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Next Generation of Innovators to Take Centre Stage at National 2026 'Ideas Made Real' Finale
Mar 2000:06:14Tap to summarize200 students from Secondary schools from across Ireland will come together on March 25th for the third annual 'Ideas Made Real' Transition Year final, a national STEM event that highlights the creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills of transition year students as they present projects developed over the course of the academic year. Taking place at the Explorium Science and Sport Centre in Dublin, the event marks the culmination of the Ideas Made Real programme, an initiative by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) that introduces secondary school students to modern manufacturing, engineering and innovation. Launched in September 2023, the programme blends STEM learning with practical application, encouraging students to work collaboratively to design and develop solutions to real-world challenges. 'Ideas Made Real' is designed not only to build technical skills but also to foster confidence, creativity and collaboration. By connecting students with industry mentors and exposing them to advanced manufacturing technologies, the programme provides valuable insight into potential career pathways and helps bridge the gap between education and industry. The Transition Year students, alongside their teachers, judges, IMR staff and programme sponsors, will attend the final, where student teams will present prototypes, posters and 3D-printed components developed through projects such as the 3D Printing Challenge. Throughout the day, projects will be assessed by a panel of internal and external judges drawn from industry and academia, including IMR representatives Tamara Wierks (Director of Learning & Development at IMR), Barry Kennedy CEO of IMR, Gustavo Cainelli (Precision Engineering Learning & Business Development Specialist) and John Enright Director of Manufacturing Technology, alongside external judges Luana Raggi (Senior Instructional Designer at Novartis Ireland, Audrey Madden of Keogh's and Michelle Lambert of Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) before an awards ceremony recognises the most innovative and impactful work. The event is structured to give students the experience of a professional exhibition environment, beginning with a welcome and orientation session, followed by a series of judging rotations in which teams present and defend their ideas. After a period of deliberation, the event will conclude with an awards ceremony celebrating the effort, ingenuity and teamwork demonstrated across the programme. Speaking about the event, Barry Kennedy, CEO of IMR, says, "Events like the Ideas Made Real Showcase highlight the incredible creativity, curiosity and problem-solving ability of young people across Ireland. At IMR, we are passionate about nurturing the next generation of innovators by giving students the opportunity to help solve real-world challenges with emerging technologies. It's inspiring to see the level of ingenuity and teamwork on display, and this programme plays an important role in building the skills, confidence and ambition in our students who will shape the future of the Irish manufacturing industry." The event reflects the diversity and reach of the initiative, with schools travelling from across the country to participate. Alongside the technical achievements on display, the showcase highlights personal stories of perseverance, teamwork and problem-solving, underscoring the broader impact of the programme on student development; having created a wearable claw device to assist individuals with limited hand mobility, particularly people with Parkinson's disease, dementia, and elderly users. Speaking ahead of the event, IMR Programme Coordinator Emma Treacy said that the showcase represents an important milestone for students. "Ideas Made Real offers students the opportunity to bring an idea from concept to prototype and present it to industry experts, which gives participants a real sense of achievement and a clearer understanding of how their skills can translate into future careers an...
