An Irish start-up has raised a total of €1.5 million, including a significant investment from Delta Partners VC, to fuel the launch of new technology which has the power to put augmented reality (AR) storytelling into the hands of millions of worldwide creators.
The capital injection will fuel the launch and expansion of Imvizar’s groundbreaking no-code AR creation tool, Lureo, and support the company’s plans to broaden its operations into the United States, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets.
Lureo represents a significant leap forward in the digital storytelling landscape. Traditionally, creating AR content has been a complex process, requiring specialised skills in coding and development.
Imvizar’s new technology disrupts this paradigm by offering an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows anyone, regardless of technical expertise, to craft high-quality AR experiences. The tool is poised to empower a diverse range of creators, from filmmakers and educators to marketers and brand strategists, to bring their stories to life in augmented reality.
Michael Guerin, CEO and Founder of Imvizar said: “Our mission is to make spatial storytelling as mainstream and accessible as possible.
“With Lureo, we’re breaking down the barriers to AR content creation, enabling anyone, anywhere, to produce immersive experiences. Just as the introduction of 4G and video streaming drove innovation and made content creation more accessible, Lureo will do the same for AR as we usher in a new era of spatial computing.
“We’re not just changing how stories are told, with Lureo, we are redefining the relationship between narrative, space, and audience engagement.
“The launch of Lureo and the expansion into the US market are key steps in our journey, positioning Imvizar as a driving force in the next wave of AR innovation.”
The investment includes continued support from prominent investors, Gareth Lambe, former Head of Meta (Ireland), Michael Dywer, founder of Pigsback and Nigel Byrne, former Group CTO of Ooredoo, as well as Enterprise Ireland.
The company has rapidly gained traction since founding in 2021, attracting high-profile clients such as Salesforce, Grant Thornton, and North Carolina State University.
Imvizar has been at the forefront of transforming real-world environments into immersive, interactive storytelling experiences, hosting over 80 AR experiences across eight countries. Now the highly innovative company has secured the support of one of Ireland’s leading VC investment companies.
Dermot Berkery, Partner at Delta Partners VC said: “Delta Partners VC is thrilled to support Imvizar as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the AR space.
“Lureo is an exciting innovation that offers a truly accessible platform, with the potential to transform how we create and engage with AR content. We believe in its enormous potential to open new avenues for creators and brands alike, and we’re excited to see how Imvizar will continue to evolve.”
Imvizar has successfully developed and launched a range of experiences that have captivated audiences across various sectors, including tourism, employee engagement, and sustainability.
These experiences have not only enhanced the way people interact with their surroundings but have also demonstrated the powerful potential of AR as a tool for storytelling and engagement.
One notable project includes the AR experience created for Salesforce at their Dublin Tower, which integrated immersive storytelling into the workplace, enriching the experience for employees and visitors alike.
Similarly, the ‘Planet vs. Plastics’ initiative for Grant Thornton highlighted the environmental impact of single-use coffee cups through a vivid, interactive AR display, engaging hundreds of employees and sparking meaningful conversations about sustainability.
For more information about Imvizar and Lureo, visitwww.imvizar.com.
Limerick woman Olivia Humphreys (24) witnessed how upsetting it is for patients who face losing their hair during chemotherapy when her mother went through it in 2019.
65-99% of patients going through chemotherapy will be affected by hair loss*. Scalp cooling can help prevent this by shrinking the blood vessels and is done by applying cold temperatures to the scalp during chemotherapy treatment. Scalp cooling is intended to help prevent hair loss, known as chemotherapy-induced alopecia, for people undergoing chemotherapy. It works by limiting blood flow to the scalp. This can reduce the amount of the chemo treatment that reaches your head, protecting your hair follicles from the chemo drugs.
Olivia noticed the shortage of scalp-cooling machines aimed to minimise hair loss in the hospital her mother was in, as well as how limited the existing solutions were.
Current products require the patient to arrive 30 minutes early and stay for 90 minutes after infusion for pre and post scalp cooling. With Athena, patients can manage this aspect of treatment themselves and seamlessly integrate into an infusion appointment with no extra time or attention required, using this device from the comfort of their own homes.
The Problem:
Current chemotherapy scalp cooling devices are either heavy duty hospital-only machines which cannot be moved easily and require patients to sit in a ward for long periods of time.
On the other hand, there are cheaper, manual cooling alternatives available used to cool the heads of chemo patients to prevent hair loss, yet these prove to be less powerful, ineffective and they don’t last long enough for maximum benefit. Athena aims to offer an effective hospital standard device that gives control to a patient in a time of little control.
