well as a programme to enhance high-speed broadband connectivity in primary schools.

Pictured with Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, are Klara Keating and Tadhg Higgins. Pure Telecom today announced the results of a survey that found that 46% of parents believe substandard or no school internet is hindering the quality of their children’s educational achievement.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “Access to internet-connected digital tools and resources is vital for all children living in a modern society, so it is concerning that so many parents believe their child’s educational achievement is being stunted by poor broadband speeds and access in school. Not surprisingly, our research showed that the majority of those parents are living in areas outside of Dublin.

“It is great to see the Government investing in a digital strategy for schools including technologies such as interactive screens and cloud-based learning tools. The availability of high-speed broadband in all – not just secondary – schools across Ireland will be crucial to its success.”

 

“Broadband access is a basic need for all Irish citizens, no matter where they live. But at the moment, the infrastructure isn’t in place to deliver broadband to everyone. We have agreements with several of Ireland’s major wholesale telecoms providers, which allow us to bring broadband to any location that has a fibre network. However, we must rely on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan in order to provide broadband to Ireland’s harder-to-reach locations. Unfortunately, until the National Broadband Plan is implemented, we will continue to see schoolchildren hindered 

Ireland’s leading professional recruitment event, #CareerZoo, is heading west.

Ireland’s leading professional recruitment and networking event, Career Zoo, will move outside Dublin for the first time this autumn, with an event taking place in Galway next month.

Career Zoo West will take place on Saturday, 23rd September, from 10am to 5pm. The event will run over three floors at the iconic Galway Racecourse venue in Ballybrit. Career Zoo takes place twice each year, attracting thousands of attendees each time.

Employers hiring at Career Zoo West will include technology giant Ericsson and Donegal-based fintech company Pramerica, both of which are sponsoring the event. Another sponsor, FRS Recruitment, will be on hand to speak with candidates about a wide variety of professional roles.

The event will feature employers from all four provinces in Ireland including Galway, Donegal, Sligo, Cork, the midlands and Dublin.

Commenting today, Jackie Slattery, Director of Career Zoo, said: “This is an exciting time for the Career Zoo brand as we bring our next event to the West of Ireland.  We will be showcasing hundreds of exciting employment opportunities across tech, medtech pharma and finance, and we would encourage anyone looking to advance their career to come along.

“With Ireland set to become the sole English-speaking country in the EU, there is so much opportunity, ready to be tapped. The West of Ireland – with its natural amenities and excellent track record in sectors such as tech, biopharma and financial services – is a very attractive option for anyone looking to make a career move or come home to Ireland.

“Career Zoo West will be our fourteenth event to date, so it’s really interesting to look at how the profile of attendees has changed over the past few years.  Skilled candidates are no longer wowed by companies that just offer decent salaries and a cool office. They also want an excellent work-life balance; affordable housing options; and proximity to their families and friends.  For these reasons, working in the West appeals to so many people, and we’re expecting a really strong response to our first Career Zoo event in Galway.”

Career Zoo West will have approximately 50 employers in attendance, including STEM-sector leaders, professional and financial services and biotech companies. Employers will be hiring for a variety of roles across: tech, pharma, medtech, finance, marketing, HR and sales.

The line-up includes recruiters and speakers from: Abbott, Abbvie, BD Research Centre Ireland, BioMarin, BNP Paribas, Cisco, Ericsson, FRS, Grifols, Irishjobs.ie, LookWest.ie, Merit, Ocuco, Pramerica, SAP and Wayfair, amongst others.

In addition to leading employers, next month’s event will include panel discussions on topics such as the latest in biotech, big data, medtech, fintech, IOT, women in STEM and workplace culture.

The sponsors of Career Zoo West are: Ericsson, Pramerica and FRS Recruitment. Admission to the event is free.  To register, go to:www.careerzoo.ie/galway.

Ten striking images of Irish research revealed. #Research #IRC

To mark the launch of their new website, the Irish Research Council have this week unveiled ten striking images from their awardees’ research.

Researchers were invited to submit an image captured during the course of their research to be featured on the new homepage. A total of one hundred and twenty-four entries were received. The final ten images selected were:

 

  • Abulaiti Hairisha, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Simulating the controlled growth of polymer thin films by molecular layer deposition’.
  • Chiara Mizzoni, Andrew Grene Postgraduate Scholar in Conflict Resolution, ‘A group of FARC fighters watch a game of afternoon football at a demobilisation and transition camp in Icononzo, Colombia’.
  • Pierre Jolivet, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Visualisations from open sound control driven inputs to virtual reality environments’.
  • Ross Lundy, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Deforest gold micro-mushrooms on copper meadow’.
  • David Cichon, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Garment workers in Phnom Penh marching for a living wage and collective bargaining rights on International Labour Day 2017’.
  • Sven Batke, Irish Research Council Fellow, ‘A bromeliad plant from the same family as pineapples which grows on top of tall tropical trees’.
  • Maria Velasco, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘The cerebellar network between neurons (red), astrocytes (yellow) and microglia (green) in a mouse organotypic slice culture’.
  • Ross Lundy, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Copper oxide nanoblades’.
  • Sajad Alimohammadi, Irish Research Council Fellow, ‘Refractive index matched PIV applications: Velocity profiles for flow around an array of cylinders’.
  • Shane Holohan, Irish Research Council Scholar, ‘Ben Collis & Elisabeth Künkele (© Einar Kling-Odencrants) performing as part of my PhD in arts practice’.

SEE SOME IMAGES IN THE GALLERY HERE

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Further information and the list of the final ten images is available at http://research.ie/what-we-do/loveirishresearch/blog/ten-striking-research-images/

PayPal to become available on Nintendo Switch in Ireland #PayPal #Nintendo Switch

PayPal and Nintendo – from today, owners of the Nintendo Switch in Ireland and other select countries around the world will be able to use PayPal, in addition to other existing payment methods, in the Nintendo eShop. With over 200 million users around the world, the addition of PayPal as a payment option will enable more customers to pay securely and conveniently.

In their press release……

PayPal Pte. Ltd announced today that Nintendo eShop has added PayPal as a new payment method. Nintendo eShop users in Ireland, as well as a number of select countries around the world, will be able to use PayPal, in addition to other existing methods of payment, on the Web or on their game console.

Nintendo eShop users in Ireland, as well as a number of select countries around the world, can now use PayPal, in addition to other existing methods of payment, on the Web or on their game console.

This service includes the following:

For Nintendo Switch™

Funding Nintendo eShop accounts and purchasing games and other content

For the official Nintendo website in Ireland and other select countries around the world:

Adding funds to balances when purchasing software for download through Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS™, Wii U.

 

Regarding adoption of PayPal as a new payment method, Nintendo provided the following comment:

 

“We have decided to adopt the globally-successful payment service, PayPal, as a payment method for Nintendo eShop to enhance the convenience of users and enable them to make secure payments. By adding PayPal, which has over 200 million accounts worldwide, as a payment method for Nintendo eShop, we feel that we will be able to serve more customers across the globe with gaming experience.”

Nintendo eShop users in Ireland, as well as a number of select countries around the world, can now use PayPal, in addition to other existing methods of payment, on the Web or on their game console.

As well as in Ireland, PayPal payment services will be available on the Nintendo Switch in the following countries:

Japan, USA, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, UK, Greece, Croatia, Hungary,  Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, and  Slovakia.