Transcribe →Credit Unions join forces with Metamo to launch strategic IT platform CU-Tech
Mar 2000:05:09Tap to summarizeMetamo has announced the launch of CU-Tech, a major new technology and infrastructure initiative designed to accelerate digital transformation across Ireland's Credit Union sector. CU-Tech, which was developed by Metamo in close collaboration with participating Credit Unions and leading technology partners, is designed to empower the sector with the modern digital capabilities they want. The centralised scalable platform strengthens the collective power of Credit Unions by enabling: Richer, more seamless digital member experiences that reflect the community?focused service credit unions are known for. Stronger integration across core systems and partner services, allowing credit unions to deliver smarter, faster, and more connected offerings. A sector owned future?ready digital infrastructure, giving the movement a stronger, united foundation to innovate and grow together. The launch coincides with Metamo's 'Winning Ways Research Programme, the largest Credit Union research ever undertaken in Ireland. The study, delivered in partnership with Amárach Research, comprises 14,120 member responses across 10 participating Credit Unions, a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Credit Union members, and 820 non-members and demonstrated an increasing appetite for the provision of enhanced digital services across the sector. Speaking at the launch, Ciara Prendeville, Deputy CEO of Metamo, said: "This research gives the clearest picture yet of what members value, how they behave, and what they expect from their Credit Union in the years ahead. Members deeply trust the sector – and are also asking for modern digital services that match the convenience they experience elsewhere. CU-Tech will enable Credit Unions to meet those expectations, confidently and collectively, while staying true to the values that make our movement unique." Welcoming the launch, Robert Troy TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, said: "Findings from this research clearly show that Credit Union members value the role their Credit Union plays in their financial lives, and they also expect services to evolve with changing technology and consumer behaviour. The launch of CU-Tech represents an important step in supporting Credit Unions to modernise their systems, improve the accessibility of services, and ensure they remain competitive in an increasingly digital financial environment. "There is significant opportunity for the sector in the years ahead to further meet member needs, and collaboration will be fundamental to realising that opportunity. In the coming weeks, I will formally be launching the start of a process to deliver a strategy which is owned by the sector, and this research is timely in understanding those needs." Key research findings: Members strongly value their Credit Unions and are looking forward to more digital progress. The research highlights a sector with deep community trust and loyalty, with digital expectations rising quickly, particularly among younger and working-age members: Digital capability is now a decisive factor for joiners and switchers – 45% of non?members would consider joining if digital services improved. This rose to 59% among those under the age of 25. Among members who say their experience has improved, digital transformation is the number?one driver (37%). Almost half (49%) of members believe Credit Unions must enhance their digital offering to compete in today's financial services market. The research also identifies two major attitudinal groups in today's Credit Union membership: 40% "Happy as-is" members, driven by trust, continuity and personal service. 55% "Wants More" members, whose expectations mirror those of banks and fintechs, and seek better apps, instant transfer options, faster loan decisions and more modern, accessible digital touchpoints. This split represents both a loyalty asset and a major growth opportunity for the sector -especially as younger consumers increasingly benchmark all fina...
Transcribe →Ekco launches Managed Risk Operations Centre to help Irish organisations reduce cyber risk
Mar 2000:04:57Tap to summarizeEkco, a leading managed cloud and cybersecurity provider across Europe, has announced the launch of its Managed Risk Operations Centre (ROC), powered by Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management (ETM). The new centre is designed to help Irish organisations move from fragmented vulnerability management to continuous, business-aligned cyber risk reduction. As boards face increasing scrutiny over cyber resilience, regulatory obligations such as NIS2 and DORA, and rising ransomware losses globally, Ekco's ROC enables organisations to clearly understand their true exposure and demonstrate structured, ongoing risk reduction. Despite significant investment in security tooling, risk data often remains siloed across vulnerability scanners, cloud platforms, endpoint tools, and compliance systems. The result is large volumes of alerts and vulnerability data, but limited visibility into which issues materially increase business risk. Moreover, as cyber risk becomes a