As the festive season draws ever closer, you might be scratching your head for a suitable gift for those people in your life who already have enough to read, watch or listen to. Hampers have been a good go-to option for a while, and something we have used previously. The guys from Bodgega Hampers have created the opportunity to double down on the particular vibe and excellence from a Spanish perspective. Below are our testers thoughts. Our team reviewed this particular hamper from Bodega Hampers

Feliz Navidad, Bodega Hampers reviewed

It is fair to say that several members of our reviewing testing team were slightly licking their lips when news of this product review came in. Naturally it didn't hurt that a few of the team with Spanish links, including those that moved to Ireland from Spain, were very keen to take on this onerous task. For those familiar with the food, wine and cuisine from Spain, you will recognise that simply creating a Spanish derived hamper service for the Irish market is already a pretty strong idea.

In no particular order we will serve up a few comments and observations. First up though, some other hampers that we have encountered can actually be slightly disappointing when you contrast the weight and volume versus the price and heft of what actually arrives. Bodega Hampers offer quite a wide price range of products, from financially quite conservative, to completely blow the budget out of the water. The hamper we received for review seemed quite reasonably priced relative to the range and amount of content contained inside. Therefore on this overall consideration our reviewers gave it a thumbs up and felt that, for gifting, there was good scope to tailor the gift suitably to make both sender and recipient happy.

If you are already a fan of Spanish food and wine, you will be happy with the range of products in the hamper. If you are not familiar with the benefits of Cava, then this is a fantastic, and, in many ways superior alternative to champagne for a light Christmas lunch toast. The one supplied in the hamper is great, and there are plenty of other options if you fancy something different. Spanish reds and whites are always pretty good, and the two included in this hamper very much felt like something to be appreciated over the Christmas period.

The cheese and ham were great, as you would expect, and we suspect they had fun curating (terrible pun alert) the selections for the hamper series. For those who have not lived in Spain, you might not realise that nougat is such a Christmas thing. We remember stands piled high with Turrón in the Madrid megastore Corte Ingles. If this is not familiar to you, then do try it, but just chew carefully, as no one wants to visit the dentist over the festive break. Similarly a can of sardines might not seem like the obvious part of a Christmas hamper, but it is reflective of something popular from Spain. Tuna is another seafood well loved in Spain too, so it is logical to appear here, although it did make our testers have Proustian yearnings for aceitunas rellenas de anchoas, or perhaps almejas or pulpo in place of either the sardines or the tuna.

Overall it was a definite thumbs up from our testers, who all agreed that they would happily do more hamper testing going forwards. The dispatch and delivery of the hamper was super speedy too, coming fast and efficiently. As a new Irish / Spanish company there are one to watch, and hopefully they have a positive first Xmas season.

Items included

DELICATESSEN

1 Sliced Ham 50% Iberian Cebo 100 g LEFT IBERIANS (Salamanca)

1 Case 400 g 100% Truffled Sheep Cheese and Raw Milk Cheese Sheep and Goat Intense CARMEN

1 Chorizo 240 g approx. 100% Iberian Acorn-fed JABUGUITOS de Sánchez Romero Carvajal

1 Sobrasada de Mallorca 250 g MUNAR

LIQUEURS

1 Organic Cava JUVÉ & CAMPS ESSENTIAL PURPLE Brut Reserva

2 Red Wine D.O. Rioja Alta MONTE REAL Reserva Familia

1 White Wine Verdejo D.O. Rueda VIÑA ALBINA

NOUGATS AND SWEETS

1 Supreme Qual...

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Vodafone Ireland have successfully secured €4.6 million in funding from the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Fund to develop digital technologies for new online and on campus apprenticeship courses for engineering and construction students.

In addition to the CEF funding, both ATU and Vodafone Ireland are investing in the initiative, bringing the total investment in Irish education to €6.25 million.

The fund will be used to develop cutting-edge Extended Reality (XR) labs powered by a private 5G standalone network and on-campus edge computing delivered by Vodafone Ireland.

Italian technology company FifthIngenium, part of the consortium, will leverage its expertise in designing cutting-edge educational applications to support the development of the XR experience.

The project was launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless earlier today (Monday). The programme application process was supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

The initiative will be piloted at ATU Donegal, where students will gain access to immersive virtual and augmented reality environments that replicate physical labs and workshops.

