Today, Maynooth University, in partnership with Microsoft Ireland, Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland and the Department of Education, has published the STEM Passport for Inclusion Impact Report, which reveals that over 5,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds have participated in the initiative to date. Notably, 76% of these students are now considering a career in STEM.

The All-Ireland STEM Passport for Inclusion programme is a joint initiative by Maynooth University, Microsoft Ireland, Research Ireland and the Department of Education that addresses inequalities with access to STEM careers among post-primary school students in socially disadvantaged communities. Initially developed as a pilot in 2021, the programme was expanded nationwide in December 2023.

The programme's innovative approach, which combines a recognised qualification (Level 6 NFQ), education support, and mentoring from industry role models, provides a unique pathway for female students to progress to third-level education and achieve a STEM qualification.

Since its launch, over 5,370 female students from DEIS schools in all four provinces have been engaged, with 50% of participants from rural areas. As part of the programme, 1,100 industry mentors have delivered 2,524 mentoring hours. The outcome has been that students from 117 DEIS schools have been empowered to graduate with a university accredited STEM qualification while still in post-primary school.

A survey of programme participants revealed that STEM Passport for Inclusion has positively changed students' view of STEM with 79% now considering applying to study STEM at third level while 76% are considering a career in STEM.

The programme has also increased students' knowledge of, and familiarity with, STEM. Only 45% of students reported knowing what STEM was before participating in the programme. This increased to 95% once students completed the programme.

This has helped to reduce the STEM confidence gap between girls in DEIS and non-DEIS schools. Previously, only 3 in 10 girls from DEIS schools were confident they could study STEM in the future while close to 6 in 10 girls from non-DEIS were confident. Once girls took part in STEM Passport for Inclusion, the STEM confidence gap between girls in DEIS and non-DEIS schools was all but eliminated.

While the report details the significant impact of the programme to date, it also includes several informed recommendations to further STEM engagement and the impact of the programme across Ireland.

STEM Impact Recommendations

Expand the Programme Across All DEIS Schools: Secure funding to implement the programme in every DEIS school in Ireland - ensure nationwide access to STEM education for disadvantaged students.

Provide Necessary Resources to DEIS Schools: Many schools lacked the resources to fully participate in the programme. Supplying these institutions with loaned technology, mobile lab kits, and internet support would help bridge this resource gap.

Introduce Funded STEM Work Experience Programmes: Partner with industry to provide work experiences to enhance real-world learning and skill development. This initiative would be particularly valuable for DEIS students, who often lack exposure to STEM career pathways.

Fund Longitudinal Research on Programme Impact: Invest in further comprehensive research so stakeholders can gain insights into long-term outcomes, enabling data-driven improvements and enhancing the programme's sustainability.

The National Skills Strategy identified a need to increase STEM participation to develop the talent and skills that are needed for the future of work. Despite female students accounting for more than half of third-level students, they only make up 35% of STEM students. Moreover, fewer than one in ten graduates in STEM fields are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. STEM Passport for Inclusion seeks to address this by ensuring that every student, regardless of background, leaves school STEM-prepared.

...

Pfizer's 'Smart Factory Co-pilot' and Irish Life's CARA, which revolutionises claims processing, were among the big winners at this year's AI Awards, which was held at the Anantara Marker Hotel in Dublin.

Other winning entries included companies focusing on early cancer detection, protecting children from cyberbullying and developing remote working hubs to reduce carbon emissions.

Powered by AI Ireland, in conjunction with principal sponsor Microsoft Ireland, the awards are designed to support the growth and development of data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence in Ireland.

Ronan Geraghty, COO Microsoft Ireland, celebrating the winners said, "Microsoft Ireland is proud to support the AI Awards for the sixth consecutive year and since their inception. The transformative impact of AI in Ireland has been remarkable, fostering innovation across healthcare, sustainability, academia, and beyond.

AI AWARDSThese awards have played a crucial role in nurturing the indigenous AI ecosystem, and we are delighted to be at the heart of this vibrant community, championing technological advancements and supporting Irish AI talent."

