Tag: #belfast

Northern Ireland Manufacturer is Revolutionising Waste Management

From Belfast to Cork, Irish businesses are discovering how locally-engineered equipment is transforming their approach to tyre disposal and recycling

With Ireland facing mounting environmental challenges and stricter EU regulations on waste management, businesses across the island are seeking innovative solutions to handle the 4.5 million waste tyres generated annually. One Northern Ireland-based manufacturer, Gradeall International, is leading this transformation with cutting-edge recycling technology that’s now being deployed from Dublin’s industrial estates to Kerry’s agricultural heartlands.

The Irish Waste Challenge: A Growing Opportunity

Ireland’s waste management sector faces unique pressures. The country generates approximately 40,000 tonnes of waste tyres annually, with disposal costs rising and landfill restrictions tightening. From Cork’s busy port operations to Donegal’s farming communities, businesses are struggling with tyre disposal logistics and costs.

The challenge is particularly acute for Irish fleet operators, agricultural businesses, and local councils. In Galway, transport companies managing large vehicle fleets face storage issues with end-of-life tyres. Meanwhile, in Limerick’s industrial zones, manufacturers deal with forklift and heavy equipment tyre disposal. Dublin’s waste management facilities are at capacity, pushing businesses to seek more efficient processing solutions.

Engineering Excellence from County Armagh

Based in Castleblaney Road, County Armagh, Gradeall International has spent over two decades perfecting tyre recycling equipment. Their proximity to the border positions them perfectly to serve both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets, understanding the unique regulatory and logistical challenges faced by businesses on both sides of the border.

“Being based in Northern Ireland gives us unique insights into the challenges faced by businesses across the entire island,” notes Conor Murphy, Director at Gradeall International. “Whether it’s a recycling facility in Belfast or an agricultural co-op in Tipperary, we understand the local context and requirements.”

Transforming Operations Across Irish Counties

Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area

In Dublin’s industrial estates, particularly around Ballymount and Park West, waste management companies have the opportunity to implement advanced tyre processing solutions. The MK2 Tyre Baler technology, capable of reducing tyre volume by 80%, is particularly relevant in a city where industrial land comes at a premium. Such equipment can process over 500 tyres daily, transforming storage challenges into compact, transportable bales ready for export through Dublin Port.

Cork’s Maritime and Industrial Sector

Cork, as Ireland’s second city and major port, generates substantial tyre waste from both maritime operations and the pharmaceutical industry’s heavy vehicle fleets. The Ringaskiddy industrial area could particularly benefit from advanced tyre processing equipment, with sidewall cutters preparing tyres for more efficient recycling and reducing the burden on local waste facilities.

Agricultural Heartlands: Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Wexford

Ireland’s agricultural counties face unique challenges with tractor and agricultural equipment tyres. In Tipperary, known for its dairy farming, agricultural contractors are discovering how proper tyre baling can turn a disposal problem into a potential revenue stream. Similarly, Wexford’s tillage farmers and Kilkenny’s mixed farming operations could benefit from mobile tyre processing solutions that can travel between farms.

Western Counties: Galway, Mayo, and Clare

The western seaboard, from Galway Bay to the Cliffs of Moher in Clare, presents logistical challenges for waste management. Transport costs to processing facilities in Dublin or Cork can be prohibitive. Local councils in Galway and Mayo are exploring regional processing hubs that could be equipped with professional baling equipment to serve their communities more efficiently.

Northern Operations: Donegal, Monaghan, and Louth

Border counties like Donegal, Monaghan, and Louth benefit from Gradeall’s strategic location. Businesses in Letterkenny can access equipment and support as easily as those in Dundalk. This cross-border efficiency is particularly valuable given the all-island approach to environmental challenges.

Technology Meeting Irish Innovation

Ireland’s reputation as a European tech hub extends beyond software. The adoption of smart recycling equipment aligns with the country’s innovation agenda. Gradeall’s equipment, featuring IoT capabilities for remote monitoring and performance tracking, appeals to Ireland’s tech-savvy business community.

In Limerick’s National Technology Park and Cork’s tech corridor, companies are particularly interested in the data analytics capabilities of modern recycling equipment. Real-time monitoring of processing volumes, efficiency metrics, and predictive maintenance aligns with Industry 4.0 principles being adopted across Irish manufacturing.

Supporting Ireland’s Green Agenda

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan aims for a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. Proper tyre recycling plays a crucial role in this ambition. By preventing tyre burning and reducing transport emissions through volume reduction, advanced baling equipment directly supports national environmental goals.

