Guest post by Jamie Elkaleh is an experienced public speaker, dedicated crypto enthusiast and educator, and Bitget's Country Manager.

Bitget Empowers Blockchain Dialogue at the Heart of Dubai with Sponsorship of Blockchain Ireland Meetup

Bitget, a leading platform in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, proudly sponsored the latest Blockchain Ireland meetup event in Dubai, held at McCafferty's in JVC. The event, which took place on February 23, 2024, attracted over 30 professionals from diverse companies and backgrounds, fostering a rich environment for networking and knowledge exchange.

Blockchain Ireland Meet Up in Dubai

Lory Kehoe, the esteemed founder and Chair of Blockchain Ireland and MSX Head of Stablecoin, was in attendance, adding significant value to the discussions.

"Blockchain Ireland was delighted to host our first (but not last) UAE meet-up with Bitget. 50 people from around the world (not just Ireland) came together to discuss the latest developments with L2s, the future of NFTs and tokenization. Looking forward to the next one",- said Lory.

The event marked a pivotal moment for the blockchain community in Dubai, creating a platform for collaborative conversations and partnerships.

Bitget Country Manager, Jamie Elkaleh commented, "Sponsorship of this event highlights our commitment to providing networking and educational opportunities to the Irish Crypto community." Elkaleh's statement reflects Bitget's dedication to supporting and nurturing the growth of the blockchain community, not only in Dubai but globally.

Opportunities arising from the event were plentiful, with participants delving into discussions about recruiting talents, hosting more web3 focused events, expanding networking circles, and connecting with venture capitalists and other investors in the blockchain space.

Key topics of conversation ignited passionate discussions, covering the latest trends and developments in the industry. Conversations ranged from the prospects of a Bitcoin ETF, the burgeoning Defi Summer, the impact of Layer 2 solutions, the diverse world of Altcoins, to the stability of Stablecoins.

Industry challenges were not overlooked, as participants delved into barriers to entry and contemplated the implications of the Bitcoin halving and ETF on the broader market.

Bitget's sponsorship of the Blockchain Ireland meetup underscores its commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative blockchain ecosystem in Dubai. The company believes in the power of such events to drive innovation, collaboration, and growth within the industry.

As the blockchain community eagerly anticipates the next gathering in conjunction with Blockchain Ireland, Bitget remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that propel the industry forward, fostering a dynamic and thriving blockchain landscape.

Written by

Jamie Elkaleh is an experienced public speaker, dedicated crypto enthusiast and educator, and Bitget's Country Manager. He focuses on breaking the barrier of entry for crypto users through free education content and established brands.

Before diving into the crypto world, Jamie Elkaleh was a professional rugby coach who worked with England's National Rugby Team. His professional experience working with young people started with his foundational degree in youth work at Liverpool John Moores University. Jamie has been building the platforms needed to educate and onboard young people to the crypto space ever since.

His two educational platforms, CryptoJamie and CryptoBrosUK, have been the foundation of his brand, leading to his partnership with Binance as a crypto content creator. Through that partnership, he was able to reach more than 500k viewers each week, educating and encouraging the future and current leaders of the crypto space.

With his current role as Bitget's Relationship Manager, Jamie works to build relationships and broaden the horizon of the platform while onboarding a wide range of users, influencers, and start-ups.

Career

Since ...

The Spider Awards, Ireland's premier celebration of digital excellence, proudly announced Annertech-bigO as the recipient of the coveted Grand Prix Award for their outstanding application for the National Library of Ireland.

The agency also took home the award for 'Best in Universal Design'. Other big winners include Granite, who took home the prize for 'Large Agency of the Year' and 'Best in E-Commerce'.

Other winners at the Spider Awards 2024 include:

Best App: Deloitte Digital- Brown Thomas

Best Collaboration: Core Optimisation- Failte Ireland

Best Use of Disruptive Technology: Future Proof Insights- AIG

Digital Team of the Year: Central Bank of Ireland

Best in Storytelling Award: VITHIT

Since its foundation in 1997, The Spider Awards, hailed as the 'digital Oscars', has been championing exceptional achievements in digital marketing, social media campaigns, and technological innovation. The 27th edition of the awards, sponsored by One4all, delivers a memorable event, bringing together over 500 industry leaders and professionals for the black tie gala dinner at the Round Room in the Mansion House this evening.