The 12 winners from the 2024 AI Awards are the following:

Best Application of AI in a Large Enterprise

Pfizer Global Supply - for developing the "Smart Factory Co-Pilot," an AI-driven solution that monitors manufacturing processes, detects issues and provides real-time insights to optimise yield, reduce costs and improve quality. This innovation enhances decision-making and is being expanded across Pfizer to support its goal of becoming an AI-driven company.

Best Application of AI in Consumer/Customer Service

Irish Life - for CARA, which revolutionised claims processing by using advanced AI to enhance speed, accuracy and customer satisfaction. CARA streamlined operations, integrating with legacy systems and ensuring compliance. It significantly improved processing times and set a new standard in the insurance industry, with plans for broader AI applications.

Best Application of AI in Healthcare

Axial3D - for their new software platform, which automates the creation of patient-specific 3D anatomical models from 2D scans, drastically reducing development time and costs. This innovation enhances surgical precision and scalability, transforming patient-specific solutions from niche applications to routine practices in global healthcare.

Best Application of AI in a SME

BuyMedia - for their AI-powered platform which helps SMEs in Ireland and the UK overcome advertising challenges by simplifying planning, purchasing, execution and learning. It offers data-driven insights, a centralised marketplace and automated campaign management, enabling SMEs to compete effectively with larger enterprises and improve their ROI.

Best Application of AI in a Startup

Durotimi AI - for their work in enhancing early cancer detection by providing GPs with real-time decision support through AI-driven analytics. The platform is transparent and adaptable, and integrates seamlessly into healthcare environments. They improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce delays, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and potentially saving lives.

Best Application of AI to achieve Social Good

CeADAR ReLeafHubs - for their Remote Working Hubs (RWHs), which uses AI tools to reduce carbon emissions, alleviate urban congestion and boost rural economies. Aimed at supporting sustainable and balanced development., it employs the myRWH.app for personalised hub recommendations, AIDTs for real-time monitoring and GCNs for analysing user patterns.

Best Use of Responsible AI and Ethics

Chirp - for developing an ethical, AI-powered solution embedded at the smartphone's OS level to detect and block harmful content like cyberbullying, grooming and self-harm. Their privacy-by-design approach prioritises child safety and agency while involving parents without violating children's privacy.

Best Application of AI in Sustainability

SynCarbAI- for tackling ...

Guest post by Seamus McCorry, country manager, Ireland, at Check Point Software

The EU's Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) took effect on 17 October 2024, imposing stricter cybersecurity standards across the EU. This directive, designed to combat the evolving threat landscape, targets a broader range of sectors, including critical infrastructure and digital services. While the full implementation deadline for compliance doesn't set in until 2028, organisations should start making changes now so that the deadline is met.

Understanding and complying with these regulations is critical for organisations in Ireland, or else they risk significant penalties, including legal action against executives. However, the NIS2 directive is, as yet, widely undefined, which can make compliance tricky. So, how can Irish organisations get ahead in understanding and implementing the appropriate cybersecurity measures to achieve compliance?

Defining and Decoding NIS2

Building upon the 2016 NIS Directive, NIS2 directly responds to the evolving and increasingly complex cyber threat landscape. Its primary goal is to minimise cyber risk and standardise cybersecurity measures across the European Union. It will also impact any organisation that trades within the EU, regardless of where they are in the world.

As previously stated, NIS2, while well-intentioned, presents a challenge for Irish organisations due to its lack of concrete, legally defined minimum requirements. The lack of definition in terms of specific compliance minimums is to provide flexibility and adaptability to the changeable cybersecurity landscape. Instead of prescribing rigid, one-size-fits-all rules, NIS2 establishes a framework of principles and general obligations. This approach allows organisations to tailor their security measures to their specific risk profiles and operational needs as long as they meet the recommendations set out by member states.