Local authorities from Kerry County Council to Fingal County Council are evaluating how modern tyre processing equipment can help meet their environmental targets. The comprehensive tyre recycling solutions offered by companies like Gradeall provide a pathway to achieving these ambitious goals.

Economic Impact Across the Regions

Job Creation

From Waterford to Sligo, the implementation of professional recycling equipment creates employment opportunities. Skilled operators, maintenance technicians, and logistics coordinators are needed to run modern recycling operations.

Potential Cost Savings for Irish Businesses

Based on industry data and equipment capabilities:

  • Transport companies in Kildare could see up to 60% reduction in tyre disposal costs through volume reduction
  • Agricultural contractors in Meath have the potential to save thousands annually through efficient tyre management
  • Municipal operations in Westmeath could reduce waste management budgets by implementing proper tyre processing

Export Opportunities

Processed tyre bales from Irish facilities can be exported through ports in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast to recycling facilities across Europe, creating new revenue streams for Irish businesses.

The Road Ahead for Irish Waste Management

As Ireland continues to strengthen its position as a leader in environmental sustainability, the role of innovative waste management solutions becomes increasingly critical. The success of companies like Gradeall International demonstrates that Irish engineering and innovation can compete globally while serving local needs.

From the Giants Causeway in Antrim to the Ring of Kerry, from the bustling streets of Temple Bar in Dublin to the quiet farms of Roscommon, the transformation of Ireland’s approach to tyre recycling is underway. With locally-developed technology and a deep understanding of Irish business needs, this revolution in waste management is truly homegrown.

For Irish businesses facing tyre disposal challenges, whether in Carlow’s industrial parks or Longford’s agricultural lands, the message is clear: world-class recycling technology is available right here on the island of Ireland, designed by people who understand Irish business and committed to supporting Ireland’s green future.

How Belfast’s Educational Voice Is Pioneering AI-Enhanced Animation Production for Enterprise Learning

The intersection of animation technology and business transformation is creating unprecedented opportunities for Irish tech companies

The animation industry is undergoing a technological revolution that extends far beyond entertainment. Belfast-based Educational Voice is at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging cutting-edge animation technologies to solve complex business communication challenges for Ireland’s thriving tech sector. Their innovative approach combines traditional 2D animation expertise with emerging technologies like AI-assisted production, real-time rendering, and data-driven personalisation.

As Irish tech companies scale globally, they face increasing pressure to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders—from investors and partners to end-users and internal teams. Educational Voice has positioned itself as the crucial bridge between technical complexity and visual clarity, developing animation workflows that integrate seamlessly with modern tech stacks whilst delivering exceptional creative output. Their Belfast studio has become a hub for animation innovation, attracting tech companies from across Ireland and the UK seeking to transform how they communicate.

The convergence of animation and technology represents more than aesthetic evolution—it’s fundamentally changing how businesses approach knowledge transfer, product demonstration, and user onboarding. Michelle Connolly, founder and director of Educational Voice, observes: “We’re not just animators; we’re communication technologists. Our role is to harness animation technology to solve real business problems, whether that’s explaining complex SaaS platforms, visualising data architectures, or creating interactive training systems that scale across global organisations.”

The Technical Architecture Behind Modern Animation Production

Modern animation production has evolved into a sophisticated technical discipline requiring expertise across multiple technology domains. Educational Voice’s production pipeline integrates cloud-based rendering farms, version control systems, and collaborative platforms that mirror the workflows used in software development. This technical infrastructure enables rapid iteration, parallel production streams, and seamless integration with client systems.

The studio employs JSON-based animation frameworks that allow for programmatic control of animation elements, enabling dynamic content generation based on real-time data inputs. This approach proves particularly valuable for tech companies requiring animations that adapt to user segments, product versions, or market conditions. API integration capabilities mean animations can pull live data from client systems, ensuring content remains current without manual updates.

Render optimisation technologies reduce production timeframes by up to 60% compared to traditional methods. GPU-accelerated rendering, distributed processing, and intelligent caching systems enable Educational Voice to deliver enterprise-scale animation projects within aggressive tech industry timelines. The studio’s technical team includes specialists in shader programming, particle systems, and procedural animation—skills typically associated with game development but increasingly vital for business animation.