Tracey Carney, Managing Director of The Spiders, expressed her enthusiasm for this year's entries, emphasising the exceptional quality and creativity demonstrated by participants. She said, "Tonight's Spider Awards spotlight the extraordinary creativity at the intersection of humanity and digital innovation. As technology reshapes our world, the talent we celebrate tonight are not just enduring; they are flourishing and setting the pace for the future.

A special mention to Annertech - Big O for clinching the Grand Prix with The National Library Website - a well-deserved win. Crafting a website for a library is a complex task, yet they excelled, delivering an outstanding site with universal design at its heart."

Lou Hickey, Marketing Director, EMEA One4all said of this year's entries, "The calibre of entries in this year's Spiders exemplifies the abundance of excellence in digital marketing expertise and spotlights the creativity that is an intrinsic part of our DNA. As natural storytellers, digital marketers have found their space to execute dynamic, data-driven campaigns that have yielded phenomenal results for consumer brands and community initiatives."

The Spider Awards judging process ensures fairness and transparency, with entries evaluated against stringent criteria by an independent panel of experts. Winners are selected based on the overall quality of their campaigns, projects, and contributions to digital innovation.

This year's Spider Awards delivered an unparalleled celebration of digital brilliance, showcasing the best and brightest talents in Ireland digital landscape, honouring outstanding achievements and celebrating digital excellence.

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Award-winning Irish digital marketing agency VROOM Digital is proud to announce that they have once again achieved Premier Partner status in the Google Partners program, affirming its position in the top 3% of Ireland-based Google Partners. This prestigious recognition underscores VROOM Digital's expertise in optimising campaign performance for clients, driving growth through meticulous campaign management, and showcasing proficiency in Google Ads with various certifications.

This accreditation marks another significant milestone for VROOM Digital, building upon the successes of the previous year where multiple client campaigns received industry accolades. Throughout 2023, VROOM Digital's campaigns were honoured at esteemed events like the Digital Media Awards, where they've previously secured four awards, reinforcing their commitment to excellence and delivering outstanding results.

Shane Curtin, CEO & Founder, VROOM Digital, said, "we've secured our eighth consecutive year as a Google Premier Partner. This recognition reaffirms our consistent presence among the elite top 3% of agencies in Ireland. It's a testament to the profound expertise of our team, reflecting our commitment to delivering unparalleled service. We're unwavering in our dedication to upskilling and retraining, empowering our clients with the knowledge necessary to excel."

VROOM Digital now stands among only nine accredited Google Partners in Ireland and holds the esteemed title of Meta Business Partner, further validating their proficiency in advertising across social platforms.

Bronagh McNamara, Chief Client Officer, VROOM Digital, said, "this accreditation not only demonstrates our exceptional capabilities within the industry, but also aligns our clients with exclusive benefits that will contribute towards their success and growth with Google Ads. Our achievement isn't just a badge; it's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Google and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients."

VROOM Digital remains a distinguished member of a select group of Premier Partners in the Google Partners program. This initiative caters to advertising agencies and third parties managing Google Ads accounts, providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to empower their clients' online success and growth.

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Workhuman, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, has announced new findings from its Human Workplace Index, which found that employees in Ireland are struggling to meet the demands of their jobs due to skills gaps. The research found that 70% of employees say they work with one or more people whose skill sets do not meet the criteria of the role.

This is resulting in 24% of employees saying they are being slowed down because they have to provide a lot of support to those colleagues.

The survey of 1,000 full-time employees in Ireland was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into company cultures and the employee experience, including the impact of skills gaps on employees.

The research showed that while significant skills gaps prevail in Ireland, employees are proactively seeking to upskill. Some 86% of those surveyed said that they are aiming to learn at least one new skill this year. Almost half (48%) believe this will help them to uncover new job opportunities, while 47% are seeking a salary increase or promotion. A further 20% are motivated to learn a new skill because they are planning a career change.