This funding will allow students to learn in new and flexible ways, combining classroom teaching with remote and virtual training - making education more accessible, especially for people living in rural areas or those balancing work, study and apprenticeship programmes.

Specifically, the new training tools will include:

Virtual construction labs where students can practice building using digital models.

Immersive learning platforms that simulate real building and construction environments.

3D video streaming to help students learn technical skills through realistic simulations.

The initiative is part of a wider €12.3 million European programme called 5G-SHARE, which encourages universities to work together and share knowledge across borders. ATU and Vodafone will collaborate with universities in Romania and the Czech Republic to test new ways of teaching using 5G.

The fund was secured with the support of Vodafone's Connected Education programme - a major global Vodafone initiative designed to transform learning experiences through advanced technology and connectivity, creating a more inclusive digital society.

Why this matters for Ireland

The Government's renewed action plan published in November included a commitment to promote careers in construction including expanding apprenticeships and a 5-year action plan to boost recruitment, improve training opportunities, and build capacity across the construction sector. Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless said: "The Government's investment to more than double apprenticeship funding since 2020 reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more sustainable Ireland. To realise this vision, we need skilled talent in construction and engineering.

"Innovations and the use of advanced technologies, such as digital learning and connectivity, will accelerate progress and support us in achieving these ambitions across infrastructure, housing, and beyond. By enabling access to high-quality training nationwide, we are ensuring that Ireland is equipped to deliver the projects that will shape our future. We commend ATU, Vodafone Ireland and consortium partners in driving digital innovation in Irish education for the benefit of our students, workforce and our economy."

Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland said, "This fund was secured following a shared vision and strong collaboration between ATU, Vodafone and Government and we're proud to be part of it. This initiative will give us the ability to train people faster and smarter. Access to skills depends on strong digital infrastructure and by leveraging advanced connectivity, remote learning, and the power of 5G, we're ...

Fixify, a leading provider in AI-driven IT support automation, has selected Cork City as the home of its new EU Centre of Excellence, creating 50 skilled jobs in the region over the next 18 months. The new facility will serve as a regional base for Fixify's development, support, and customer success for worldwide operations.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Attending the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: "This announcement from Fixify to select Cork as the home of its new EU Centre of Excellence demonstrates a deep commitment to the region and creates 50 high-tech jobs in an exciting and growing sector. I have no doubt that these highly skilled jobs in IT, software engineering and data analysis will be a further boost to the workforce in the region. I want to acknowledge the role of IDA Ireland in supporting this project and I look forward to seeing the continued growth of Fixify in Cork over the coming years."

Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke TD said: "Fixify's decision to establish its EU Centre of Excellence in Cork is very welcome news and is a strong endorsement of Ireland's position as a global leader in technology and innovation. This investment will bring 50 high-quality jobs to the region and further strengthen our thriving digital ecosystem. Cork's deep talent pool, supported by world-class institutions like UCC and MTU, and its proven track record in attracting and sustaining high-value FDI, make it ideally placed to support Fixify's growth. I wish the Fixify team in Cork the very best for the future."

Fixify is now hiring in roles including IT Helpdesk Analysts, Software Engineers, Data Engineers, and Data Scientists. To explore career opportunities with Fixify, please visit Fixify careers.

"We chose Cork for Fixify's European base - a city that brings together deep technical expertise, quality of life and community spirit - the conditions that make great work last," said Matt Peters, CEO Fixify. "Establishing our base here enables Fixify to tap into Ireland's exceptional talent and contribute to its thriving tech ecosystem as we scale automation and support that remains genuinely human worldwide."

"Our investment in Cork is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's technology talent and infrastructure," added Caroline Coughlan, Director, Employee Experience & People Operations at Fixify "Over the next 18 months, we will be scaling our presence here in parallel with delivering outstanding value to our customers across EMEA."

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: "I am very pleased that Fixify has chosen Cork as home to its EU Centre of Excellence as it recognises the quality and depth of the South West region's talent pool, Ireland's vibrant culture, and our pro-business environment. I wish to congratulate Fixify on this expansion and look forward to supporting them as they enhance Ireland's reputation as home to a thriving technology sector"

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Students from four Cavan secondary schools gathered in Briefne College for the launch of the 2025/26 All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) workshop series by Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Niamh Smyth.