The Invention:
University of Limerick graduate Olivia Humphreys, witnessed firsthand how much of an impact chemotherapy induced hair loss can have on a person, when her mother was sadly affected by cancer in 2019 and from spending time with her during treatment experience, was inspired to reimagine the way scalp-cooling can be done.
How does it work?
Athena works by utilising low-cost thermoelectric semiconductors called peltiers, and these cool a tank of water, which circulates the cold water around the head with the smartly designed headpiece. The battery powered device allows patients to bring the device home and control it themselves, making it more accessible to the consumer market.
The estimated cost for Athena would be around €1000, according to Olivia Humphreys, compared to industry machines which come in at around €40,000 or more. Weighing around 3kg, Athena is more portable than the current leading products on the market, which use refrigeration technology requiring constant plugged in power. Athena, at full battery power, can run for 3.5 hours, allowing the patient to commute to and from the hospital while cooling and move around during infusion for bathroom visits, etc.
Speaking about Athena, Olivia Humphreys said: “I decided to build a working prototype to test the capabilities of the Peltier semiconductors. Using a Peltier computer cooling fan system, a diaphragm pump, my mum’s old suitcase, and my dad’s plane battery, I was able to create a strong proof of concept to gather valuable feedback to develop the concept. Following this, I focused on the product’s form, creating cardboard and foam models and determining functionality aspects and touchpoints to ensure the best user experience. Ultimately, I arrived at my final model, Athena, which was crafted using SolidWorks 3D CAD modelling.”
The future of Athena:
Speaking about what is next for this invention, Olivia says: “To elevate Athena to the next level, extensive research and development is required. While working on this project, I have been fortunate to network with Luminate Medical, a company in Galway, Ireland, dedicated to building a better future for cancer care. They have extended an internship offer to me as a research and development engineer. I have accepted and am very eager to apply the insights gained from my own research and development to contribute to their mission.”
Speaking about Athena, Lead Design Engineer at Dyson James Gilchrist who was part of the judging panel, said: “Hair is a deeply rooted symbol of our identity. Losing it can be one of the most difficult side effects of chemotherapy. Currently, only 8 of Ireland’s 26 hospitals offer scalp cooling as a treatment[1], partly due to the expense of the equipment and the additional time required to deliver the treatment.
The genius of Athena isn’t just in increasing access; it’s in taking the patient out of the clinic. Instead of spending an extra two hours in the treatment centre, Athena allows patients to precool their scalp on the way there and continue the cooling process post-treatment in the comfort of their own home. That’s not just a win for patients but also for clinics, enabling them to treat more patients each day.
Olivia impressed us with her first prototype—a ‘cut and shut’ computer cooling fan and diaphragm pump built into her mum’s old suitcase. Once that proved the concept, she went on to develop a high-fidelity prototype, leveraging recent innovations in battery-powered coolers.”
Olivia is eager to see how her work can inspire further innovation in cancer treatment and patient care and continue contributing to advancements in the industry.
Athena will now progress to the international stage of the James Dyson Award and Olivia will aim to commercialise this product by producing a fully functional, technologically integrated prototype.
The Runners Up:
Suas designed by Ko Kallewaard, a student in the University of Limerick
The Problem: People with reduced mobility who need to travel with their wheelchair, encounter problems such as having to check in their wheelchair at the gate and get assigned the airline wheelchair, which is often not suitable and doesn’t offer independence to people with disabilities. On landing, many wheelchair users have experienced lost wheelchairs or worse, completely broken wheelchairs, leaving them in a terrible predicament.
The Solution:
Suas enables wheelchair users to travel with their own chair and is encouraging airlines to fit specially engineered seats with Suas’s universal wheelchair lock as well as offering a connecting lock to the wheelchair user for their chair. Any plane supporting SUAS allows you to board and fly in your own wheelchair meaning no more damage to customer equipment, no more discomfort or humiliation for wheelchair users– just the freedom to travel independently. SUAS consists of two parts- the lock on the wheelchair and the redesigned seating system on the plane. The lock is a tool steel part that attaches to the rigidizer bar situated on the back of all rigid manual wheelchairs.
The newly designed seating system is a plane seat that can be set up in two ways – a traditional seat or a wheelchair space. There is a small stainless steel and aluminium lock inside the frame of the seat that automatically locks into either the traditional seats or the SUAS lock. The frame is designed so that any sized wheelchair can fit over it and lock into the space.