board-level accountability issue and insurers demand stronger evidence of control effectiveness, organisations require more than tooling. They require an operational model that connects risk insight to action. Ekco's new ROC delivers that model by combining the Qualys ETM platform with Ekco's managed security expertise, giving security and business leaders a clear, consolidated view of their attack surface and what requires immediate attention. Ekco integrates threat detection, continuous monitoring, risk-based vulnerability management, and expert remediation support within a single managed service. Rather than focusing solely on vulnerability counts or severity scores, the ROC approach prioritises exposures based on exploit likelihood, asset criticality, and business impact, enabling organisations to focus remediation where it will materially reduce risk. Steve MacNicholas, CEO, Ekco Ireland, said: "Organisations are investing heavily in cybersecurity, yet many still lack a clear, consolidated view of risk. Boards want to understand exposure in business terms, not just technical metrics. Our Risk Operations Centre changes that conversation. By combining Ekco's managed expertise with Qualys' powerful Enterprise TruRisk Management solution, we help customers quantify cyber risk, prioritise what truly matters, and demonstrate measurable reduction over time. This is about operationalising cyber risk management, not simply generating more reports." Qualys ETM underpins the service by aggregating telemetry across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, enriching it with global threat intelligence, and applying contextual risk scoring that reflects potential business impact. This allows organisations to move beyond reactive patch cycles and towards a continuous risk reduction model aligned to their risk appetite and regulatory obligations. "With threat actors exploiting vulnerabilities faster than ever, organisations need to shift from simply finding more exposures to operationalising cyber risk management, aligned with business risk tolerance," said Matt Middleton-Leal, RVP Northern Europe, "Qualys. Ekco's proactive mROC service will help businesses transform their overall approach to risk, empowering them to go beyond traditional vulnerability detection by combining exposure management, exploit validation, risk quantification, and automated remediation." The Ekco ROC is designed for both mid-market organisations and large enterprises, either augmenting internal security teams or operating as a fully managed risk function. It provides continuous visibility across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid estates, structured reporting for executive stakeholders, and coordinated remediation workflows to accelerate time from risk identification to resolution. The ROC service is available immediately to Ekco's existing and new customers across Ireland and the UK. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's N...
Transcribe →Equinix announces construction of $92M data centre in Dublin
Mar 2000:02:56Tap to summarizeEquinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world's digital infrastructure company®, has announced that construction has begun on a new data centre in Dublin. DB7x, which will be located in Blanchardstown, will be sited close to two of Equinix's existing data centres for enhanced connectivity. Equinix anticipates an investment of $78 million into the new high-performance data centre facility, plus an additional $14 million to support a retail IBX buildout. Equinix retail IBX data centres provide enterprises with the digital infrastructure needed to digitally transform, manage AI workloads and scale critical services locally while connecting to their customers across Ireland and internationally. Retail capacity at the data centre is scheduled to be available to enterprises from early 2028 and will directly support foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland, adding to the 200 FDI corporations that Equinix already provides digital infrastructure to in Ireland. The new building, which will be 100% flexible to support the national grid, will require no additional grid power, as it will be constructed on an existing Equinix site and use the power already allocated to that facility. Peter Lantry, Managing Director, Equinix, Ireland, said: "This is an exciting development for Equinix's operations in Ireland, as we celebrate 10 years of being in Ireland, investing in its infrastructure and economy. This announcement strongly supports the Government's recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which outlines a path for keeping Ireland at the forefront of global digital innovation. It also reaffirms our commitment to Ireland and its importance to businesses worldwide. "This is positive news for the Irish economy. By expanding colocation capacity in Dublin, we will enable domestic and international enterprises to scale, innovate, and connect across Equinix's global digital infrastructure platform with ease." See more stories here. 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 Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie 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.