Version control and asset management systems borrowed from software development ensure animation projects maintain consistency across large-scale deployments. Git-based workflows enable multiple animators to collaborate on complex projects whilst maintaining creative coherence. Automated testing frameworks verify animation compatibility across devices and platforms, crucial for tech companies deploying content globally.

AI and Machine Learning: Transforming Animation Workflows

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising animation production in ways that particularly benefit tech sector clients. Educational Voice’s advanced animation services incorporate AI tools that automate repetitive tasks, enhance creative possibilities, and dramatically reduce production costs. Machine learning algorithms analyse existing brand assets to generate style guides automatically, ensuring animation consistency with established visual identities.

Neural networks trained on motion capture data enable realistic character animation without expensive mocap sessions. This technology proves invaluable for tech companies creating avatar-based training systems or virtual presenters for product demonstrations. The AI-generated base animations maintain natural movement patterns whilst allowing for creative modification, striking the perfect balance between efficiency and artistic control.

Natural language processing capabilities transform script development and localisation. AI systems can analyse technical documentation and automatically generate animation scripts that maintain accuracy whilst improving accessibility. For Irish tech companies expanding internationally, automated translation and lip-sync adjustment reduce localisation costs by up to 70% whilst maintaining quality across language versions.

Predictive analytics inform creative decisions by analysing engagement data from previous animations. Machine learning models identify which visual styles, pacing patterns, and narrative structures resonate with specific audience segments. This data-driven approach ensures animations achieve maximum impact whilst minimising revision cycles—crucial advantages in fast-moving tech markets.

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Real-Time Rendering and Interactive Animation Technologies

The shift towards real-time rendering engines traditionally used in gaming is transforming business animation capabilities. Educational Voice leverages Unreal Engine and Unity to create interactive animations that respond to user input, enabling personalised learning experiences and dynamic product demonstrations. This technology particularly benefits software companies requiring interactive tutorials that adapt to user proficiency levels.

WebGL implementation enables browser-based interactive animations without plugins, crucial for SaaS companies prioritising frictionless user experiences. These animations can track user interactions, providing valuable analytics about engagement patterns and comprehension levels. Tech companies use this data to optimise onboarding flows and identify areas where users struggle with product features.

Real-time rendering also enables live animation streaming for virtual events and webinars. Instead of pre-recorded content, presenters can manipulate animation elements dynamically, responding to audience questions and adjusting explanations based on real-time feedback. This capability has proven invaluable for Irish tech companies conducting global product launches and training sessions.

The computational efficiency of modern real-time engines allows complex animations to run on mobile devices without performance degradation. This democratisation of access ensures enterprise training content reaches all employees regardless of device capabilities—particularly important for companies with distributed workforces across varying technological infrastructures.

Blockchain and NFT Integration in Corporate Animation

While consumer NFT markets have cooled, blockchain technology offers intriguing possibilities for enterprise animation applications. Educational Voice explores blockchain integration for animation asset verification, ensuring authenticity and preventing unauthorised modifications of critical training or compliance content. Smart contracts can automatically manage licensing and usage rights for animation assets across complex organisational structures.

Decentralised storage solutions provide redundancy and global accessibility for animation libraries, particularly valuable for multinational tech companies requiring consistent content delivery across regions. IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) integration ensures animations remain accessible even if centralised servers fail, crucial for mission-critical training materials.

Tokenisation mechanisms enable granular tracking of animation usage and engagement, providing unprecedented insights into content effectiveness. Tech companies can identify exactly which animation segments drive desired outcomes, informing future content strategies with precision previously impossible. This data granularity particularly benefits companies operating in regulated industries requiring detailed training compliance documentation.

The DevOps Approach to Animation Production

Educational Voice applies DevOps principles to animation production, creating continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines that accelerate delivery whilst maintaining quality. Automated build processes compile animation assets, run quality checks, and deploy to distribution platforms without manual intervention. This approach reduces human error whilst enabling rapid updates in response to product changes.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles ensure animation production environments can be replicated instantly, enabling parallel production streams for large projects. Containerisation using Docker ensures consistent rendering regardless of underlying hardware, whilst Kubernetes orchestration manages resource allocation dynamically based on project demands.

Monitoring and logging systems track every aspect of production pipelines, from render times to asset utilisation. This telemetry data informs capacity planning and identifies optimisation opportunities. For tech clients accustomed to data-driven decision-making, this transparency provides confidence in production processes and timeline estimates.