The SUAS system is equipped with a turbulence control module which uses a pendulum to trigger the adjustable arm to tighten, keeping the wheelchair or the seats in place.
Swoop created by Sean-Jameson Galvin from the University of Limerick
The Problem:
Many people have conditions such as dyslexia, dysmusia and dysgraphia, making music more difficult and meaning a lot of people just give up if they can’t engage creatively in music practice at foundation level. Swoop is a way of connecting early music learners with the music by making it more visually interesting, accessible through sight, sound and sensation by way of a projector on a wall or screen. Music is then learned through hand movements and colour codes.
The Solution:
Swoop is a new and accessible way of learning and creating music. Using hand movement, it enables the user to create, feel and learn music both individually and in group settings. Swoop aids in helping to bridge the gap between traditional and digital music. The product includes two gloves with embedded haptic motors . These motors provide haptic feedback relative to the note and volume intensity and aid gesture recognition software in distinguishing the user’s hand from the background. all works in tandem with a companion app allowing the user to change parameters based on their experience.
The product system enables learners to engage with music concepts transferrable to traditional music learning. It functions using 3 axes of movement:
– X Axis (Octave Displacement): Moving the hand left and right shifts the octave, mimicking guitar or piano movements. The accompanying parameter app controls the number of octaves.
– Y Axis (Note Pitch): Moving hands left and right transitions between seven notes, with the left hand for lower and the right for higher notes, mimicking a traditional music stave.
– Z Axis (Volume Variation): Moving hands forward and back adjusts volume, teaching sound intensity through pressure.
Speaking about creating Swoop, Sean-Jameson Galvin said:
“Throughout the development of Swoop, I learned so much about accessibility when it comes to music. What works for one may not work for another in a linear learning system. It is for that reason I believe the user should have autonomy over their learning direction. It is with this principle in mind that I aim to further the development of Swoop by making music learning and creation a more enjoyable and expressive experience.”
The international top 20 shortlist will be announced on October 16th and the international winners on November 13th.
How to enter
Candidates enter through an online application form via the James Dyson Award website.
While it is well known that Ireland has been the birthplace of numerous exceptional poets, writers, singers, and actors, a number of fantastic inventors were also born and raised in the country.
The inventions that came forth from the minds of these men and women not only affected things in Ireland but spread to become standards worldwide. Below, we’ve found the greatest Irish tech inventions that, at the time, revolutionised industries and opened new avenues to things nobody knew existed.
Submarine (1881)
Modern submarines are a marvel of technological innovation. They can stay beneath the choppy waters for weeks on end, generate their own power, travel freely at impressive speeds, and pop up out from the ocean at a moment’s notice.
These submarines, however, would likely not exist today if it weren’t for the work of John Philip Holland.
Born in Liscannor, Ireland, he battled health problems before moving to the United States in 1873. At the time of his immigration, John had already begun working on preliminary designs for an underwater vessel that could have leisure and military applications.
After slipping and breaking his leg, he had time to refine his designs, submitting many to the US Navy. All of these were, however, rejected. In 1881, John designed and built the Holland, the world’s first working submarine. Various tweaks were made until 1897 when the Holland VI launched, which the US Navy purchased three years later; it then became the blueprint for further development of sleeker and more capable subs.
Transatlantic Cable (1858)
Although the first telegraph sent via transatlantic cables resulted from the work of inventors from various nations, the input of numerous Irish inventors and engineers made it a success. There was an attempt to lay the cable, which actually consisted of seven cables, in 1857 from White Strand in County Kerry, Ireland.
In 1858, a successful cable run from Count Kerry to Newfoundland, Canada, was completed. Although not the first permanent transatlantic cable, since a more durable one was laid between North America and Europe in 1866, it was the first time a telegraph was successfully sent across the Atlantic, paving the way for more accessible communication between the two continents.
Seismology Instrumentation (1840s)
Born in Dublin in 1810, Robert Mallet shook things up by entering university at 16 and graduating by 20. After his studies, he worked as an engineer, helping design and build lighthouses. He had a particular interest in geology and became a member of the Royal Geological Society of Ireland in 1838.
By 1846, Robert had developed a unique understanding of earth movements and presented a paper to the Royal Irish Academy. In the paper, he outlined basic seismology as we understand it today and coined terms such as epicentre.