Transcribe →Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity reviewed
Mar 2000:06:49Tap to summarizeWe look at the highly topical new book about Ozempic and it's potential far ranging impact. See more about Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity by Aimee Donnellan here. The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity, reviewed At this stage if you have not heard the word ozempic, or one of it's close relatives, then you may well have been living under a rock, for perhaps at least half a decade and beyond. This book is clearly tackling a topical book, asking some important questions about ozempic and considering if it is the miracle cure for diabetes. As has often been the way, think viagra, where the byproduct benefits outstrip the initial use case for the drug, ozempic became the go-to weight loss drug for many users. Donnellan does a good job of looking at the history of obesity, and the, often associated challenges of diabetes too. The explanation of the identification of a relevant and effective solution are clear and well written. The chapter on the growth of super-size-me portions and it's impact on, US in particular, dietary habits felt a bit superfluous. However it did serve the purpose of setting the scene for some interesting big picture observations, and good points to consider. Over the last few decades there has been a healthy, and important move away from size zero dresses and the models who starve themselves to wear them. Real bodies, and more natural body shapes have been encouraged to better reflect the reality of our actual bodies, rather than holding up unrealistic and unnecessary body shapes and sizes, especially for women to feel pressure to conform to. Now however, as Donnellan highlights, the arrival of ozempic, and it's ability to enable many to rapidly lose 20% or more of their body weight, has perhaps created a counter weight to these body positive messages. For anyone using ozempic they will also be more than aware that this is not a trivial drug to take and experience. Self injecting is immediately not something that everyone will wish or be able to do. Then, once administered, there is often nausea, constipation and also diarrhea too. It can be a tough cocktail to endure, and, for some, there is a permanent loss of appetite, and a disinterest in food, which is naturally potentially a bridge too far. At the same time the drug could be a massive life saver for those suffering with obesity, for whom nothing else has worked. As well as suppressing internal noise about food, it looks like it may also have the same impact on alcohol and drug related tendencies too. This could naturally be a game changer, both for addicts, but also perhaps for consumption trends among the wider population. Donnellan cites one major gin investor, who has reduced their exposure as they feel ozempic will have a negative effect on alcohol sales, as it may well also on fast food and processed food consumption. These aspects are among the elements that make this book most interesting, as it triggers a debate about the potentially positive, but unintended consequences and byproducts of successful weight loss products coming onto the market. While ozempic currently may be grabbing the headlines, other evolutions and iterations, potentially by other major drug companies are being developed and could come to market very soon. It does raise many interesting questions about what is healthy living, and how we achieve it. Our weight, our body shape and size have always been areas that can impact both negatively on our mental health, as well as our potentially addictive cravings too. If these can be medicated, safely, we may well be entering a whole new domain and area of public discussion too. Well worth reading. More about The Inside Story of Ozempic The inside story of the race to develop Ozempic – the world's first truly effective and safe obesity drug – and its potentially revolutionary effects on public health, and our deeper culture and values. A 'cure' for obesity has long been the...
Transcribe →The mystery of Asteroid Bennu's rugged surface explained
Mar 2000:05:38Tap to summarizeIn one of the biggest surprises of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, its target asteroid, Bennu, turned out to be a jagged, rugged world covered in large boulders, with few of the smooth patches that earlier observations from Earth-based instruments had indicated. "When OSIRIS-REx got to Bennu in 2018, we were surprised by what we saw," said Andrew Ryan, a scientist with the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, who led the mission's sample physical and thermal analysis working group. "We expected some boulders, but we anticipated at least some large regions with smoother, finer regolith that would be easy to collect. Instead, it looked like it was all boulders, and we were scratching our heads for a while." Asteroid Bennu's rugged surface explained Particularly puzzling were observations made in 2007 by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which measured low thermal inertia, indicative of an asteroid whose surface heats up and cools down rapidly as it rotates into and out of sunlight, like a sandy beach on Earth. This was at odds with the many large boulders that OSIRIS-REx found upon arrival, which should act more like blocks of concrete, shedding heat long after the Sun has set. Data collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during its survey campaign at the asteroid suggested a possible explanation: the boulders could be much more porous than expected. Once the samples were delivered to Earth, researchers were able to investigate this further. Ryan's team scrutinized rock particles collected from Bennu's surface using a variety of laboratory analysis techniques. In a study published in Nature Communications, the authors reported that the boulders are indeed porous enough to account for some of the observed heat loss, but not all of it. Rather, many of the rocks turned out to be riddled with extensive networks of cracks. To test whether the cracks could be the reason for the asteroid's surface losing heat, a team at Nagoya