Automated testing frameworks verify animation functionality across target platforms before deployment. Visual regression testing ensures frame consistency, whilst performance testing validates smooth playback across device specifications. This rigorous testing approach mirrors software QA processes, ensuring enterprise-grade reliability for business-critical animation content.

Measuring Animation ROI Through Advanced Analytics

Educational Voice implements sophisticated analytics frameworks that quantify animation impact with precision tech companies expect. Beyond basic view metrics, advanced analytics track micro-interactions, attention patterns, and completion funnels. Heat mapping reveals which animation elements capture attention, whilst session recording shows how users navigate interactive content.

A/B testing frameworks enable systematic optimisation of animation elements. Different versions can be served to user segments with automatic winner selection based on predefined success metrics. This scientific approach to creative optimisation ensures animations continuously improve based on real-world performance data rather than subjective preferences.

Attribution modelling connects animation engagement to business outcomes through integration with CRM and analytics platforms. Tech companies can trace how animation exposure influences conversion rates, support ticket volumes, and user retention. Multi-touch attribution reveals animation’s role throughout complex B2B sales cycles, justifying investment through clear ROI demonstration.

Predictive modelling uses historical animation performance data to forecast likely outcomes for new content. Machine learning algorithms identify patterns linking animation characteristics to engagement metrics, enabling data-informed creative decisions. This predictive capability particularly benefits tech companies planning large-scale animation investments requiring board-level approval.

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Future-Proofing Animation Strategy for Tech Evolution

As technology continues evolving at breakneck pace, Educational Voice helps tech companies develop animation strategies resilient to change. Modular animation architectures enable component reuse across projects, reducing costs whilst maintaining consistency. Parametric animation systems allow for easy updates when products evolve, avoiding complete reproduction requirements.

The studio anticipates emerging technologies like spatial computing and mixed reality becoming mainstream, preparing animation assets that translate across traditional screens to immersive environments. This forward-thinking approach ensures today’s animation investments remain valuable as consumption platforms evolve.

Michelle Connolly emphasises the importance of strategic planning: “Tech companies need animation partners who understand not just current requirements but anticipate future needs. We design animation systems that grow with organisations, adapting to new technologies whilst maintaining creative excellence.”

Educational Voice (https://educationalvoice.co.uk) continues pushing animation technology boundaries from their Belfast base, helping Irish tech companies communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. As Ireland’s tech sector continues its remarkable growth trajectory, animation emerges as essential technology for maintaining competitive advantage in global markets. The future belongs to companies that harness animation’s power to transform how they communicate, educate, and engage.

 

LEGO Group brings its first store to Northern Ireland this summer in Victoria Square, Belfast

LEGO fans in Belfast are in for a treat, as the LEGO Group announce a new store in the city is on its way! Opening in summer 2025 at Victoria Square, the new store will be the brand’s 21st store in the UK and the first in Northern Ireland.

Fans of all ages will have endless opportunities to fully immerse themselves in the world of LEGO building, with imagination and creativity throughout the store, including:

  • LEGO Pick a Brick Wall: a great way for customers to select the exact elements that they require for their builds.
  • Hands-on Play Opportunities: including free build challenges and events each month.
  • Build a Minifigure Tower: visitors can mix and match from a wide selection of bottoms, tops, heads, hair pieces and accessories to customise LEGO minifigures.
  • Store Associates: whether customers are picking out a gift, looking for the latest set, or bringing a LEGO fan in for a special treat, the LEGO team can help find the perfect set for everyone.

Shweta Munshi, Vice President Marketing, LEGO Retail at the LEGO Group: “We are delighted to expand the LEGO Retail store portfolio by opening the first LEGO store in Northern Ireland. After a thorough search, we have found the perfect site in Victoria Square, Belfast. In the heart of the city, the new store will allow builders of all ages to be inspired by the endless play opportunities the LEGO Group has to offer. This store will be a top retail destination for product launches and events, while acting as a hub for our LEGO community and new builders alike.”

Russell Banham, UK Head at Commerz Real, said

“The LEGO Group is one of the world’s most recognisable brands and we are really excited that they have chosen to establish their first flagship store in Victoria Square. Victoria Square is the leading destination for retail and leisure in Northern Ireland and the addition of a LEGO Store will further enhance the unrivalled mix of premium brands who have already made it their home. This is great news, not only for LEGO fans, but for the wider retail landscape in Northern Ireland.”

Victoria Square is part of the portfolio of Commerz Real’s real estate fund Hausinvest.