Students and teachers from St Patrick's College, Loreto Cavan and Royal School Cavan joined their counterparts in Breifne College for an interactive AILO workshop run by Dr Cara Greene from the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University. Breifne College teacher, Alma Hitillambeau, has hosted local schools for the last number of years helping increase participation across the county.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Smyth said:

"Across government, we are working to ensure that current and future generations are in a position to explore and understand the world around us, to be engaged and informed, to embrace opportunities and make their own decisions. We must inspire todays young people to become lifelong learners, and provide them with the skills and opportunity to identify and solve the challenges that lie ahead."

Dr Cara Greene, Head of AILO at ADAPT, said:

"It is wonderful to celebrate that more than 50,000 students across the island of Ireland have taken part in AILO since 2009. Workshops like today's introduce students to the logic, structure and pattern-matching at the heart of language and these are the same principles that underpin modern AI systems. We are grateful to schools like Breifne College for championing these workshops, and for their ongoing leadership and enthusiasm."

The workshop series runs until mid-January. The Preliminary Round will take place in schools across Ireland during the week of 26th January 2026, with 100 top-scoring students advancing to the National Final in Dublin City University in March. Finalists will compete for a place to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) in Romania in July 2026. Schools can register for AILO at https://ailo.adaptcentre.ie/enter/

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Scientists have made a nano breakthrough with a huge potential impact - one that puts printable electronics on the horizon. The scientists have solved a long-standing mystery governing the way layered materials behave, which has yielded a universal, predictive framework for the future of the 2D semiconductor industry [Friday 5th December 2025].

Imagine wearable health sensors, smart packaging, flexible displays, or disposable IoT controllers all manufactured like printed newspapers. The same technology could underpin communication circuits, sensors, and signal-processing components made entirely from solution-processed 2D materials.

But until now, finding and developing the 2D materials that could enable such devices was largely trial and error.

We hadn't known why some layered materials "electrochemically exfoliate" into nanosheets while others fail completely. Electrochemical exfoliation uses an electrical current to force ions into the layers of a bulk material, weakening the forces that hold them in shape, and causing the material to form thin, 2D nanosheets, if successful - some of which have myriad uses.

"Because there has never been the means to predict which materials will behave like this, and produce nanosheets with the properties we need to unlock various applications, only a handful of 2D materials have ever been processed into networks of printed 2D transistors," said Dr Tian Carey, a newly appointed Royal Society-Research Ireland Research Assistant Professor from Trinity College Dublin's School of Physics and AMBER, the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research.

"Here, we've shown that we can unlock dozens of new 2D semiconductors. We've already fabricated state-of-the-art printed transistors with over 10 new materials, unlocking new circuits for the first time. these include printed digital-to-analogue converters and BASK communication circuits, which are capable of encoding digital messages into high-frequency signals - the fundamental building blocks of modern computing."

The key seemingly lies in ensuring "in-plane stiffness" is higher than out-of-plane stiffness. This represents a measure of how resistant the material is to deformation when put under pressure from different perspectives (in-place being along the material; out-of-plane being perpendicular).

The research, led by Dr Tian Carey, in collaboration with Prof. Jonathan Coleman and colleagues, now has a predictive framework pinpointing the stiffness thresholds required for successful exfoliation across many different materials.

Using this, they created high-aspect-ratio nanosheet inks and built working transistors and circuits from them, including the first printed DACs and communication circuits.

Dr Carey added: "It's very exciting to imagine a new wave of electronic innovations, all of which could be manufactured like printed newspapers one day in the future. In theory, this approach could yield abundant low-cost, flexible, and high-performance 2D electronics."

"We now also understand from this work that each transistor's performance is limited by junctions between semiconductors rather than by defects within the semiconductors themselves, which is important in helping us direct future efforts. With this in mind, our next step will be to reduce the impact of these 'flake-to-flake' junctions to unlock the next big performance jump."

Other collaborating institutions on this work include Politecnico di Milano, TU Delft, EPFL, and UCT Prague. The project received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, for example via the HYPERSONIC project awarded to Prof. Coleman, AMBER; via a Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (project MOVE); and a Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellowship (project THINK).

Dr Carey recently secured a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) to build an independent research group in Trinity. URFs, awarde...