One such principle is promoting a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, requiring organisations to adequately assess risks specific to the organisation and implement appropriate security measures. NIS2 also expands the scope of this risk by expecting organisations to have adequate supply chain security, incident response plans, and risk management in place. Finally, NIS2 emphasises the importance of cybersecurity by design and default.

However, this flexibility also presents challenges. Organisations may struggle to interpret the directive's requirements and determine the exact level of security measures needed to comply. This ambiguity can lead to uncertainty and potential non-compliance, even for the experienced information security professional. While NIS2 doesn't provide a checklist, it implies a level of protection that likely includes fundamental security measures such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and access controls.

Liability and Litigation

Despite these initial challenges, NIS2 has the potential to enhance Ireland's cybersecurity landscape significantly. By emphasising the importance of robust security programmes and fostering collaboration between legal and IT teams, NIS2 can elevate Irish organisations' overall information security maturity. This directive also clarifies the distinct roles of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO), empowering CISOs to become strategic advisors to management. However, this increased responsibility also raises concerns around accountability and potential liability for Irish organisations.

A unique aspect of NIS2 is that it holds executives and managers personally liable for cybersecurity failures. Unlike previous regulations, NIS2 explicitly states that management bodies can be held accountable for gross negligence and misconduct, like not properly reporting or covering up potential breaches, like in the case of the 2016 Uber breach, potentially facing leg...

VERSONO Medical Ltd has begun enrolling patients in the FREEFLOW pivotal study for its FastWire System.

FastWire is a truly disruptive technology designed to quickly access previously untreatable complex blockages in arteries, increasing success rates and reducing risk of amputations via endovascular techniques.

As the revolutionary endovascular platform technology enables the treatment of severely diseased arterial blockages, it opens new clinical frontiers for physicians, with the aim of saving limbs from amputation and saving lives for patients globally.

FREEFLOW will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of VERSONO's FastWire device technology through the FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study. Subject to the successful completion of the study, the company will seek US market approval to launch FastWire.

The study is being performed in three centres in Lousiana, Tennessee, and Iowa. The first patients have already been enrolled at two of the clinical sites; the Vascular Institute of the Midwest (VIM) in Davenport, Iowa; and the Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) in Houma, Louisiana. Enrolment at the study's third site, the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga (VIC) in Tennessee, will begin in the coming weeks.

Professor Craig Walker, MD, an internationally renowned leader in the field, is FREEFLOW's Principal Investigator (PI). He and his team in Louisiana, with Dr Eric Dippel, and his team in Davenport, and Dr Chris Lesar with his team in Chattanooga, have completed initial procedures and intend to complete enrolment and the IDE study over the coming months.

VERSONO Medical's FastWire System uses a novel proprietary ultrasonic technology developed and patented by the company over the past six years. It can cross through severe, complex blockages in patient's arteries, above, and below, the knee with Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI). The technology has huge potential application in endovascular procedures.

More than 230 million people, aged 25 or older, are living with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). It is prevalent in around 20% of those aged over 65 and, with a rapidly aging population, these numbers are expected to double by 2030. The four main risk factors for PAD include smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Alarmingly more than 30 per cent of patients with the most advanced presentation of PAD, CLTI, will have a limb amputated within the first year post diagnosis, even greater concern is that more than 60 per cent of patients diagnosed will die within five years.

CLTI occurs when total blockages form in the arteries of the lower extremities. Over time blood flow reduces, and eventually, as a total occlusion forms, it eventually completely stops blood flow through the artery. The rising risk of sepsis in the ischemic tissues raises the risk of amputation, restoring blood flow can prevent minor and major amputations.

Prof. Walker has already presented the results of the FREEFLOW first in human (FIH) Pilot study at the New Cardiovascular Horizons meeting in Chicago. That found FastWire to be hugely effective at crossing severely calcified long lesions in tibial and Fem Pop arteries, enabling their treatment, reducing the risk of amputation in these the most vulnerable of patients.

VERSONO Medical's FastWire Technology has been awarded European Innovation Council and Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund Grants. The European Innovation Council's funds is to assist finalising and commercialising FastWire. The Irish Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment and Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund is enabling Versono develop its product portfolio a pipeline of future Clinical indications for FastWire.