The new 165 sqm store offers an extensive range of new products only available exclusively at LEGO stores and LEGO.com, including the new LEGO Endurance set and the LEGO Icons Tudor Corner set. In addition, LEGO Insiders members will receive benefits at the new store such as exclusive gifts with purchase, double points events and much more.

This new store will become the 21st LEGO Store in the UK, offering a range of new jobs within the local community. This follows an extremely successful year for The LEGO Group in 2024 opening stores in Cribbs Mall, Bristol and across Europe.

The official opening date and details for in-store events will be announced soon. Recruitment for roles in the new store has now started please visit LEGO.com/careers to apply.

Derry & Belfast girls to attend largest-ever STEM Showcase next year and highlight the range of career paths in public transport open to girls.

I Wish, the programme dedicated to driving the power of STEM to teenage girls, has announced the support of Northern Ireland public transport operator, Translink, to enable even more girls to attend its largest-ever STEM Showcase next year and highlight the range of career paths in public transport open to girls.

Taking place on 6 February 2025 at the RDS Dublin, the 11th annual event will welcome 4,000 teenage girls from across the island of Ireland with the opportunity for young students from Northern Ireland travelling with Translink by bus or rail to the event for the first time, ensuring that the 2025 Showcase will truly be an all-Island event.

The NI pilot will now enable girls from every corner of Ireland the opportunity to meet some incredible STEM role models and speak to some of the largest pharmaceutical, engineering and technology companies, where they will be able to learn more about college courses, careers and get support to make a more informed choice about subjects and their future careers.

Commenting on the partnership, Sharon Lombard, Director, I Wish, said: “This partnership with Translink marks a significant milestone for I Wish. While our programme has always welcomed girls from across the whole island of Ireland, this new collaboration enables us to actively facilitate transport for girls from schools in Northern Ireland to our annual showcase. It’s very exciting to be able to give these young girls access to top female STEM role models and showcase the breadth of career possibilities, empowering them to make an informed choice about their futures”.

Jacqui Kennedy, Chief People Officer, Translink, added: “We are proud to partner with I Wish to promote STEM to young girls and highlight the opportunities these subjects offer. At Translink, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with our Women in Translink network focusing on visibility, influence, and peer support. With a growing female workforce across all roles, this partnership is a great opportunity to showcase diverse careers in public transport and inspire the next generation of women in the industry.”

The Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd said: “I welcome this partnership between Translink and I Wish that will enable teenage girls from schools in the north to join the STEM showcase event in Dublin. There are many opportunities and careers available to our young people through science, technology, engineering and mathematics, not least through my own Department.

“The Department for Infrastructure strives to support women to achieve their full potential as engineers and is an active promoter of gender diversity and workplace equality. It also places a strong emphasis on education and training to nurture the up-and-coming engineers of our future.

“I’m delighted to support this pilot programme to offer public transport to facilitate these students as they explore the exciting potential career paths ahead.”

Junior Minister Pam Cameron said: “I want to congratulate I Wish and Translink for their partnership approach in helping to encourage more girls into a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. We want to empower girls in Northern Ireland to pursue careers in STEM and next year’s showcase will provide opportunities for local students to attend and meet positive role models from the world of work and be inspired by the opportunities that exist.”

Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said: “It is important that young people here have the opportunity to take part in next year’s STEM Showcase, and this partnership between I Wish and Translink will enable students from the north to join their peers from across the island at this fantastic event. Encouraging more girls to study STEM subjects and pursue careers in sectors such as science and engineering is vital for the growth of our economy.”

This partnership follows the launch of the I Wish 2024 Survey of Female Students’ Perspectives on STEM in October, which revealed that 60% of Irish teenage girls believe that gender inequality is the biggest barrier preventing them from pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), highlighting an urgent need for more inclusive and supportive environments. While this figure has dropped from 83% in the 2021 annual I Wish Report, it underscores that, despite some progress, systemic change is still required in both society and education to ensure equal opportunities for girls in STEM. Visit www.iwish.ie/surveys/ to read the I Wish 2024 Survey Report in full.

I Wish has had a partnership with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann since 2023, which provides free bus and rail transport to girls across the Republic of Ireland.

Registration for the 2025 I Wish Showcase is open at iwish.ie/register.

Belfast cybersecurity firm ANGOKA bound for space

Belfast-based cyber security firm ANGOKA has been accepted to the Airbus Space Accelerator programme. The accelerator is described by Airbus as “an exciting opportunity not only for existing space companies, but for any business with the desire and potential to work in space”.