University in Japan analyzed Bennu sample material using lock-in thermography. This laser-based technique allows researchers to hit a tiny spot on the surface of the sample and measure how the heat diffuses through it, similar to how ripples move across a pond. "That's when things became really interesting," Ryan said. "The thermal inertia measured in the lab samples turned out to be much higher than what the spacecraft's instruments had recorded, echoing similar findings obtained by the team of OSIRIS-REx's partner mission, JAXA's (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Hayabusa-2." To make meaningful predictions about how the material would behave in the large boulders on the asteroid, the team had to find a way to scale up the measurements obtained with the small sample particles. Using a glove box, team members at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston sealed sample particles in air-tight containers under a protective nitrogen atmosphere, then transferred them to a lab where they could perform X-ray computed tomography, or XCT scans. Once a particle was scanned, it went back into the glove box. "The sample goes into its own 'spacesuit,' gets a CT scan, and then comes back to its pristine environment, all without having any exposure to the terrestrial environment," said Nicole Lunning, lead OSIRIS-REx sample curator within the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science division at NASA Johnson and one of the study's co-authors. "We can image right through these airtight containers to visualize the shape and internal structure of the rock that's inside." "X-ray computed tomography allows us to look at the inside of an object in three dimensions, without damaging it," said study co-author and NASA Johnson X-ray scientist Scott Eckley. Once mapped in this way, a permanent three-dimensional digital archive of a sample particle's shape and interior is created, and the data are entered into a public database. Ryan's team used the X-ray CT scan data for computer simulations modeling heat flow and therma...
Transcribe →How Mythology can help us Navigate the Age of AI
Mar 2000:07:21Tap to summarizeGuest post by Declan Goodman is a digital transformation consultant, speaker and creator of the Digital Mythology framework, which uses mythic storytelling to help leaders explain complex change in a more human way. Mythology can make the Age of AI more human by tapping into patterns of behaviour that have existed for centuries. After nearly 30 years working in digital transformation, I have learned that the success of any digital transformation comes down to the story behind it, not the tech. As organisations accelerate AI adoption, we are finding that the real challenge is no longer technical, rather it's trust. Many AI initiatives struggle because the narrative is driven by tech hype and jargon, rather than human meaning. We often use terms like 'large language models' or 'agentic intelligence', which makes sense to IT professionals but often fail to resonate with non-technical stakeholders. Transformation only succeeds when the story speaks to the heart and mind (which I call Xin) of the people who it impacts. How Mythology can help us Navigate the Age of AI This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Myths are universal narratives that help us make sense of change and its unintended consequences. In a world where trust is fast eroding, we can use mythology as a map for navigating the Age of AI in a balanced and more human way. Here are three examples of how you can use myth to better frame your AI journey. Example 1: Mythology can help us better manage the power AI has unleashed Over the ages, innovation always began with curiosity, but curiosity can be disruptive. In the mythology of the Tlingit and Haida peoples of North America, Raven grew tired of the world's darkness and stole the sun from a selfish chief to make its light available for everyone. While the act brought illumination, it also brought chaos, heat and change that could not be undone. This applies directly to AI. We have 'stolen the sun' if you will, by releasing powerful new capabilities, but we cannot always control how that light is used. The lesson here is that once knowledge is released, the challenge isn't to contain it through control, but to nurture how it is used through guidance and ethics. Practical ways to implement this myth include leading with clear ethical guardrails (rather than just tech restrictions) and encouraging shared responsibility practices where teams are taught to live wisely with the heat and power of AI. Bringing trust back to the equation, especially given the tide of distrust is rising, is the only way to make AI sustainable. Example 2: Mythology can caution us of the hype In Greek mythology, King Midas thought he had won the ultimate prize when everything he touched turned to gold. However, soon enough he found out that this gift was more of a curse. Not only did the food and drink he touched turn to gold (rendering it useless), but also his daughter. In the Age of AI, many leaders are tempted to chase the new gold; believing that AI will instantly create business value. Alas, experience tells us that transformation driven by hype rather than strategy carries significant risk. Practical ways to implement this myth include stripping away the hype jargon and focusing on framing AI as the enabler of human outcomes. You should ask simple questions like 'Is this tech solving a real human need?' or 'Is this tech simply automating our current process rather than transforming it? In the end, the gift of gold is attractive and seductive, but your business stakeholders won't have a use for it if it's not used in the right way. Example 3: Mythology can help leaders guide teams through AI uncertainty The terrain of AI is full of doubt. Leaders need to ask if they should adopt AI now or later? In the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, the warrior Arjuna is overwhelmed by such uncertainty at the opening battle scene. His guide, Krishna, doesn't take the reins or fight the battle for him; instead, he offers wisdom and clarity by letting Arjuna ...