VERSONO Medical now employs 22 staff in Parkmore, Galway and is developing its presence in the US. It is focused on getting FastWire into the hands of physicians to help meet a rapidly growing global clinical need in peripheral vascular interventi...

SIRO, Ireland's leading fibre broadband network operator, has announced that its high-speed fibre broadband service is now live in Leitrim's county town, Carrick-on-Shannon. This expansion means SIRO now operates in every county across Ireland, marking an important milestone in its nationwide rollout of 100% fibre broadband.

SIRO was founded in 2015 as a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone to roll out a full-fibre network across Ireland. Since then, SIRO has rolled out its network to over 620,000 premises in Ireland and to a total of 142 cities and towns to date, with its build ongoing.

The significant expansion of SIRO's network now means it has grown to become the second-largest full-fibre broadband network in the Irish market.

SIRO currently offers speeds of up to 2 Gigabits for residential customers and up to 10 Gigabits for enterprise, but its network has the capacity to scale to 25 Gigabits when required.

SIRO's network going live in Carrick on Shannon also means that SIRO now has a live network in every county in Ireland (Republic). The addition of Carrick-on-Shannon to SIRO's network forms part of its €1 billion investment in a future-proofed broadband infrastructure. While the company has reached over 620,00 premises to date, the company is on track to meet its commitment of over 700,000 premises by 2026.

Commenting on the milestone, SIRO Chief Executive Officer John Keaney said:

"The milestone of reaching every county in Ireland matters hugely to SIRO, and to our parent companies ESB and Vodafone. It's a measure of our longer-term ambition and continued growth. SIRO is a company driven by the objective of creating choice and real competition in the broadband market. We are already doing so in the 142 towns and cities in which we operate and remain focused on continuing to do so as our network expands further across Ireland.

"Bringing full-fibre broadband to Carrick-on-Shannon marks a major milestone for SIRO as our network's footprint now extends to every county in Ireland. Carrick on Shannon joining the wider SIRO network across the Northwest region puts the town on a par with its neighbours in Sligo, Cavan, Donegal, Longford and Roscommon, ensuring that it has world-class connectivity and remains a great place to live and work."

Vodafone Ireland CEO Amanda Nelson noted: "We are delighted to mark this milestone today in Carrick-on-Shannon and that with SIRO, our joint venture with ESB, we now deliver high-speed gigabit broadband to every county in Ireland. Since launching in 2015, we have been delivering connectivity to people, businesses, and communities right across Ireland while also offering greater competition within the market.

"We are proud to be providing high-speed connectivity to homes and businesses and empowering local businesses, entrepreneurs, and remote workers in the community with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world."

Commenting, ESB Deputy Chief Executive Marguerite Sayers said: "With the recent expansion of the network to Carrick-On-Shannon, I warmly welcome the milestone of SIRO's availability in every county of Ireland. It marks a significant collective achievement for ESB, our partners in Vodafone and, of course, the hard-working SIRO team. In less than ten years, the Joint Venture has brought access to ultra-fast fibre broadband connectivity to 620,000 families and small businesses across regional Ireland and is entirely in keeping with ESB's commitment to the communities we serve."

Justin Fannon, Director of Services (Acting) Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructural Services, Leitrim County Council Justin Fannon, noted:

"I am delighted to see this announcement today by SIRO that 800 premises in Carrick on Shannon can now connect to Fibre Broadband with a further 800 to follow in the coming months. The local authority welcomes the SIRO installation and the economic benefits it has the potential to bring to the area by strengthening connectivity and providing confid...

With lithium-ion batteries powering a significant portion of modern business operations from electronics to electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters their fire risks present a serious concern that requires immediate attention.

To learn more about the technology behind lithium-ion batteries and their fire risks I spoke to Gerard Pollock, Lithium Ion lead consultant/internal expert with EHS International.

