Best known for its lush landscapes, Saint Patrick’s Day, and a pint of Guinness, Ireland has a great deal to offer in terms of culture, creativity, and charming scenery. But what’s lesser known in the mainstream are the contributions local companies and institutions make in driving innovation in an array of sectors: from pharmaceuticals to the automotive industry.
E&T made its way to Ireland to learn more about its R&D initiatives happening in the country’s western regions within the automotive sector. And here, we found a common theme trickling throughout all the companies and institutions we had come across which makes the West of Ireland a worthy competitor in pushing innovation: strong collaborative efforts.
“A vibrant ecosystem has been growing in the West of Ireland over the last 25 years,” says Ian O’Hora, head of Green Economy and Engineering at IDA Ireland, an agency founded in 1949 that handles the attraction and retention of inward...