Transcribe →TCS and ABB strengthen strategic IT, AI, and engineering partnership
Mar 2000:05:16Tap to summarizeTata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) who operate a global delivery services centre in Ireland, announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABB to strengthen the two companies' strategic collaboration across IT infrastructure and applications, digital and industrial AI initiatives, data centres, and other emerging technologies. The MoU reflects the Parties' shared intent to drive innovation, operational resilience, and sustainable growth through a long-term partnership approach. The partnership combines ABB's industrial leadership with TCS' advanced AI, data, and engineering capabilities to enable next-gen infrastructure and enterprise applications New partnership for TCS and ABB As part of the MoU, the Parties will combine ABB's leadership in electrification and automation with TCS' global technology and delivery capabilities in the following key collaboration areas: IT infrastructure and applications transformation: Advancing an agile, secure, resilient and cost-optimised IT foundation aligned to ABB's operating model, with focus on operational efficiency and continuous improvement. AI and factory modernisation: Jointly collaborating on industrial AI, digital twins, vision-based inspection and OT-IT convergence. AI infrastructure development opportunities: Explore opportunities related to electrification, automation, digital and software domains arising from TCS' planned AI infrastructure development activities in India. Morten Wierod, CEO ABB, said, "Partnering with TCS helps ABB build smarter systems, adapt faster, and scale our innovations globally. India remains an important growth market for us and the renewed partnership will position ABB as one of the key partners for TCS' ambitious data centre expansion plans." 1. Krithivasan, MD and CEO, Tata Consultancy Services, said,"This partnership reflects our shared ambition to move beyond incremental transformation and shape the next era of industrial enterprises. By combining ABB's leadership in electrification and automation with TCS' technical expertise in AI, data, and engineering, we aim to cocreate intelligent, resilient, and future ready industrial solutions at scale. Together, we are not just modernising the technology landscapes, we are advancing a new model of AI-led industrial innovation that delivers shared value across our global operations." About ABB ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalisation expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this 'Engineered to Outrun'. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB's shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Tata Consultancy Services (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) is the technology partner of choice for industry-leading organisations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence and customer service. It has set an aspiration to become the world's largest AI-led technology services company and is enabling its clients to transform themselves across the full AI stack, from infrastructure to intelligence. Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce spread across 55 countries and 202 service delivery centers across the world, the company has been recognised as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients – helping them emerge as perpetually adaptive enterprises. Many of these relationships have endured into dec...