Gerard talks about his background, how Lithium-ion battery fires affect various sectors, battery technology advancements and their implications for business safety and efficiency and more.

More about Gerard Pollock:

Gerard Pollock is a Project Consultant with EHS International, Ireland's fastest growing single-source environmental, health and safety company. Gerard is a Master Mariner and ex-Super yacht Captain with 25 years experience in the space.

He has worked as ship inspector for national regulators as well as in diplomatic programmes with Governments in the South Pacific to improve their maritime safety systems.

More recently, he is an author seeking to demystify the maritime safety regulations for masters and their crews. Having noticed an increasing demand for information and guidance on tackling lithium-ion fires at sea, Gerard began working with EHS International's Projects Director, Kevin Howlette, to develop an e-learning course.

Today, he works with EHS International to provide expert consultancy and training to a variety of industries.

See more podcasts here.

Climb Channel Solutions Ireland, the specialist technology distributor formerly known as DataSolutions, has announced an expanded partnership with SolarWinds, a leading provider of simple, powerful, and secure IT management software, designed to accelerate new business in Ireland.

Founded in 1999, SolarWinds is an American company that develops software for businesses to help observe and manage their networks, systems, databases, and information technology infrastructure. Serving more than 300,000 customers globally and with its international headquarters in Cork, the SolarWinds product portfolio spans observability, database, and IT service management.

Building on successful partnerships in the U.S. and UK, Climb Channel Solutions Ireland is hoping to further strengthen the SolarWinds presence in Ireland and grow revenues across its net new and existing business, which aligns with the SolarWinds channel-first approach.

Specifically, Climb Channel Solutions anticipates increased demand for the SolarWinds Observability solution. Available in self-hosted or SaaS options and powered by artificial intelligence (AI), SolarWinds Observability addresses a clear need in the market for a solution that closes the hybrid IT visibility gap.

SolarWinds Observability enables companies to monitor their IT environment, including networks, on-prem and cloud infrastructure, applications, and databases. The solution boosts security, productivity, and efficiency by accelerating issue resolution, increasing automation, streamlining operations, and optimising performance. This allows partners and end-customers to maximise their IT investment while modernising and moving to the cloud with confidence.

In addition to growing their collective business in the channel, Climb Channel Solutions Ireland and SolarWinds are aiming to expand their partner base in Ireland. With observability, database, and IT service management solutions from SolarWinds, resellers can better serve their end users. Such technologies help accelerate digital transformation and deliver value for organisations of all sizes and across every industry, from public sector bodies to large enterprises.

To support the partnership and growth in Ireland, SolarWinds recently sponsored Climb Channel Solutions Ireland's Partner Edge event, which explored the latest technologies and trends impacting the industry.

The partnership between the two companies, which is also being extended to the Germany, Austria, and Switzerland region, builds on the successful collaboration within the UK market over the past two years.

David Keating, Country Manager for Climb Channel Solutions Ireland, said: "Just as it has been for Climb Channel Solutions globally over the past decade, SolarWinds is now a strategic vendor for Climb Channel Solutions Ireland. The Irish market represents a huge opportunity, and together, we and SolarWinds have the expertise to deliver real value to partners and their customers. By leveraging an award-winning, industry-leading vendor like SolarWinds, we hope to enable innovation not just for our business but within the wider ecosystem."

Gillian Neligan, director of UK and Ireland sales at SolarWinds, added: "There is a great synergy between SolarWinds and Climb Channel Solutions Ireland. We have both achieved significant growth. We are passionate about delivering cutting-edge technologies and outstanding service to partners. We have in-depth expertise delivered by local teams. All of these elements combine to make a strong partnership that drives success and accelerates digital transformation for our customers. We look forward to seeing what the future brings."

See more stories here.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

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Datapac, Ireland's leading technology solutions and services provider, is pleased to announce the renewal of its sponsorship with the National Opera House. This new deal, valued at €150,000 over the next four years, marks the latest chapter in a decades-spanning partnership that has supported the venue in delivering world-class performances and events.