Of the seven Earth-sized worlds orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, one planet in particular has attracted the attention of scientists. This planet orbits the star within the "Goldilocks zone" - a distance where water on its surface is theoretically possible, but only if the planet has an atmosphere. And where there is water, there might be life.

TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized, habitable-zone exoplanet

Two recently scientific papers

detail initial observations of the TRAPPIST-1 system obtained by a research group using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. In these publications, the authors, including Sukrit Ranjan with the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, present a careful analysis of the results so far and offer several potential scenarios for what the planet's atmosphere and surface may be like.

While these reports are intriguing and show progress toward characterizing the nearest potentially earth-like exoplanet, Ranjan urges caution in a third paper, arguing that more rigorous studies are needed to determine whether TRAPPIST-1e has an atmosphere at all and whether preliminary hints of methane detected by James Webb are indeed signs of an atmosphere or have their origin with its host star.

The TRAPPIST system, so named after the survey that discovered it - "Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope project" - is located about 39 light-years from Earth. It resembles a miniature version of our solar system. The star and all its planets would comfortably fit inside the orbit of planet Mercury. A "year" for any given TRAPPIST planet lasts mere days by Earth standards.

"The basic thesis for TRAPPIST-1e is this: If it has an atmosphere, it's habitable," said Ranjan, who is an assistant professor at LPL. "But right now, the first-order question must be, 'Does an atmosphere even exist?'"

To answer this question, researchers aimed the space telescope's powerful Near-Infrared Spectrograph, or NIRSpec, instrument at the TRAPPIST system as planet TRAPPIST-1e transited - or passed in front of - its host star. During a transit, starlight filters through the planet's atmosphere - if there is one - and is partially absorbed, allowing astronomers to deduce what chemicals it may contain. With each additional transit, the atmospheric contents become clearer as more data is collected.

The four transits of TRAPPIST-1e studied by the team revealed hints of methane. However, because TRAPPIST-1e's star is a so-called M dwarf, about one tenth the size of our sun and only slightly larger than Jupiter, its unique properties call for extra caution when interpreting data, Ranjan said.

"While the sun is a bright, yellow dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1 is an ultracool red dwarf, meaning it is significantly smaller, cooler and dimmer than our sun," he explained. "Cool enough, in fact, to allow for gas molecules in its atmosphere. We reported hints of methane, but the question is, 'is the methane attributable to molecules in the atmosphere of the planet or in the host star?'"

To rule on this question, Ranjan and colleagues simulated scenarios in which TRAPPIST-1e might have a methane-rich atmosphere and evaluated the probability for each of them. In the most likely scenario among the ones tested, the planet resembled Saturn's methane-rich moon, Titan. However, the work showed that even that scenario was very unlikely.

"Based on our most recent work, we suggest that the previously reported tentative hint of an atmosphere is more likely to be 'noise' from the host star," Ranjan said. "However, this does not mean that TRAPPIST-1e does not have an atmosphere - we just need more data."

Ranjan pointed out that while James Webb is revolutionizing exoplanet science, the telescope was not originally designed to study small, Earth-like exoplanets.

"It was designed long before we knew such worlds existed, and we are fortunate that it can study them at all," he said. "There is only a handful of E...

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD has announced details of an €18 million investment in 40 projects across Ireland under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, designed to strengthen regional enterprise, drive innovation and support sustainable economic growth.

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Southern, Eastern & Midland and Northern & Western Regional Programmes 2021-2027, the Smart Regions scheme supports the different regions of the country in harnessing cutting-edge technologies and world-class expertise. Aligned with the regional priorities set out in the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation and the nine Regional Enterprise Plans, Smart Regions drives high-impact projects in priority sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), agritech and food, sustainability, insurance technology, and advanced manufacturing.

Funding Overview

This announcement sets out the approved funding allocation so far under the Smart Regions Scheme, with projects approved across the country, including:

Northern and Western Regional Programme area: €3.485,882for 17 projects

Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme area: €14,571,766 for 23 projects

The Northern and Western Regional Programme area includes counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo and Cavan.

The Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme area includes counties Carlow, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, and Dublin.

Minister Burke made this announcement following a visit to the site of Catalyst HQ, a new €8.1m Enterprise Centre in Carlow town, which has been approved for regional infrastructure funding from the Smart Regions scheme through Enterprise Ireland, to support businesses and enterprises in Carlow and the South-East.