As employees seek self-improvement, Workhuman's research suggests that the majority of businesses are doing the same. The study found that 80% of employees report that their company is making efforts to foster a positive work culture. Of these, 64% say that they are succeeding but 36% say they are not.

The survey showed that according to employees (cited by 40%) appreciation and recognition is most important factor that contributes to a positive workplace culture, followed by open and transparent communication (32%). Interestingly, just 11% said opportunities for growth and development influence their perception of their workplace culture.

Reflecting the widespread focus on company culture, almost three-quarters (72%) of employees say that their organisation has a defined set of company values. However, Workhuman's research suggests that there is a disconnect between employers' intentions and their employees' experiences. Some 29% of employees who are aware of defined company values in their organisation say that these values don't match the culture they experience day-to-day.

Niamh Graham, Senior Vice President of Global Human Experience, Workhuman: "Leaders across industries have noted the skills shortage and the potential ramifications for businesses. This data reveals that this isn't just a concern for executives; individual contributors are feeling the effects of this as well and are being vocal about their desire to expand their expertise.

"There has been an explosion of new technologies in recent years that are specifically driven by how we work, live, spend, and interact. In turn, roles and job requirements across artificial intelligence, eCommerce, information security, data, video communications, user experience, and more, have grown enormously and we are left to play catch-up. Companies need to rethink their hiring, skills, and talent development strategies, and adopting agile HR practices is key.

In addition, platforms which give insight to where your talent pool is are now more necessary than ever.

"In addition, it's encouraging to see that there is an increased emphasis among businesses on employee engagement, which is leading to greater investments in their cultures and their people. However, it is important that all strategies are regularly reviewed to ensure that they don't just sound nice; businesses must be able to say definitively that they are having a real, positive impact on the workforce."

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Aston University is to help one of the world's largest cassava processers develop a sustainable and faster way to dry its crops.

The University has entered a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) with the Tropical Starch Company, Ghana's leading cassava processing business.

According to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the country is the second biggest consumer of cassava and contributes to almost a quarter of the country's agricultural gross domestic product.

More sustainable tech to dry cassava

Despite its popularity cassava is difficult to process as it needs to be thoroughly cleaned, mashed, sieved, dried and packaged.

Currently the Tropical Starch Company uses industrial uses bin dryers which need electricity or fossil fuels to generate heat and can only dry one crop per production line. They are expensive to run and as it is hard to regulate their temperatures sometimes products are overcooked or discoloured.

A KTP is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified researcher, known as a KTP associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is a sector leading KTP provider, with 80% of its completed projects being graded as very good or outstanding by Innovate UK, the national body.

The aim of the KTP is to develop an integrated drying device which can operate off-grid, using several different technologies. Aston University will develop an off-grid, solar-powered drying device that is faster, temperature-controllable, uses less energy and can process bigger volumes of raw cassava.

Augustine Fiifi Amoah, who is a supervisor at the company said: "We already have the customers demanding it and so we are praying that we will be able to meet demand.

"If we could produce 20 tons a day we would be so happy. We have the market, we just need the product!"

Although some of these technologies are already developed individually, the way they will be integrated will be new. In particular, data needs to be collected to design and optimise the system which will be completed with computer simulation modelling.

This will require expertise in several fields including modular design, desiccant drying techniques (where desiccant materials are used in a piece of industrial equipment to eliminate water) energy systems, post-harvest technology and food engineering.

The project is supervised by Dr Ahmed Rezk, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering from Aston University's College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, an expert in thermal systems, whose mainstream research is in sustainable and zero-carbon heating and cooling technologies, in collaboration with Dr Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe, a lecturer in engineering, who specialises in design optimisation of mechanical systems and energy storage modelling.

Dr Rezk said: "The main goal of our research is to find more efficient and green ways of heating and cooling. They are two sides of the same problem, both requiring energy.

"If we devise a good heating method through this project it could have implications for cooling methods in other countries as well."

Dr Wilberforce Awotwe who is based at Kings College London, has previously conducted research at Aston University. He said "I'm a Ghanaian myself and my vision for this project goes beyond delivering work packages.

"If we can get this done we will support many companies in this field, not just one, and address the issue of young people leaving the countryside in search of employment.

"The long-term impact on the community is the most important thing."