As the official ICT sponsor to the National Opera House, Datapac's proactive support enables the National Opera House to roll out its extensive programme of events to citizens and international visitors annually. This includes the Wexford Festival Opera, which welcomes patrons from over 20 countries each year.

Ahead of the new sponsorship deal, Datapac engaged with all relevant stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of their respective goals. It then designed and developed an enhanced and future-proofed technology infrastructure which meets all of their evolving needs. The deal advances the National Opera House's technology strategy to boost collaboration, communication, cybersecurity, and connectivity for the venue. In turn, Datapac's solution will empower employees to continue to deliver a top-tier variety of performances for patrons across opera, theatre, dance, and music.

With Datapac's solution in place, the National Opera House is becoming a more digitally managed organisation, which is helping it to meet its sustainability goals as part of its climate action plan. In addition, the technology supports the venue in delivering its Education and Community Programme which aims to engage local schools and the wider community with the arts.

Established in 2008, the venue is Ireland's only custom-built opera house and was designated as Ireland's 'National Opera House' by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 10 years ago. An estimated two million people have passed through its doors to date.

Randall Shannon, Executive Director, Wexford Festival Opera, said: "Every aspect of the work we do is supported by the Datapac team. Datapac's proactive support gives us the confidence to innovate and expand, and this evolution of our strategy will ensure that we can provide an enhanced service for our valued patrons. As an important economic generator for the region, we greatly appreciate Datapac's commitment to our sustainable future. We look forward to continuing to work with the team over the next number of years."

Karen O'Connor, General Manager, Datapac, said: "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the National Opera House and build on our valued relationship. We will work closely with the team to guide the technology strategy, ensuring that, as a world-class venue, it aligns with international best practices. In a digital landscape that's ever-changing, we ensure that the venue can seamlessly deliver its year-round programme of events and the highly anticipated Wexford Festival Opera. All the world's a stage, and we are delighted to support the National Opera House which makes an invaluable contribution to arts, culture, and the economy in Wexford and across the South East."

See more stories here.

Transformative Technology Trends guest post by Padraig Callan, Head of Business Development at Lennox.

Ireland is home to nine of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies as well as a strong cluster of home-grown Irish ones. According to Enterprise Ireland, it's a strong "ecosystem that leverages top-tier talent and enterprise to foster innovation and shape global healthcare's future". However, transformative technology trends will have a significant impact on reshaping laboratory environments in the country, so it's essential that organisations are aware of these trends and navigate challenges before they arise.

From AI and sustainability to data analytics, here are the top trends that laboratories should be aware of next year and beyond.

1. Automation - AI and robotics in labs

Intelligent lab automation that utilises AI and robotics can help offer efficient and innovative lab environments for organisations. TechXplore suggests that robotics has the "potential to turn our everyday science labs into automated factories that accelerate discovery" but notes the importance of creative solutions on how to integrate this with researchers in the lab environment.

For laboratories, the fast advance of AI can help provide real-time insights and visualisations for laboratories, which can in turn, enhance research, efficiency and resource management in the lab. Automation can help to process vast amounts of unstructured data that laboratories currently don't have the resources to facilitate. This will allow laboratories to make more data-driven decisions. Robotics can also improve consistency in labs, reducing the risk of contamination in areas such as handling tissue samples.

2. Sustainability

As environmental concerns continue to rise worldwide, the importance of sustainable laboratories is more apparent than ever. Laboratories are not only looking for ways, but are expected to become more environmentally sustainable. From energy-efficient lab equipment, sourcing sustainable materials to implementing waste management systems, government legislation will impact the day-to-day processes for laboratories in many ways. For example, the proper recycling of hazardous waste is a legal requirement enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland.

For laboratories, sustainability also covers the workforce and its external reputation - how it's perceived by potential talent, partners, clients, competitors and external stakeholders. Implementing sustainable practices and complying with environmental regulations have been shown to enhance external reputation and be important in attracting talent. Now, companies such as My Green Lab are providing laboratory certifications, which showcase how labs uphold a worldwide standard for sustainable practices. Laboratories have already started to implement more sustainable practices including using reusable transport boxes, cloud-based systems and sharing equipment when possible.