Speaking at an event at Farnborough International Airshow, ANGOKA director Yuri Andersson said this is a chance for ANGOKA “to deepen its ties with the space industry, helping us to develop the next generation of cybersecurity solutions.”

Airbus says the accelerator is part of the wider Community for Space Prosperity (CUSP) initiative to develop the UK’s space ecosystem, where the 14-week programme will help startups, academics and non-traditional space businesses to advance their technical offering, understand the commercial space landscape and build connections within the wider space industry.

Airbus is running the accelerator with Plexal, the London-based innovation boutique which collaborates on technology with government, startups and industry.

Mr Andersson says there is rapid growing convergence between terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication networks for improved coverage and bandwidth.

“A new space economy is being built where in the near future there will be in-space infrastructure such as in-space assembly and manufacturing, orbital data centres and human habitats,” he added.

“Much of the data will be kept in space and processed in space, and to support the communications needs of the future space economy we need new solutions for cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. With emerging cyber threats from quantum computers and AI, traditional approaches such as those based on PKI [Public Key Infrastructure], or Distributed Ledgers are no longer adequate, and this requires a complete paradigm shift.” says Mr Andersson.

ANGOKA has also been selected to the Mandala Space Ventures and the Venture into Space programmes supported by UK Space Agency.

BELFAST FIRM DEMONSTRATES SAFE AUTOMATED TRANSPORT AT FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW

Belfast-based ANGOKA, cyber security experts in land and air mobility, has landed at Farnborough Air Show, the world-leading annual aviation industry exhibition. The ANGOKA delegation is demonstrating its latest technologies which protect connected and automated drones and aircraft from cyber intrusions, hack attacks and other unplanned events to an international audience.

Yuri Andersson says he is grateful to InvestNI for the opportunity. “We are here to display ANGOKA’s cybersecurity technology for machine-to-machine communication, an essential factor without which the safe operation of future uncrewed aircraft is impossible.”

“Our communication device for drones combines secure terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G will be demonstrated and we will also show how ANGOKA’s solution can secure remote operation of vehicles, including a live hack,” says Mr Andersson.

ANGOKA is a major player in the UK Government’s Future Flight programme and is pressing for new regulations which will allow faster development of the drone sector.

“We’re constantly working to keep the skies safe through the highest standards of cybersecurity. We are seeing increasing demand for wider adoption of varied drone use across different industries, which requires Beyond Visual Line of Sight operation. It is essential to maintain a secure communication to ensure the safety of that operation.” he says.

ANGOKA is located in Hall 1 Booth 1321.

Iconic Belfast and Dublin venues to host first ever Transatlantic Fintech Exchange

The Fintech Corridor and the American Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC), are set to welcome around 100 delegates from across the globe to the first ever Transatlantic Fintech Exchange in iconic venues across Belfast and Dublin, on May 13-16, 2024.

Venues including the Guinness Storehouse, Belfast City Hall and Killeavy Castle will serve as historic backdrops for the conference.

It will see senior leaders from the finance and technology sector come together with government development agencies to drive collaboration across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US, share best practice and increase investment in the island of Ireland’s fintech industry.

Headline speakers include:

  • Karen O’Leary, Head of Payments and Securities at Central Bank of Ireland
  • Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance
  • Conor Murphy MLA, Economy Minister
  • Paul O’Hare, Tech & Finance Lead, Google
  • Karl Hanlon, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), FinTrU
  • Margaret Hearty, CEO, InterTradeIreland
  • Kieran Donoghue, CEO, Invest NI
  • Maeve Monaghan, CEO, NOW Group
  • Alison Donnelly, Director, Fscom
  • Richard Swales, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Paysafe
  • Stephen Groarke, Chief Financial Officer, Elavon/US Bank EMEA
  • Hartwig Gerhartinger, Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Paysafe

Key event themes are the future of payments, workforce development and the regulatory and legislative intersections between the EU, UK, and US. It’s designed to be an intimate event which will build real relationships and understanding in a focused group of fewer than 100 senior industry executives, government representatives, and academic institutions.

Hilary Moran, CEO of The Fintech Corridor, commented: “The island of Ireland is fast becoming a global centre for fintech. The distinctive blend of skilled individuals with experience in both technology and finance, coupled with proactive government support, has enabled a wave of startups to thrive and harness their potential in an exceedingly business-friendly atmosphere. The Transatlantic Fintech Exchange is designed to provide a forum to build connectivity across the UK, Europe and US and bolster investment in fintech across the island.”