Guided Missile/Torpedo (1874)
Moving from Ireland to Australia in 1861, Louis Brennan grew up being groomed to be a respected engineer and inventor. His first job was as a watchmaker, during which he honed his engineering skills. This was until he went to work for a renowned mechanical engineer called Alexander Kennedy Smith.
While working, Brennan came up with the idea of designing a torpedo that could be steered. The idea came from experiments using a thread and reel and seeing how the two interacted when used together.
After developing his idea for years, Louis finally received a government grant and began working on a prototype. This he completed in 1877, shortly after which he filed a patent. In 1880, Brennan returned to England, where the UK military purchased his patent for over £100,000 (more than £12 million today).
From here, his design was perfected while he worked as a factory superintendent dedicated to manufacturing his torpedo.
Jet Ejector Seat (1946)
Born in County Down, Sir James Martin worked as an engineer before starting his own firm in 1929 alongside his friend Captain Valentine Baker. The two worked on the design and manufacture of multiple fighter aircraft, the most famous being the MB 3.
As part of the design of these aircraft from 1934, Sir James experimented with the idea of an ejector seat that could launch a pilot to safety. However, the idea did not evolve until 1944. During a test flight of their new MB 3, Captain Baker, who was acting as the test pilot, fell out of the sky to his death after an engine failure.
With the death of his partner severely affecting him, Sir James redoubled his efforts to focus on pilot safety. After developing a new design, the Martin-Baker system was tested in a Gloster Meteor Mk III jet on 24 July 1946. The test was successful and led to further developing systems used in almost all military aircraft available today.
Induction Coil (1834)
Even though most of us rarely need more electricity in modern times, Nicholas Callan certainly did in the 19th century. A physicist and Catholic priest by profession, Nicholas began teaching natural philosophy and became fascinated with the concept of electricity.
Needing more than what was available, he began playing with the idea of using coiled wire to create an intermittent high-voltage alternating current using a low-voltage direct current. In 1834, he perfected his design using a bar of iron and lengths of variously sized strands of copper wire.
Although he referred to his invention as an electromagnet, it was actually the world’s first induction coil. The coil became commonly used in X-ray equipment and is still used in some internal combustion engines.
Conclusion
From fantastic inventions that allow us to travel across the world to great resources like Bonusfinder Ireland that make it easier to try our luck online, the origins of some of yesteryear’s creations may seem forgotten. However, many of them set the stage for items and concepts still used today.
The Irish inventors above not only changed the times and regions they lived in, but their inventions have gone on to be incorporated into modern life and spread to every corner of the planet—something that every inventor dreams of.
The IMI (Irish Management Institute), a centre of excellence for business education, today published new research revealing that AI is not currently a strategic priority among most business leaders in Ireland.
The ‘IMI Leadership Barometer’ surveyed senior business leaders in Ireland from private, public and semi-state organisations across a wide range of sectors including technology, food/agriculture, utilities, banking, finance, professional services, legal, healthcare, logistics, construction and others. The research provides key insights into the attitudes and priorities of senior decision makers as they navigate a shifting business environment and the rise of disruptive new technologies.
Findings show that only 30% of business leaders currently consider AI a strategic priority. Many organisations are still in an experimentation phase with the technology, with 40% of leaders stating that they are testing the technology in areas of their business. A further 30% of decision makers reported struggling to keep pace with rapid advancements in the technology, reflecting a clear need for upskilling and education in the technology among business decision makers.
With businesses continuing to face the impact of a tight labour market, attracting and retaining highly skilled talent is set to continue as a top concern for decision makers, according to the findings of the Barometer. 36% of leaders state that retaining top talent is set to become more difficult over the coming months. More than half of business leaders (54%) believe that retaining talent will remain challenging in the next 12 months.
Despite these challenges, business leaders in Ireland are generally confident about their capacity to navigate change. Findings reveal that 84% of senior leaders are reasonably confident about their capacity to achieve core business objectives over the next 12 months. Only 4% of decision makers state their organisation is fully prepared to overcome obstacles and unlock business growth over the months ahead.
Leadership and management capabilities are the top business priority for senior decision makers, indicating clear awareness among leaders of the importance of strengthening skills in this rapidly evolving landscape. Future workforce skills/ways of working and technology from a business perspective make up the top three most important areas on leaders’ business agenda for the coming months.
The new research is released as the IMI announces the agenda for its 2024 National Leadership Conference. First held over 70 years ago, the NLC 2024 will bring together senior business leaders from across Ireland for a series of discussions focused on enhancing leadership skills and positioning their organisation for future success.
