TU Dublin Teams Engage with Irish SMEs and Innovators at IRDG #Amplify25 Conference

TU Dublin’s Research & Innovation, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Office (TU Dublin Innovation), and the ARISE (TU RISE programme) teams were among the many innovation focused stakeholders engaging with Ireland’s SME community at this year’s IRDG “Driving Irish Innovation” #Amplify25 conference, held in the Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny on Thursday 19th of June.
The event brought together national leaders in research, enterprise, and government to explore how collaborative innovation is fuelling economic growth across key sectors; from digital and health to manufacturing and sustainability.
With a dedicated stand at the event, staff and researchers from TU Dublin met with SMEs, national funding agencies and partners, sharing insights into how the university supports enterprise led innovation across all sectors. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to engage with companies at various stages of their R&D journey and to highlight the role of collaboration in solving real-world business challenges.
#Amplify25 was a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from SMEs about the barriers they face in scaling innovation, and to connect with other organisations helping businesses access funding, facilities, and expertise.
Much of the conference’s agenda aligned closely with TU Dublin’s enterprise engagement activities; particularly around:
- Innovation funding – including Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers, the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), Innovation Partnership Programme, and Horizon Europe calls.
- Knowledge transfer and commercialisation - providing structured support to bring research ideas to market.
- Prototyping and collaboration – a key focus of the newly launched ARISE initiative, which supports applied research engagement with SMEs across multiple sectors.
The ARISE team was on hand to share information on upcoming supports for SMEs, including access to prototyping facilities, enterprise mentoring, and tailored innovation training. The #Amplify25 programme featured industry led case studies and panels closely aligned with ARISE themes, including:
- Engineering Solutions in a Data‑Driven World
- Sustainable Innovation in Food, Agritech & the Bioeconomy
- Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
- Health & Life Sciences Innovation
- Leadership and Culture in Innovation-Driven Organisations
Sessions throughout the day highlighted the importance of research partnerships and the value of tapping into academic expertise, reinforcing the relevance of TU Dublin’s research and enterprise ecosystem.
The TU Dublin teams were delighted to connect with innovators, exchange ideas, and raise awareness of upcoming collaboration opportunities. With the recent launch of the ARISE programme and ongoing support from the Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Office, TU Dublin remains committed to empowering enterprise through research, innovation, and impactful partnerships.
Companies interested in partnering with TU Dublin for research, funding applications, or access to specialist labs and prototyping supports can get in touch via: researchandinnovation@tudublin.ie
Tá ARISE arna chomhchistiú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus ag an Aontas Eorpach trí Chlár Réigiúnach an Deiscirt, an Oirthir agus Lár na Tíre 2021-27 de chuid. TU Dublin ARISE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27.