The project will also involve Professor Robert Sarpong Amoah and Dr Fatimah Abubakar Von from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. In addition a KTP associate will be recruited to work at the company's main site in Abura-Dunkwa, Ghana.

Once the system has been agreed, the Tropical Starch Company will ...

eviivo, a leading hospitality software company known for its award-winning property management system, eviivo Suite, and eviivo Collective, the world's only collection of unique, notable and luxury independent properties, announces a unique world tour with UK's new and only mobile pop-up with outdoor cinema projector to celebrate Independent Accommodation Day (24th March), and recognise the success and contribution of independent hoteliers, property owners and hosts in short-term rentals - from

boutique hotels and vacation rentals to B&Bs and inns - in a first-of-its-kind eviivo Collective 2.0 World Tour taking place 16th-24th March, 2024.

The tour is designed to celebrate the independent accommodation sector by projecting an outdoor short cinema in renowned hot spots across 8 iconic cities. Premiering at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas (16th March) and ending in London, UK, on Independent Accommodation Day (24th March), the film will highlight the 10 best independent properties in the world - and it will also run as a contest.

The public in attendance can enter and win an all-expense paid stay at their favourite property (via QR code) showcased in the cinema.

"For over a decade, eviivo's mission has always focused on championing the hardworking hoteliers, hosts and owners of independent properties," says eviivo CEO Michele Fitzpatrick. "With the recognition eviivo Collective brought to the short-term rental industry, we're thrilled to give independent accommodation a bigger spotlight this year.

The quality of independent accommodation doesn't always get the limelight it deserves, so we will be showcasing some of the world's best boutique hotels, vacation rentals, Airbnbs, inns and other inspiring getaways. With our tour, we're excited to bring the spotlight - quite literally - on some of the best independent properties to the world."

The short cinema presented in global hot spots, such as SXSW Festival in Austin and Shoreditch in London, will celebrate, support and raise awareness for the independent accommodation sector, from property owners to short term rental influencers, all that make Independent Accommodation Day more special this year.

This will be achieved in collaboration with DRIVEABOUT Projection - a vintage VW LT35 that's part art installation, projection mapping rig, outdoor cinema projector and pop-up space - which is a visual experience unto itself. Equipped with a unique projector that has the capability to project visuals that scale the size of the Empire State Building (with 100,000 lumens), the vehicle is the UK's first and only outdoor cinema mobile projector.

The public can follow the world tour stops through a live tracker on eviivo social media platforms (@eviivo on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok) and dedicated web page.

eviivo Collective 2.0 World Tour dates and cities include:

16th March: Austin, Texas (US) - SXSW Festival 2024

17th March: Belfast, Ireland - St. Patrick's Day

19th March: Canterbury/Margate, United Kingdom

20th March: Brussels, Belgium

21th March: Amsterdam, Netherlands

22th March: Dusseldorf, Germany

23th March: Paris, France

24th March: London, United Kingdom

eviivo Collective, the world's only collection of unique, notable and luxury independent properties, is the first time in history a travel tech company has launched a program designed to promote and advocate the independent accommodation sector, working with its partners - such as online travel agencies (OTAs) and other hospitality brands - to showcase independently owned properties, many that are considered among the best in the world.

Independent Accommodation Day, an official registered day of recognition occurs globally and annually every 24th March - a day everyone is invited to participate in and celebrate independently owned properties and their workforce worldwide. #IADay2024

"As innovators, eviivo is proud to provide our customers the best product in the industry, from eviivo Mobile, our award-winning mobile ...

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has been named in the top ten on the Best Small Workplaces in Ireland list for 2024. The company was recognised at the 22nd annual Great Place to Work Ireland Awards,which took place during a gala ceremony at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin.

2024 marks its eighth consecutive year on the list, where it was ranked in eighth place. Esri Ireland is the longest-standing organisation in this year's top ten.

This accolade is based on direct feedback from employees, provided as part of an extensive and confidential survey assessing the workplace experience. Esri Ireland is committed to making the company a great place to work and its 'Make it Count 2021-2025' business strategy emphasises prioritising employee wellbeing, learning and growth.