Speakers at the event include Deputy Simon Coveney, former Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland; Ann Kelleher, foundry technology development General Manager at Intel Corporation; Bernard Gloster, CEO of Health Service Executive; Siobhan Talbot, the former CEO of Glanbia; Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland; and Christopher Hartwell, Head of the International Management Institute & Professor of International Business Policy at ZHAW School of Management and Law. The 2024 edition of the NLC will be held on October 3rd at IMI’s Sandyford campus, with additional speakers due to be announced in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the release of the research, Shane O’Sullivan, CEO of the IMI, said: “Senior leaders across Ireland continue to navigate a fast-evolving business environment from a tight labour market to rapid advances in technology and heightened global competition. The IMI Leadership Barometer provides an important insight into the key challenges and opportunities facing leaders in Ireland in this environment and the actions they’re taking to prepare their business for future success.
“It’s clear from the findings of the Barometer that many leaders are still at an early phase of engagement with AI technology. Despite growing levels of experimentation with the technology, our research shows most decision makers have yet to form clear AI strategies. Enhancing leaders’ AI skills and capabilities will be crucial to fully harnessing the potential of the technology and understanding how it can support their business objectives. As these capabilities grow, we expect AI to accelerate up the business agenda.
“With economic indicators suggesting a competitive labour market is set to continue over the next 12 months, our research reveals significant concerns among decision makers regarding attracting and retaining top talent. Given these challenges, it is crucial that leaders evolve their talent management strategies to meet the evolving needs of their workforce from new ways of working to upskilling programmes and employee compensation.
“I’m also pleased to announce the agenda for this year’s National Leadership Conference, which will provide important insights for business leaders as they navigate the challenges highlighted in our research. By taking on board the advice of our expert speakers, decision makers can enhance their leadership skills and better seize new opportunities for future business growth and success.”
A team of three researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) will play a key role in the first ever spacecraft attempt to fly past the Moon, and then past Earth. The flyby is set to take place over tomorrow and Tuesday (19-20 August).
The manoeuvre is part of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. As well as conducting detailed observations of Jupiter and its moons, the mission will be investigating Jupiter’s moons as possible habitats for life.
The lunar-Earth flyby will be an opportunity for the DIAS team to test their ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon, in preparation for the actual flybys of Jupiter’s moons.
Senior Professor Caitriona Jackman, Dr. Mika Holmberg and Dr. Hans Huybrighs are all members of the DIAS Planetary Magnetospheres Group, which is the only Irish research group involved in the mission.
Commenting on DIAS’s role in the flyby, Prof. Caitriona Jackman, Associated Scientist and Head of the Planetary Magnetospheres Research Group at DIAS, said “We will be monitoring the flyby with trepidation as it’s an extremely challenging undertaking – the slightest mistake could take Juice off course and spell the end of the mission.
“This is the first step in Juice’s journey through the solar system on its way to Jupiter. The spacecraft will use the gravity of the Moon and then Earth to bend its path through space and redirect it on course for a flyby of Venus in August 2025. This will help to ensure it arrives at Jupiter with the right speed and direction. It’s a journey that requires perfect accuracy and in-depth planning.”
“Having this opportunity to test our ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon is truly exciting and will be a huge boost in confidence for our research once Juice arrives at Jupiter. The encounter of Earth’s moon is a practice-run for when we get to Jupiter, where we will study moons with underground oceans that might support life. I’m extremely proud of the work carried out by our research group so far, and that we can be part of such an important mission.”
DIAS expertise
DIAS’s work on this mission will explore how the spacecraft itself affects the measurement of particles, and will use an advanced computer model to investigate this. Commenting on her involvement in this mission, Dr. Mika Holmberg, Research Fellow at DIAS and Co-Investigator on the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation Instrument, said “The measurements from the lunar-Earth flyby could have a significant impact on our research going forward. The effects of the interaction between the spacecraft and its environment influences our interpretation of the measurements. For example, it might change our understanding of where the moon particles that we are trying to detect come from, or how many there are.
“The computer simulations account for the environment of the spacecraft and models how the moon particles will be affected, so that we can correct potential misleading effects for later in the mission. When Juice flies by the Moon we have the first opportunity to test our correction techniques during an actual moon encounter, which is exciting. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to calibrate our instruments and smooth out any remaining issues, and who knows what it could lead to!”