3. Data Analytics and Predictive Modelling

By utilising advanced data tools, laboratories can efficiently process vast datasets to forecast trends, improve diagnostic accuracy and optimise research outcomes and workflows. Additionally, compliance with the EU's Data Protection Act and other data protection laws in Ireland such as the Data Protection Act will also become important when organisations introduce these processes.

Our business has seen the importance of rolling out Vendor Managed Inventory systems, which allow suppliers to efficiently manage supply chains. Within this process, predictive modelling has helped anticipate and address supply chain issues before they arise for customers. This process is extremely cost-effective, helping to track and record laboratory resources. Another aspect is anticipating equipment failures in the lab, that otherwise may have had an impact on productivity, timelines or efficiencies.

4. Augmented Reality (AR) for Training and Maintenance

Another interesting trend that has bee...

In an increasingly data-driven world, organisations are adopting multicloud strategies to meet their business needs. As companies contend with vast and complex amounts of unstructured data, a multicloud approach allows them to manage, access, and protect their information seamlessly across various cloud platforms.

Gartner estimates that by 2025, over 95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platforms. This trend is especially visible in Europe, where regulatory compliance and data sovereignty concerns are pushing companies toward sophisticated storage solutions.

Here in Ireland, according to the Dell Technologies' Innovation Catalysts Study, 38% of IT and business decision-makers believe that hybrid infrastructure dominates their IT landscape, while another 38% point to multi-cloud as the leading model.

With businesses navigating a multicloud environment, it is vital that IT leaders harness the growing bank of data within and across their organisations. That requires a greater focus on eliminating data silos and achieving a unified storage system.

There are five key considerations that IT leaders in Ireland need to take account of to ensure their shift from data silos to a multicloud approach unlocks strong business benefits.

1. Hybrid and Multicloud Integration: Breaking Down Data Silos

Companies considering hybrid or multicloud approaches are often contending with data silos that limit data sharing, access, and analytics potential. With hybrid and multicloud options, many organisations are moving toward a more cohesive storage setup.

This is particularly relevant in Ireland, where regulations like GDPR and data residency laws govern how and where data can be stored. By linking storage across multiple platforms, these organisations can centralise data and comply with local regulations, granting them flexible data access without sacrificing security.

2. Cloud-Native File Storage: Enhancing Scalability and Flexibility

As companies' data needs expand, they require storage that can scale as those demands fluctuate. Cloud-native file storage - engineered specifically for cloud environments - provides the agility needed to scale storage up or down as needed.

Industries with intensive data processing needs, such as automotive technology, are quickly adopting cloud-native storage. For example, Subaru collaborates with Dell Technologies to develop AI-powered driver assistance systems, which rely on Dell's cloud-native infrastructure for high-speed data analysis from sensors and cameras. This setup lets Subaru's AI systems handle massive data loads efficiently, supporting compliance while delivering reliable performance.

3. Unified Data Management: Streamlining Accessibility and Governance

In the multicloud landscape, data management now goes beyond storage to include governance, access control, and compliance. A recent McKinsey report highlights that 72% of European CIOs prioritise unified data management, aiming to streamline data access across cloud platforms while maintaining strict control.

In Ireland, where data compliance is essential, companies are investing in platforms that facilitate unified data policies, enabling secure data transfer between clouds with consistent security standards. This approach simplifies workflows, boosts productivity, and ensures that critical data can be accessed from anywhere within the organization.

4. AI and Machine Learning Integration: Extracting Data Insights

As multicloud storage enables more integrated data environments, AI and machine learning are providing unprecedented insights. According to a new forecast from the Worldwide AI and Generative AI Spending Guide published by IDC, European spending on AI is projected to reach $133 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.3% over the 2024-2028. By storing data across interconnected clouds, organisations can leverage AI to analyse multiple data sources for real-time, actionable insights.

AI ...