Minister Peter Burke TD said:

"I am very pleased to announce this group of 40 innovative projects that have been funded under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme, which is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. These projects, spread across the entire country, will make vital contributions to strengthening innovation in all sectors, regional ecosystems and the Irish economy."

"These 40 projects will provide enterprise infrastructure, cluster development and business animation services that will benefit entrepreneurs and enterprise growth in a variety of sectors. The scheme will see physical facilities and training opportunities made available to businesses throughout the country through an existing network of enterprise centres and hubs that have been supported by Enterprise Ireland."

Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon said:

"The Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. The projects announced today are reflective of the collaborative approach at the heart of this scheme. Smart Regions aims to address specific issues in each region, building on regional strengths in line with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation."

"The 40 projects that have been launched will see growing collaboration among regional stakeholders under the triple helix model of industry, academia and the public sector."

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth said:

"This Government is committed to growing our economy and fostering regional enterprise growth; the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme reflects this and the approved projects are also well aligned to the priorities set out in the Regional Enterprise Plans, which provide a clear set of objectives and actions to support enterprise development in each region.

"The Catalyst project announced for C...

The official launch of CyberQuest, a major new cross border project that will transform digital and cybersecurity opportunities for young people aged 16 to 25 across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, took place last week in Belfast and is supported by PEACEPLUS. The programme is delivered by The Bytes Project in partnership with REIM Training Solutions, YouthAction Northern Ireland, Springvale Learning and Foróige. REIM Training solutions a local company based in Castleblayney serve as the lead training partner for this ambitious and inclusive initiative.

CyberQuest offers a full learning pathway that takes young people from digital basics through to industry recognised certification. The programme uses a hybrid, trauma informed and youth led approach designed to be flexible, welcoming and accessible.

CyberQuest aims to strengthen confidence, improve resilience and support leadership development. It also creates clear routes into further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said:

"CyberQuest is an ambitious and timely initiative that opens doors for young people to gain real skills, build confidence and take their first steps into meaningful careers in this high growth sector."

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD said:

"CyberQuest will address a critical skills need while enabling access to education and training pathways for young people across communities."

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said:

"PEACEPLUS aims to improve access to inclusive and quality services in education and training. CyberQuest is an important step in that direction."

Eimear Murphy, Managing Director at REIM, said:

"CyberQuest is not just about filling the digital and cyber skills gap. It is about transforming lives, creating inclusive pathways, building resilience and leaving a legacy of knowledge and capacity within the youth sector."

All partners look ahead to the next phase with real commitment and pride, and are united in their role in supporting the next generation of cyber talent across the island of Ireland.

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We will be reviewing one of the hampers shortly, so here is some more information about Bodega Hampers in the meantime. You can see more on their website here also.

Bodega Hampers, a newly founded business imagined by Irish couple Saoirse O'Brien & Robbie Dobbyn, today announces its official launch, introducing a premium collection of artisanal Spanish food and wine hampers to the Irish market. Inspired by a recent family relocation to Valencia, the couple & their Irish based team and Co-Founders, Ciaran Bergin and Julian Kulkarni, have crafted a gifting experience that delivers the vibrant flavours and craftsmanship of Spain directly to doorsteps across Ireland..

Bodega Hampers in partnership with Vegamar Bodegas

Through an exclusive partnership with renowned Spanish winery Vegamar Bodegas, along with collaborations with other leading Spanish producers, Bodega Hampers offers a curated taste of Spain previously unavailable in the Irish gifting market. Each hamper celebrates the richness of Spanish gastronomy, from award-winning wines and cavas to artisanal olive oils, Iberian delicacies, and gourmet treats selected for quality, provenance, and authenticity.

"We wanted to share the incredible products and producers we've discovered since moving to Valencia," said Saoirse O'Brien, Co-Founder of Bodega Hampers. "Our hampers are more than gifts, they're a way to experience Spain's flavours, traditions, and craftsmanship. Whether for companies seeking meaningful gifts or individuals wanting something special for loved ones, we're bringing a little piece of Spain home to Ireland"

For Corporate Gifting

Bodega Hampers offers tailored solutions for businesses looking to elevate their gifting strategy. With beautifully presented hampers, premium contents, and dependable nationwide delivery, the offering is ideally suited for year-end appreciation gifts, client gestures, employee onboarding & recognition, event gifting, and more.