Dr Hans Huybrighs, Research Fellow at DIAS and Associated Scientist of the Particle Environment Package instrument explains that the main objectives of the mission are to study the abilities of Jupiter’s moons to host life, which requires accurate and detailed measurements. “Jupiter’s moons slowly release particles from their surface. In some cases, this release could happen through water eruptions that produce 100-kilometre-tall plumes. By detecting these particles, we can learn more about the moons’ potential to support life. Investigating how Juice can best detect these plumes is one of the topics we are working on at DIAS.”
DIAS as a leader in space research
Commenting on DIAS’s role in space research, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS said, “It’s fascinating to follow the spacecraft’s journey through the solar system with incredibly complex manoeuvres. Scientists around the world have been carefully planning this route over the last 20 years and it’s a huge honour that DIAS is playing a role in this mission. This flyby is hugely important as it’s one of the few opportunities to make certain measurements and adjustments during Juice’s eight-year journey to Jupiter.
“DIAS has a long history in being at the forefront of Ireland’s involvement in cutting-edge space research with the James Webb Space Telescope, and now our contribution to the Juice mission. We have been following Juice’s progress closely since its launch in April 2023. We are very proud of the work of our researchers, and we are looking forward to updates on the progress of the flyby.”
The Juice mission is being led by the European Space Agency, of which Ireland is a member state. 18 different research institutes, 23 countries, 83 different companies and more than 2000 people have contributed to the mission.
DIAS’ work on this mission is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and a European Space Agency fellowship held by Dr. Mika Holmberg. Further Information about DIAS’ involvement in the Juice mission can be found here: https://www.dias.ie/cosmicphysics/astrophysics/astro-Juice/
Storm Technology, the market-leading digital solutions provider, today announces that it has been acquired by Littlefish, an award-winning managed IT and cyber security services provider.
Founded in 1995, to help Irish organisations on their digital transformation journey, Storm Technology has established itself as one of the leading Microsoft business technology consultancies in Ireland. Driving client success for both public and private sector clients across island of Ireland through its 160-strong team, extensive Microsoft solutions portfolio and a carefully curated partner network.
Since it was established in Nottingham in 2003, Littlefish has become an award-winning managed IT and cyber security services provider and has grown its team to nearly 650 people. Its expertise in managed IT services, cyber security, cloud services and strategic consultancy has driven the company’s growth and reputation in both the private and public sector markets in the UK.
The acquisition will further strengthen Storm Technology’s service portfolio for both new and existing clients in Ireland, particularly within the managed IT services and cyber security space, and facilitate future growth, enabling the delivery of its business solutions to the UK market. Similarly, the deal will allow Littlefish to address the growing demand for business focused Microsoft solutions and expand its customer base in Ireland via Storm Technology.
In turn, this will see both companies extend their capabilities across larger scale projects and to a wider breadth of clients. Together, Storm Technology and Littlefish will continue to deliver industry leading services to existing customers across the areas of managed IT services, cloud services, and strategic consultancy.
Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology, said: “Joining forces with Littlefish marks an exciting step in our business and client journey, supporting our growth ambition and facilitating entry to the UK market, while reaffirming our commitment to the delivery of maximum client impact with the expansion of our existing capabilities – creating an end-to-end digital operating platform.
“Our team and clients have been an integral part of our journey, and it was important to us that any partnership would build upon the values that have underpinned operations since we first opened in 1995, including unrivalled customer experience and operational excellence. We are confident that we have found that partner in Littlefish. I look forward to this exciting next stage of the Storm Technology journey alongside Littlefish, our valued team, clients, and partners.”
Steve Robinson, CEO, Littlefish, added: “As a business, we’ve evolved from a bedroom startup to ‘the’ superior alternative to the multi-billion-pound, IT outsourcers, providing award-winning services and a world-class customer experience. This acquisition marks the next part of our success story, expanding our presence and footprint with a like-minded organisation and services that will materially enhance our Microsoft business solution capabilities.
“As well as a shared passion for delivering service excellence and genuine business value for customers through tailored solutions, Storm Technology shares our people-centric, expertise-led approach. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Karl and his talented team to Littlefish. We are very much looking forward to collaborating, innovating and growing together in both the Irish and UK markets.”
Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company and leading provider of outdoor recreation, has announced an exciting new pilot programme in partnership with Irish start-up HiiKER, creators of an innovative hiking app. This initiative will offer a new and innovative way for local and visiting outdoor enthusiasts to experience Coillte forests by offering walkers and hikers real-time forest and walking trail insights before and during their visits.