ATPC Executive Director H. West Richards, commented: “This unique cross-border proposition connects US, EU, and UK fintech ecosystems and will help drive deeper understanding of opportunities in each governance. Brexit profoundly changed how EU and UK fintech companies interact with each other, and access to companies in both jurisdictions will enable us to work closely to develop common solutions and increase cooperation and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, especially as US regulators work on cybersecurity, data privacy and other critical issues.”

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “I am really looking forward to hosting the Transatlantic Fintech Exchange event at City Hall as it will help promote co-operation in the Fintech sector on both sides of the Atlantic and across the island of Ireland.

“It’s a valuable opportunity to showcase our growing Fintech industry in Belfast and along the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor and to build partnerships with like-minded networks in the US. Belfast has a developing cluster of fintech businesses, and we have an excellent track record of inward investment. As a council, we’re building on that and raising the profile of Belfast internationally through co-operative events like the Transatlantic Fintech Exchange.”

“Belfast will be the final part of this week-long visit to Ireland and it’s fantastic to collaborate with The Fintech Corridor and our Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor partners, with meetings hosted in both Dublin and Newry. Together, we’re presenting a very attractive investment proposition.”

In welcoming the event, Minister Neale Richmond said: “Fintech and digital finance are of huge potential as we work towards the digital transition and this event is a fantastic opportunity to develop this work across our island. Fintech is a key priority of the Ireland for Finance strategy and so I am looking forward to welcoming delegates from the Fintech sector here in Ireland and abroad to keep up the momentum and strengthen our connections in this area across the island and indeed, across the globe.”

Co–Chair of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) partnership, Councillor Pete Byrne, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said: “This visit by representatives from the American Transaction Processors Coalition provides a platform to proudly showcase the entire Dublin to Belfast Economic Corridor including our strengths in tech, innovation, talent, education, cultural and excellent quality of life for those who live and work along the Corridor.”

Co–Chair of DBEC Councillor Adrian Henchy of Fingal County Council, commented: “This visit presents a welcome opportunity to celebrate the many very special connections we have with the US from diplomatic relations to investment, knowledge sharing, tourism, education, and cultural exchange.”

More conference details are available at www.atpcoalition.com

and www.thefintechcorridor.com

Public, private and voluntary sector organisations join forces to boost software skills in North and West Belfast

Leading organisations in IT, training and education have joined forces to provide young people from North and West Belfast with the chance to learn software skills that will help them work towards a future in the tech sector.

Over six months, Queen’s University Belfast and Impact Training, supported by Telefónica Tech UK&I, delivered a coding academy training programme to help 16-19-year-olds from the Greater Shankill, West and North Belfast gain essential workplace skills and learn about the latest technologies and opportunities within the IT industry.

This is the second year that the programme has run, and it saw the young people attend a series of regular coding sessions, delivered by Queen’s and Impact Training, with a graduation for the students held in the Telefónica Tech Belfast offices, which employ 330 people in Belfast. Sponsored by Telefónica Tech, each student was also provided with a Raspberry Pi for graduating, a small and affordable computer used to learn programming, which they can use to continue to develop their coding skills.

The graduation ceremony for those who completed the course took place on Wednesday 24th April at Telefónica Tech UK&I’s office in Titanic Quarter. As part of the event, awards were presented to the young people, including an outstanding achievement award to recognise a participant who went above and beyond and demonstrated true potential and dedication to learning new skills. This year’s winner was Justin Clarke.

Delivering training opportunities for young people in Greater Shankill, West and North Belfast for over 45 years, Impact Training, provides training options for school leavers who have chosen to pursue a more vocational path.

Ellen Dickson, Strategic VP of Enterprise Health at Telefónica Tech UK&I, commented: “Congratulations to all of the young people who completed this year’s course. Telefónica Tech UK&I is incredibly proud to once again support and be part of such a fantastic programme that will hopefully mark the beginning of an exciting career in IT for those who participated. As well as providing young people with essential skills to widen their career options, the programme will also help boost the pipeline of skills that is needed to enable our IT sector to continue to thrive.”

Dr David Cutting, Director of Education in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Impact Training and Telefónica Tech UK&I to deliver something so worthwhile, helping young people discover their love for IT and embark on careers in the sector. We are proud to see our peer mentors support the next generation of experts in coding and share their love and enthusiasm.”

