A Year in Review
As we settle into the New Year and begin to plan for 2025, it’s important to look back and reflect on the successes of the past year to motivate us forward. The Rubicon Centre was busy in 2024, with several milestones reached by existing clients, achievements secured by our alumni, among exciting discoveries made by current programme participants.
Overall, it has been a very enjoyable year, and so to give you a taste of some of the activities, we have compiled a list of 10 highlights to share with you all!
#1 CyberInnovate Programme Launch
In September, 12 cyber security professionals joined us in participating in the newly established Cyber Innovate programme. Cyber Innovate is a needs-led, full-time, entrepreneurship training programme built on MTU’s acclaimed research, innovation, entrepreneurship and academic training ecosystem. We’re delighted to host this cohort and look forward to seeing their progress over the coming months.
#2 Supported Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers cohorts
2024 saw the graduation of the 2023/2024 Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Phase 2 cohort in March, as well as the addition of 15 new start-ups among the 2024/2025 cohort in September. It has been a great accomplishment for us to be able to support these budding entrepreneurs over the past several months.
If you are someone who has an idea that you would like to take off the ground but don’t know where to start, please consider applying to Phase 1 of the program that will commence again at the end of January and during March. Applications open here.
#3 Cumasú Programme Empowers Female Entrepreneurs
The Cumasú Empowering Gaeltacht based Female Entrepreneurs programme is a new addition to our programme portfolio. Working in partnership with ATU Innovation Hubs and Údarás na Gaeltacht, the programme reaches out to Women Entrepreneurs who want to start their own business, with the opportunity to engage again when their business is up and running.
This initiative empowers women across Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Mayo, Galway, Donegal and other Gaeltacht areas, offering online part-time entrepreneurial modules and personal mentorship to support them in growing sustainable local enterprises. Additional Programmes will run in 2025 to suit all stages of development.
#4 International Visitors
We welcomed a number of international visitors from Endicott College, Boston, Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, China, Canada and from our Ingenium partner universities across Europe. International visitors provide opportunities for the Rubicon to facilitate client companies who want to gain access to new markets, and strategic partners.
#5 Over 2,000 MTU Students Supported
We maintain a very strong relationship with the MTU ecosystem by fostering innovation and enterprise among students. We were thrilled to facilitate several class visits as well as tours from curious 3rd level students, as well as spearhead a number of competitions and programmes for students across all disciplines and year groups.
In 2024, our Student Entrepreneurship team were awarded ‘Best International Collaboration’ at the Education Awards for the Innovation Challenge, as well as additional funding from the Higher Education Authority to expand the Student Inc Programme further nationally.
#6 Rio Innovator Programme Supports 4 Companies
The RIO Innovator Programme was developed for established SME’s in our region. We identified a need for a tailored training programme to help SME’s develop innovation and strategy into their business model. We commenced our pilot programme with 4 companies working in the Software, Medical, Engineering and Retail sectors. The success of this programme has allowed us to create a more structured programme for 2025 that will include guest speakers from Ireland and the UK.
The programme is part funded by the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher scheme. Recruitment is under way for this programme, more details can be found on the Rubicon Centre Webiste here.
#7 EU Project Successes
MTU’s Innovation & Enterprise Office, with the Rubicon Centre, participated in a number of European Union funded projects which aim to foster innovation, economic growth and job creation.
VIDEOMUSE, an online platform designed to connect musicians and visual artists, launches! The platform creates a sustainable and fair business model that supports European artistic creations, audience development and innovative income generation for creative and cultural industries and artists.
DT Launch Pad continues to connect Deep Tech entrepreneurs, providing partner talents with the opportunity to initiate and sustain Deep Tech start-ups. Recruitment for this on-line International Programme will begin in April 2025. For further information please visit here.
#8 The Rubicon says Good-Bye to Eirdata
Eirdata, a Cleanroom Validation Company based in the Rubicon scales up its operations to support the growing demands of its customer base, by moving to Cork Airport. It also concluded the acquisition of Critical Airflow,supporting Eirdata’s increased activities in the UK Market.
#9 Bord Gáis Acquires Swyft Energy
November brought the exciting news that Bord Gais has acquired Swyft Energy.
Swyft Energy, one of the largest companies in the Rubicon Centre will bring deeper solar PV capability to Bord Gáis’ residential as well as business and farming customers as the company transitions to a green energy business. Founded in 2018 by Aidan Casey and Joe Frayne who participated in the New Frontiers Programme, the acquisition will allow the company scale further its operations building on the innovative systems approach of the company.
#10 New Frontiers Alumni Feature on RTE Heated Programme
We were proud to see the successes of Mike Keane, Hibra Design, Angie Nagle, Bladebridge and Mary O’Riardan, HaPPE Earth who featured on RTÉ’s ‘Heated’ series. These New Frontiers alumni are pioneering with solutions which address climate action and key UN Sustainable Development Goals. To view all episodes, please visit ‘The Heated Series’ on RTÉ Player.