Launching this summer, the pilot programme will introduce advanced features to HiiKER’s “Parks and Recreation” functionality. New enhancements include trail distances, accessibility reports and difficulty levels. Users will also benefit from real-time updates on trail busyness, parking availability, food options and toilet facilities. The HiiKer app will, for the first time, give visitors a real sense of the various activities available in Coillte’s forests and improve the overall visitor experience.
This new technology will be piloted in seven Coillte forests across the country including: Cruagh Woods, Ticknock, and Tibradden Woods in Dublin, as well as Donadea Forest Park in Kildare, Portumna Forest Park in Galway, Farran Forest Park in Cork and Dromore Forest in Kerry. Visitors to these forests will be the first to experience the enhanced capabilities offered by HiiKER.
HiiKER, is an Irish start up founded by Paul Finlay in Co. Meath. The app has helped over 1 million hikers to plan and navigate their hiking adventures all around the world. The app curates the best hikes on the planet, along with important points of interest to help users to plan the perfect hike. Most importantly, it works with the most notable map developers and cartographers to bring a wealth of verified route information to the public.
HiiKER on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – techbuzzireland
Coillte and HiiKER will pilot the technology over a six-month period, utilising Coillte’s extensive expertise. The collaboration will yield valuable insights into forest and trail usage, allowing Coillte to make data-driven decisions to further enhance the visitor experience for all.
Daithi de Forge, Head of Recreation at Coillte said “Coillte forests attract an average of 18 million visits annually and we are delighted to partner with HiiKER on this pilot which aims to enhance the walking and hiking experience across several of our beautiful forests. This innovative programme supports our commitment to enhancing the recreational, social and wellbeing benefits from our forests and to making them more accessible and enjoyable for all.
“By integrating Coillte’s extensive knowledge of the natural environment with HiiKER’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to provide visitors with an enriched, informed and seamless experience when they visit our forests.
Paul Finlay, HiiKER CEOadded, “We are excited to join forces with Coillte to launch this innovative pilot programme that will transform the way people explore Ireland’s forests. Our new HiiKER Parks and Recreation functionality and Coillte’s extensive database of recreational maps and data, enables the public to explore Coillte forests like never before. We’re encouraging everyone to download the app for free and start exploring these forests today.”
Download HiiKER from the Appstore or Google Playstore and search for one of the pilot forests.
Irish businesses continue to face challenges in complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), six years on from its introduction, according to new research. The findings were presented by Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP in their latest joint survey, “GDPR and Digital Legislation: A Survey of the Impact and Effect on Organisations in Ireland”.
The research, which was conducted by Ipsos B&A, found that just 15% of businesses consider their organisation to be ‘fully compliant’ with the legislation, which is billed as the toughest privacy and security law in the world. A further 58% of respondents indicated their organisation was ‘materially compliant’, and 25% say their organisation was ‘somewhat compliant’. In order to achieve their compliance targets, half of the businesses surveyed believe they need more resourcing, financial investments or further expertise in this space.
The research also found that 82% of respondents believe the risks associated with GDPR non-compliance are increasing, with respondents citing ‘reputational risk’ as the most important factor in determining an organisation’s data protection risk appetite, followed by ‘fear of fines’. Eight in 10 (81%) of the businesses surveyed say they intend to improve their compliance status.
This is the eighth edition of the Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP annual survey on the impact of GDPR on organisations in Ireland. As well as examining the latest perceptions among Irish businesses regarding GDPR compliance, the report also assesses awareness and readiness for a wave of new legislative developments from the European Union in response to rapid technological changes.
Findings show that 60% of those surveyed are concerned about the impact of new digital legislation on their organisation, which includes DORA (the Digital Operational Resilience Act), the AI Act, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act, the Digital Services Act, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) and the Cyber Resilience Act. There is also a high degree of uncertainty regarding the new legislation with many respondents being unsure of their applicability to their business, which suggests further education and awareness is required within organisations.
Key Findings:
82% of respondents agree that the risks associated with GDPR non-compliance are increasing, up from 70% in last year’s survey.
81% of respondents intend on improving their compliance status.
59% of respondents are concerned about the prospect of being fined for GDPR non-compliance, compared to 58% in last year’s survey.
47% of respondents agree that working to comply with GDPR has delivered many benefits for their organisation, up from 34% last year.
Over half of the respondents (52%) say that the CEO of their organisation is strongly engaged in GDPR compliance and data privacy, compared to 50% in 2023.
Six out of 10 respondents are concerned about upcoming digital legislation.