Joanne McLaughlin, Head of Marketing, Esri Ireland, said: "At Esri Ireland, ranking in the top ten at the Best Small Workplaces in Ireland list for the eighth consecutive year is a testament to our unique culture, where employees actively contribute to a thriving environment of wellbeing. The Great Place to Work Survey serves as an essential tool, providing invaluable insights into our workplace dynamics.

"Our commitment to this survey is not just about recognition; it's a demonstration to our employees that they are the beating heart of our organisation. As the longest standing organisation in the top ten this year, this award is more than just a ranking; it symbolises the embodiment of the Great Place to Work ethos deeply ingrained in our organisational culture. Anticipating further success in 2024, we eagerly look forward to another year of prioritising an exceptional workplace experience."

Cathal Divilly, CEO of Great Place to Work Ireland, said: ""I'm delighted to extend a huge congratulations to all the exceptional companies recognised as a Best Workplace in Ireland 2024. These organisations' dedication to fostering an environment where all employees can thrive is inspiring, and this recognition is a testament to their unwavering commitment to maintaining this.

They have exceeded expectations in their dedication to their employees and cultivated a great workplace culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive at work.

"This achievement is not just a milestone but a reflection of their tireless efforts at crafting workplaces where talent not only flourishes, but also feels valued and empowered. I'd like to congratulate these organisations once again on this outstanding achievement, and may this recognition fuel their continued journey towards excellence and innovation."

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Acumen Aviation, a leading Aircraft Asset Management Company is delighted to announce, SMBC Aero Engine Lease (SAEL) has chosen Acumen's SPARTA Records Dataroom, a centralised secure online Records Management System (RMS) for digitised aircraft engine records storage, retrieval, and collaboration to support its extensive engine portfolio and future growth requirements and is launch customer for SPARTA's new Continued Airworthiness Management Module (CMM).

SAEL selected SPARTA's project management technical module, together with its RMS, as an exclusive single platform to plan, execute and schedule fleet wide inspection programs, manage open item lists, inspections, re-delivery, shop visit reports, and securely file and store digitised records combined with SPARTA's continued airworthiness management module (CMM), which includes track and trace features for AD's and SB's and customised asset configuration.

Acumen was able to easily interpret and understand the requirements through its depth of domain knowledge and was therefore equipped to deliver well executed tailored solutions to SAEL, made faster by SPARTA's open source, new age technology architecture and an experienced product development team.

SPARTA is a cloud-based integrated platform designed, based on an in-depth understanding of aircraft asset management, to provide clients with a seamless, connected, and intuitive way of organising and controlling a vast array of data spanning the complete life cycle of multiple assets.

Ameya Gore, Chief Technical Officer - Digital, Acumen said: "It is our pleasure and honour to onboard SAEL as an esteemed customer on the SPARTA platform. SAEL is an established market player and their trust in the SPARTA platform is a fruitful outcome of all the effort we have invested in it. We remain confident as well as committed to exceeding their expectations and delivering SAEL with successful outcomes time after time."

Majeed Akhtar, Senior Vice President - Asset Management, SMBC Aero Engine Lease said: "SMBC Aero Engines Limited (SAEL) is an industry-leading aircraft engine lessor. We selected the SPARTA platform, and we will benefit from the efficiency improvements it will bring to our day to day engine leasing activities. This will be further complimented by the ability to tailor the platform to match our precise requirements and ever-expanding portfolio of both narrow-body and wide-body engines.

We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship in the coming years."

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Subscribers to Vodafone enjoyed the best mobile Internet performances in Ireland during 2023, according to nPerf.

The nPerf Score takes into account the measured speeds, the latency and the QoE tests. The value of the points for the rates and the latency is calculated on a logarithmic scale to better represent the perception of the user.

All tests were carried out in the nPerf Internet Speed Test app, available on Android and iOS.

A total of 20,703 tests of mobile Internet connections in Ireland in 2023 have been considered in this analysis.

In nPerf's comprehensive analysis spanning from January 1st to December 31st, 2023, Three (105.5 Mb/s) has been identified as providing the fastest mobile download speeds in Ireland.

Download speed: Indicates the amount of data your connection can receive in one second from the nPerf server. The higher the measured value, the better the speed of your connection.

