Productivity, Growth & Internationalisaiton

Under this strategic pillar the Cluster assists members in the following areas:

​

​

​

1. Grant applications such as Innovation Vouchers – Innovation Partnerships (Enterprise Ireland – accessed through the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateways).
    

2. Identify inter-company collaboration to innovate.  Non-competing firms within the cluster seek opportunities, synergies, alliances, and partnerships with the cluster to leverage cost, training, and expertise.
   
   
   
   
    

3. Inter-company co-opetition facilitated by the cluster / cluster members – where companies may compete in end markets they can leverage innovation by collaborating upstream in terms of expertise, assets, and supply chain synergies.  A good example of this is joint tenders applications downstream and sharing assets, expertise, training or resources and upstream.
   
   
   
   
    

4. ​General collaboration - Networking, introductions, meet-the-buyer, trade missions, group attendance at international conferences. (Link to the list of digital health conferences).
   
   
   
    

5. Fundraising / Grant Writing

   • Industry-Academic research and/or fundraising (Horizon Europe, Disruptive Technology Fund Calls (DTIF), Academic calls (Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, all-island research calls).

   • Introduction to grant writing commercial and academic experts (Freelance Consultants and/or agencies/institutions).

   • Healthcare specific open calls and fundraising (Horizon Europe, Health Research Board).
      

6. Productivity & Lean-Sigma Business Excellence initiatives

   • Lean expertise, resources and grant aid.

   • Agile / Scrum / Project Management.

   • Strategy, strategic planning, tactics.

   • Internal assessments & Benchmarking.
      

7. Showcase and networking events and activities (Case studies, links, website, social media, facilitated introductions, webinars, podcasts).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

8. ​Internationalisation.  Primary markets of interest within Continental Europe are the United Kingdom (UK), France (FR) and Germany (DE).

   • Embassy partnerships – Lifesciences trade representatives.

   • Meet the buyer, International conferences, trade missions – liaise with in-country Enterprise Ireland offices.

   • International Cluster-to-Cluster collaboration and alliances in these target regions.

   • All island initiatives collaborate with agencies such as Inter-Trade Ireland, HIRA-NI, NHS / HSC-Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland.

   • Accessing mainland UK vis Northern Ireland and/or Scotland.

   • Healthcare collaboration and benchmarking initiatives.

   • Internationalisation webinar series.
     
     
     
      

9. Irish Cluster Collaboration:​

   • Liaise closely with the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster based in Dundalk and emerging Clusters in Northern Ireland.  Areas such as the digital health Internationalisation webinar series.

   • Collaborate with Cyber Ireland on Cyber security expertise, ATIM (Technology University Shannon) on Industry4/5 and Digitisation of manufacturing.

     • Working with ATIM on a joint Executive Coaching module for members
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        

10. International Cluster Collaboration
    
    
    
    
     

11. Liaise closely with regional and national development agencies:

    • Regionally: Galway Chamber, Western Development Commission & Údarás na Gaeltachta.

    • Nationally: Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment, Enterprise Ireland, Irish Development Authority, National clustering Policy, V-LINC, MTU Cork, The Cluster Centre. 
       

12. Liaise with industry placement programs within NUIG, ATU E.G. MSc MIS&Business – Placement support.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     

13. Leverage partnerships and links to national Centres of expertise in digital health:

    • Technology Gateways:

      • Medical Engineering Technology Gateway, ATU, Galway City Campus

      • WISAR ATU, Letterkenny

    • ​Science Foundation Ireland funded research centres.​

      • Host Institute Research Centres (HEAL – Sligo Campus, EPIC – Castlebar).