For Personal Gifting

Individuals can choose from a range of thoughtfully crafted hampers that make memorable gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or any occasion deserving a luxurious and meaningful touch. Many customers also simply treat themselves - bringing the warmth and flavour of Spain into their own home.

Key Highlights

Exclusive Irish partner of Vegamar Bodegas, one of Valencia's most respected and award-winning wineries

Curated hampers featuring premium Spanish wines, artisanal foods, and gourmet delicacies

Available for corporate gifting and personal gifting

Nationwide delivery across Ireland

Christmas orders close on 12 December 2025

Customers can explore the full collection at www.bodegahampers.com.

About Bodega Hampers

Founded in 2025 by an Irish couple who relocated with their family to Valencia, Bodega Hampers was created to share the exceptional flavours and traditions of Spain with customers in Ireland. With a focus on premium quality, sustainability, and authenticity, every hamper showcases the craftsmanship of Spain's finest producers. Bodega Hampers delivers nationwide and offers bespoke gifting options for both corporate and private clients.

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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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Irish Medtech, the Ibec group that represents the medtech sector, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland hosted Medtech Rising, in The Galmont, Galway, with nearly 500 business leaders and policy experts gathered. At the event Irish Medtech which celebrates 25 years since it was founded also launched its new strategy, setting out ambitious goals for the sector's future in Ireland and its global standing.

Dr Eoghan Ó Faoláin, Irish Medtech Director, said, "Our vision is to position Ireland as the leading global destination for medtech building on our deep foundations to innovate for our collective future. Events like Medtech Rising The Business Leaders Conference bring leaders together to identify opportunities and respond to challenges. Today we're also launching 'Irish Medtech Strategy 2026 - 2029: Innovating for Patients, Driving Prosperity' to help the industry achieve its potential.

"Ireland is a medtech leader, with 500 companies, employing over 50,000 people, and €20 billion in exports. As a globally oriented economy we recognise that we operate in interconnected marketplace, subject to global trends. To maintain our competitiveness we need the right policies and supports which is why getting an ambitious government-led Life Sciences Strategy for Ireland in place is integral to both our economy and our ability to shape the future of healthcare."

Irish Medtech is committed to playing its role at the heart of the medtech community to connect leaders not only at unmissable gatherings like Medtech Rising, but through our strategic pillars which focus on, talent management and inclusion, strengthening our clinical capacity and advocating policies to enhance R&D, supporting businesses with insights and best practice sharing, promoting the effective implementation of key regulations in areas such as digital and AI, as well as empowering founders by improving our entrepreneurial ecosystem and make Ireland a launchpad for innovation, to distinguish Ireland as a location for global medtech."

Irish Medtech has identified five key emerging trends which will shape the medtech sector significantly over the coming years, namely:

Health System Pressures: With ageing populations and rising of chronic diseases; shift to prevention and early intervention; as well as patient centricity and personalisation.

Data and Tech Integration: With AI-enabled devices and robotics; connected and virtual care models; data as a value driver; and digital manufacturing and 3D printing.

Supply Chain Resilience: With global trade shifts; Environmental, Social, and Governance, as well as regulatory requirements; sustainable operations and green procurement pressures; as well as alternative sterilisation methods.

Market Access Shifts: With more regulations and greater regulatory burdens; shift towards value-based procurement; diverging global frameworks; as well as a changing investor landscape and greater competition for financing.

Global Talent Dynamics: With rising demand for technical skills; greater global mobility; increased cost of living; and new approaches to ecosystem collaboration.

John Nugent Department Manager, Medical Technologies and Healthcare Services, IDA Ireland, "Ireland's medtech sector is home to leading names from the world's top 10 companies with many IDA clients having multiple sites around Ireland. Moreover, the sector continues to evolve, expand its capabilities in areas such as innovation, digitalisation, and next generation technologies, reinforced by great talent, a culture of collaboration, and a range of supports from early-stage research to near-commercial activity.

"IDA's Head of Life Sciences Rachel Shelly will delve further into Ireland's response to a changing world at Medtech Rising, specifically how we are helping to attract and retain investment in Ireland to help the economy grow and foster innovation in turbulent times. We are optimistic about the future, and we value opportunities to foster collaboration at events like...