Transcribe →Major European Semiconductor Award Goes to Tyndall's Peter O'Brien
Mar 1900:03:13Tap to summarizeTyndall National Institute, based at University College Cork, is proud to announce that Professor Peter O'Brien, Head of Research for Photonics Packaging & Systems Integration, has been awarded the SEMI European Award 2025 at the Industry Strategy Symposium Europe (ISS Europe) in Sopot, Poland. SEMI is a global industry association representing companies and research organisations across the semiconductor and electronics development and manufacturing supply chain. The award, one of the most prestigious honours in the semiconductor industry, recognises leaders whose work has significantly advanced global semiconductor innovation. Professor O'Brien was recognised for his pioneering contributions to photonics electronic packaging, his leadership in Europe's Semiconductor Pilot Lines, and his commitment to developing specialised training programmes that strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline. "It is a great honour to receive the SEMI European Award for 2025," said Professor O'Brien. "Through this award, I would like to recognise my many collaborators around the world. Working together, we accelerate research and development, turning early ideas into impactful breakthroughs. I would also like to thank SEMI for its leadership in fostering collaboration and building roadmaps that illuminate the way forward." Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall National Institute, said: "Professor O'Brien's leadership and vision have placed Tyndall at the forefront of advanced packaging globally, and his contributions are shaping Europe's semiconductor future. We are immensely proud to see his impact recognised at the highest level." Eric Beyne of imec received the Special Service Award for his contributions to 3D integration and advanced interconnect technologies. Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe, said: "We are honoured to recognise Peter O'Brien and Eric Beyne for their outstanding contributions to advancing semiconductor innovation and strengthening Europe's technology ecosystem. Their leadership and vision have helped drive transformative progress across the industry while inspiring the next generation of engineers and researchers, reflecting the spirit of collaboration and innovation that continues to propel the semiconductor industry toward a more resilient, digital, and sustainable future." See more stories here. 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 Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie 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.
Transcribe →SD Worx pays a fifth of Ireland's workforce
Mar 1900:04:15Tap to summarizeSD Worx Ireland, a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, has announced that a stricter regulatory environment has resulted in its payroll software being used to pay nearly one-in-five employees in Ireland. Irish businesses are using the company's MegaPay software – developed in Ireland – to pay 17% of the country's workforce, totalling almost 400,000 employees. As part of an ambitious strategy for continued growth, SD Worx is targeting a market share of 25% in Ireland in the next five years. The introduction of industry regulations such as Enhanced Reporting Requirements, pension auto-enrolment, and gender pay gap reporting is putting increasing pressure on Irish businesses – especially within payroll – with extra administrative burden, stringent reporting requirements, and more serious penalties for non-compliance. As businesses look to bridge these resource gaps, SD Worx Ireland experienced a record 26% revenue growth in 2025, with consistent customer win rates and a customer retention rate close to 99%. The company currently serves a base of 450 businesses in Ireland. Further driving the growth of SD Worx's services among businesses in Ireland is the demand for reliable payments and the need to keep pace with their competitors. MegaPay provides real-time, highly configurable payroll processing capabilities and ensures on-time accurate payments, reduces payroll complexities through automation and integration, and enables customisable reporting. In addition, amid escalating cyber threats, SD Worx is certified in ISO27001, ISAE 3000 and 3402 Type II, and Cyber Essentials to ensure the protection of highly sensitive business and employee data. SD Worx has long been the payroll engine behind many of Ireland's largest employers, in sectors including hospitality, pharma and healthcare, professional and financial services, food and beverage, and retail. The company expects further significant growth opportunities following its recent expansion into the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector, backed by a €3 million investment. The company now offers enterprise-grade solutions tailored to SMEs. Eimear Byrne, Managing Director, SD Worx Ireland, says: "We are on an ambitious growth path which we expect will see the continued increase of our market share in Ireland, particularly in the SME sector – the backbone of the Irish economy – and as employee numbers continue to rise. As the regulatory landscape rapidly changes, robust, reliable, and accurate payroll is a fundamental requirement for every business that must be prioritised in order to attract and retain skilled employees. As we all lead rich lives outside of the workplace, on-time payment is the very minimum that employees should expect, and we pride ourselves on the fact that we have never missed a pay date or submission. "In addition, as SD Worx Ireland is part of larger group, our customers benefit from the resources of an international company with the responsiveness and support of a local team. An increasing number of organisations do not have the in-house resources to keep pace with the evolving requirements of modern work environments, and we strive to provide payroll solutions that makes life easier for both businesses and their teams." See more stories here. 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 Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie 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.
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