Excellent Speed: download speeds greater than 25 Mb/s are classified as excellent, enabling activities such as 4K video streaming.

International Comparison: Ireland's average mobile download speed (97 Mb/s) has surpassed countries such as the United Kingdom (72 Mb/s), Belgium (70 Mb/s) and Spain (70 Mb/s).

Vodafone has achieved the best latency (27 ms).

The latency describes how responsive your connection is. Lower latency translates to more immediate interaction with content. Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms).

0-30 ms is considered excellent, allowing real-time interaction.

Vodafone has offered the fastest upload speed (41 Mb/s).

Upload speed: Indicates the amount of data your connection can send in one second to the nPerf server. The higher the measured value, the better the speed of your connection.

Upload speeds greater than 10 Mb/s are classified as excellent, enabling subscribers to easily upload HD videos to the Internet.

Streaming test: Vodafone provided the best streaming mobile video experience in Ireland (88%). The goal of the streaming test is to measure the quality of video viewing on the most popular streaming platform around the world: YouTube.

Excellent Streaming: A score between 75% and 100% indicates smooth video streaming.

The nPerf test evaluates YouTube streaming quality by conducting assessments at three different resolutions: 360p (Standard Definition), 720p (High Definition), and 1080p (Full High Definition). The overall rating is derived from an average of these three tests, ensuring a comprehensive measure of streaming performance across varying levels of video quality.

Browsing test: Vodafone emerged as the leading provider for web browsing with an efficiency rate of 84%, equivalent to an average page load time of 1.6 seconds.

Excellent Browsing: A score between 75% and 100% means near-instant page loading.

5G Results

Vodafone Barometer of Mobile Internet Connections in Ireland subscribers enjoyed the best 5G mobile connections in Ireland during 2023.

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

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

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The latest Business Monitor from InterTradeIreland reveals that stability is the prevailing trend among firms across the island.

The survey of over 750 companies found that business performance remained consistent at the end of 2024, with the majority of firms (60 per cent) reporting they are stable, while 32 per cent say they are growing.

Below the topline result, the sentiment among businesses is positive. 73 per cent of firms report they were profitable over the last 12 months. This is the highest overall percentage

since Q3 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

While the vast majority of businesses are expecting employee numbers to remain the same in the next six months, there are clear signs of optimism. Martin Robinson, InterTradeIreland's Director of Strategy, comments, "It is interesting to note that 42 per cent of larger SMEs are predicting employee growth over this period.

With both economies in Ireland and Northern Ireland sitting at close to full employment, we can see from our data that recruitment is one of the top issues for businesses. I would encourage firms to get in touch with InterTradeIreland to find out how we can help them innovate to drive productivity and address skill gaps."

Aside from the difficulties that firms are finding in attracting the correct talent, the other top two issues reported by businesses remain energy costs and overheads. However, the Business Monitor indicates that businesses believe the speed of price rises should slow down over the next six months, as inflationary pressures ease in the wider economy.

Looking ahead, 58 per cent of companies predict their prices will remain the same, while the number of businesses saying they have increased their prices significantly has halved since the beginning of this year (from 30 per cent in Q1 2023 to 15 per cent in Q4 2023). Only 3 per cent of firms anticipate their prices will increase significantly in the next 6 months.

Businesses are also now more aware of the circular economy as a means to reuse resources and to reduce cost and wastage. Two-thirds (63 per cent) of firms say they incorporate circular economy principles, with a further 15 per cent working towards this.

While two-thirds of businesses state that sustainability and net zero are important, only 20 per cent actually have a plan, with 17 per cent developing one. Of those businesses that don't yet have a net-zero plan in place, 7 in 10 don't foresee themselves developing one in the next five years.

Martin comments, "It's short-sighted of SMEs not to start to think about the sustainability question. The transition to a low-carbon world is lifting technology investment and is attractive to funders."

"Increasingly, larger companies and public sector organisations are seeking green credentials from smaller companies in their supply chains. Looking at new ways of doing things can also make you more efficient and save money. A number of the partners that we collaborate with, including Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland, have various schemes in place to help businesses integrate sustainability practices that will also enhance their

competitive advantage. At this point, business should start to explore the support available."

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

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.