This has been an outstanding programme to help the young people of Belfast kickstart their IT careers.  It is incredible to see how quickly the participants took up coding and the amount of talent and passion that each of them had. It is fantastic to see our students helping to train the next generation of experts in coding.”

Gerard Fox, Vocational Employment Manager at Impact Training, added: “It is fantastic to witness how much students can grow and reach their full potential when completing the course and it is fantastic to offer it once again to young people in Belfast. It not only gives them an insight into the IT sector but it is also a fantastic way for them to gain confidence and grow as they begin the journey towards their future careers. Congratulations to everyone who completed the course.”

Full Lineup Revealed For Belfast XR Festival With Top Extended Reality Experiences On The Bill

An innovative arts festival is set to once again merge technology and art to create a unique virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience for attendees.

Belfast XR, now in its third year, specialises in curating worldclass immersive technology content that takes the art of storytelling to a new level.

Extended Reality or ‘XR’ is the collective name for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is a computer-generated artificial environment with scenes that appear to be real, while AR is a digital overlay onto the real world, which is viewed through your phone or an iPad.

This year’s lineup has been confirmed to include three unique paid for experiences along with an additional three free bonus experiences available for visitors to the festival.

Appearing at the festival will be the magical VR journey through the work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí in Gaudí, The Atelier of the Divine.

Attendees will take part in a 20 minute experience designed for small groups of six.

The story will take festival goers back to 1926 when, weakened by age and feeling his death approaching, Gaudí invites his new assistants to discover his studio, to understand his vision and complete his work.

The heart-wrenching voyage of survival Stay Alive My Son is also one of the key events, based on the internationally acclaimed memoirs of Pin Yathay, this immersive 60 minute story thrusts audiences into the shoes of a pained father forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to abandon his six-year-old son to survive during the Cambodian genocide.

The final headline experience will be Eternal, the profound exploration of eternal life, where during this 20 minute experience attendees will step into the realm of eternity with a mesmerising audio journey designed exclusively for one person, in the comfort of their own bed.

As intimate audiences of just two people per time slot climb into a bed they will delve into a profound exploration of eternal life and contemplate the sacrifices one might make for immortality.

Deepa Mann-Kler, director and curator for Belfast XR Festival which is an annual gathering for the XR arts – storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, dance, literature and theatre, said bringing virtual and augmented reality content to new audiences locally is something the team at Belfast XR are passionate about.

She said: “Our ambition is to create an unmissable annual gathering for XR that inspires storytelling and our passion is to bring the best global virtual and augmented reality content to new local audiences. You don’t need to have used a virtual reality headset before, as our team will guide you through the whole process.”

For attendees who purchase tickets for any of the headline events this year they will have exclusive access to three additional free experiences.

Emperor is a 40 minute long captivating virtual reality experience that delves into the mind of a father grappling with aphasia. Attendees will witness the poignant journey of a daughter striving to connect with her speechless father, uncovering the depths of his memories along the way.

Flow is a 15 minute experience where users will be swept away by the winds through what appears to be an ordinary day filled with turbulence. Encounter the sensations of smells, heat and breath, as the air currents unveil hidden presences and reveal captivating events in the life of a woman.

SEN is also a 15 minute experience where attendees will enter the mystical realm of the traditional Japanese tea room, where they’ll meet SEN, the tea spirit. As disaster strikes and SEN dissolves into the universe, it discovers unity with all beings, bringing calm to the tea room.

Running on Wednesday February 28 and Thursday 29 this year’s festival theme is Legacy which will offer attendees the chance to experience world history in captivating ways allowing audiences to step into the past, interact with historical figures, and explore significant events firsthand.

Belfast XR Festival is both for XR enthusiasts and those who haven’t experienced any form of XR in the past.

Deepa explained: “The Festival is aimed at 16+ years of age and is open to everyone. You don’t need to have experienced AR, VR or any of these types of experiences before. We  have an amazing team who will guide you through the whole process from the  minute you step into The Black Box.

“I want people to have memorable experiences. I want them to be altered, in a good way. I want them to talk about how it made them feel. I want to increase their appetite to experience more.

The Belfast XR Festival is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It is also supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Digital Catapult NI, Future Screens NI and Ulster Screen Academy.

For more information follow Belfast XR Festival on social media or go to belfastxrfestival.com