63% of respondents indicated that the AI Act will apply to their organisation.
Liam McKenna, Partner in Consulting Services at Forvis Mazars, said: “This survey underscores the essential need for organisations to remain up to date with both current and forthcoming regulations in the digital space. Irish businesses must diligently maintain their compliance initiatives, particularly amid the significant financial and reputational risks at stake.
“Although GDPR regulations were implemented in 2018, that only 15% of Irish companies are fully compliant is a concern for Irish business, particularly in light of further digital legislation coming down the tracks including the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), AI Act, Data Act, and Digital Services Act, among others. Irish companies therefore need to urgently focus on GDPR adherence, while actively gearing up for new legislative requirements.”
Paul Lavery, Partner at McCann FitzGerald LLP, added: “The effectiveness of the GDPR as one of the toughest data privacy laws in the word is perhaps evidenced by the fact that organisations are still actively working on improving their compliance six years on. It is much more than a tick the box exercise and staying on the right side of these complex requirements will require ongoing attention and focus by Irish organisations.
“The good news is that this experience will serve businesses well as they prepare for new legislation coming down the track from the European Union. Legislating for rapidly changing technologies such as AI is no easy task, and we can expect regulations around data, AI, cyber resilience, information security and digital services to continue to evolve in the coming years.”
The report was launched this morning by Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP, joined by Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner, Data Protection Commission, at the offices of McCann FitzGerald LLP. It can be read in full here.
Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that its technology is helping to drive equine disease diagnosis and research for the Irish Equine Centre (IEC). Founded in 1983, the Kildare-based IEC is a leading scientific and diagnostic service provider dedicated to the health and wellbeing of horses.
The IEC’s existing IT infrastructure was no longer able to keep pace with the growing technology demands of the equine diagnostics field. Following a competitive tender, Datapac delivered a complete refresh of the centre’s IT ecosystem to support the rollout of a wide range of services, including laboratory diagnostics, disease surveillance, and research on equine health and biosecurity.
The solution is underpinning continued growth and success for the IEC, which has just launched the Pet Vet Lab, a new service dedicated to advancing the health of household pets. It offers a ground-breaking screening service directly to pet owners, producing a personalised probiotic which is unique to each pet.
Datapac’s fully managed solution includes a comprehensive overhaul and integration of the IEC’s networking, compute, and storage infrastructure, built on Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) hardware and software. As the leading diagnostic service provider to the Irish equine industry, infrastructure uptime and resilience is vital for the IEC. The technology provides robust cloud data backup and recovery, with the ability to restore data in minutes in the event of an incident.
Advanced de-duplication vastly reduces the size of data storage, with up to 90% data capacity savings, and has significantly reduced cloud hosting costs for the centre. It also ensures speedy access to applications and data, boosting productivity for the IEC’s 69 employees.
Meanwhile, in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, Datapac’s Managed Threat Ops service provides round-the-clock monitoring, response, and neutralisation of cybersecurity threats. The IEC also serves as a teaching centre for third-level veterinary students and Microsoft Office 365 software with individual accounts and storage space provides a seamless user experience.
In addition, Datapac has enhanced connectivity across the IEC campus, implementing a wireless network solution and upgrade to next-generation Wi-Fi 6. The consolidation of technologies coupled with support from Datapac engineers for day-to-day technical queries has reduced the burden on in-house IT resources, freeing up time to focus on driving innovation for the centre.
Michael Mahady, IT Manager, Irish Equine Centre, said:“We had worked with Datapac in the past, and knew that its skilled team was best placed to deliver on our key objectives as technologies continue to advance. The flexibility and high level of data protection provided by the HPE Simplivity platform is of the utmost importance, as secure backup and business continuity is crucial to enable us to continue to roll out our services and resources. Furthermore, Datapac’s solution provides the benefits of a smaller storage footprint while retaining the operational horsepower of a much larger systemto support the early detection and management of diseases. Reliable access to Datapac’s experts is invaluable and gives us the peace of mind to focus on delivering value-adding projects for the centre.”
Colin Chapman, Business Relationship Manager, Datapac, said: “The Irish Equine Centre does such important work to promote horse health in Ireland, and our technology infrastructure overhaul is providing the proactive support and increased capabilities to continue to advance these vital services. Our solution has future proofed the IEC’s IT systems which will help the centre to grow and innovate in line with evolving industry demands. We are looking forward to building on our relationship with the centre as it continues to develop its cutting-edge resources.”
