Enterprise Ireland to mark St. Patrick's Day with launch of sustainability campaign

• Campaign launches as Ireland aims to build further on the 15 percent increase in Irish exports to the UAE and 12 percent increase to the Middle East region as a whole;
• Irish green innovators targeting the region to collaborate on advancing the ambitious sustainability agenda;
• Ireland sets out the post-pandemic path with drive for building back better through greener economies, focused on greater sustainability, and securing the worlds future generations in positive climate agenda.

Dubai: To mark St. Patrick’s Day this week and the positive impact that Irish businesses are delivering across the Middle East and the rest of the world, Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s trade and innovation agency today launched a new green innovation focused international campaign ‘Ready for a Green Future’.  Enterprise Ireland’s 40 international offices will also host over 50 virtual events across the world to engage international partners and support the growth of Irish enterprise internationally.

The international green innovation campaign ‘Ready for a Green Future’ focuses on the climate agenda, and as the world emerges from Covid-19 there is a need to build back better, prioritising sustainability and tackling the many environmental challenges that we face to deliver a green recovery. 

The campaign showcases many world-leading Irish green innovators who are solving complex technical challenges and delivering sustainable and low carbon solutions to make renewable energy viable; reduce energy waste in our cities with smart technology; reduce agricultural waste and make construction cleaner.

Launching the international campaign today, Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste (Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: “St Patrick’s Day is the day the world turns green as we come together to celebrate our national holiday. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase Ireland’s green innovators and the positive contribution they are making to industries across the world.

“Moving away from fossil fuels and decoupling emissions from economic progress is the biggest challenge facing this generation. Ireland is fully committed to playing its part in the global effort. We are committed to reducing emissions by 7% on average by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  

“Enterprise Ireland’s Ready for a Green Future campaign highlights some of the Irish companies who are the early movers, the trail blazers who have sustainability at the core of their business. This St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to showcase these green innovators and the positive contribution they are making to industries across the world.”

Commenting on the launch of the campaign in the Middle East, Conor Fahy, Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Director for India, Middle East & Africa, said: “Supporting Irish companies to reduce their carbon footprint and capitilise on opportunities emerging from the low-carbon transition is a key strategic priority for Enterprise Ireland.  As Irish businesses recover from the impact of Covid-19 we need to also build resilience and work with researchers and innovators to ensure Irish companies are fully prepared and have the capabilities in place to meet the challenges of climate change and the substantial changes required across society to meet national and EU emissions targets, new standards, changing consumer and buyer preferences”.

“Research, innovation and new technologies will play a vital role in enabling a greener future and at a time where the there is a strong focus on a green recovery across the world, across the European Union and in Ireland. This St. Patrick’s Day we are showcasing some of Ireland’s best green innovators and key actors in our research and innovation ecosystem,  who are enabling industries such as agriculture, construction and transport be more sustainable, making buildings greener, cutting pollution and supporting renewable energy production.

“Across the Middle East, we see more and more interest for the leading technologies operating as part of the green economy, Ireland is at the forefront of enabling a greener future for the region. With the Dubai Plan 2040, we see the importance placed on this wider green agenda which result in the doubling of double green and leisure areas, as well as public parks which will make a key contribution to Dubai’s ambitious plans to offset its carbon footprint, and enable a greener future for Dubai.”

Ireland has been ranked 5^th in the (MIT Technology Review) Green Future Index 2021, an index of 76 countries on their progress and commitment towards building a low carbon future. It measures the degree to which their economies are turning towards clean energy industry, agriculture and society through investment in renewables, innovation and green finance.  

Some of the Enterprise Ireland clients and their green innovations featured as part of the Ready for the Green Future campaign are:

• CitySwift is combating the climate crisis by using data to strategically improve public transit and view the Middle East region as a key strategic priority as part of their ambitious growth plans. They are currently in early-stage discussions with potential partners to bring their technology to the Middle East region.
• Davra is partnering with companies to use data for improved efficiency and environmental safety.
• Ecocem is improving and promoting the use of a greener cement alternative.
• Hanley Energy is providing customized, efficient energy solutions to the world’s most power heavy industries. In the Middle East, they are supporting the burgeoning data center industry with critical power and energy technologies that advance on operational efficiency and sustainability. They work across the globe with Hyperscale Data Center clients and services their in-market operations in both the UAE and Bahrain. Last year, they partnered with local indigenous business in both markets to provide better on-demand product support and enhanced client service on a host of operational levels. MENA looks set for continued technology and data centre growth, with Hanley Energy unveiling new plans to expand their export footprint into Israel in 2021 with more regional markets planned.
• XOCEAN is operating an uncrewed, carbon-friendly vehicle to collect marine data with 1,000 x fewer emissions than an ordinary vessel. With their eyes set on the UAE and wider region, they are pursuing several business leads to introduce their innovative approach here.

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About Enterprise Ireland

• Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government’s trade and innovation agency and ranked first in the world of VC investors*. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets. We invest in the most innovative Irish companies through all stages of their growth and connect them to international customers across multiple industries. Our goal is to build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish partners. With 40 offices worldwide, Enterprise Ireland’s teams of industry experts consult with international businesses to understand and solve their business needs.
• Pitchbook’s 2020 Global Annual League Table has ranked Enterprise Ireland 1^st in the world and 1^st in Europe of venture capital investors. Pitchbook is a leading Venture Capital (VC) and Private Equity Investment Platform, ranking the most active global investors by VC deal count. In 2019 Pitchbook ranked Enterprise Ireland first in Europe and second globally. Enterprise Ireland invests in innovative Irish companies driving change across industries worldwide.

For Interviews

• Interviews are available upon request with Conor Fahy, Regional Director for India, Middle East, and Africa, at Enterprise Ireland.

About the Irish Green Innovators in the Global Campaign

• The full list of the ten Irish companies – the ‘Irish Green Innovators’ – featured in the global campaign include:
• Abbey Machinery is supporting reduced carbon emissions with innovative farming technologies.
• Keenan is promoting sustainability in farming with advanced, efficient diet feeders.
• CitySwift is combating the climate crisis by using data to strategically improve public transit.
• Cygnum is offering savings in the embodied energy of new builds with automated timber frame construction methods.
• Davra is partnering with companies to use data for improved efficiency and environmental safety.
• Ecocem is improving and promoting the use of a greener cement alternative.
• GridBeyond is enabling cost-effective decarbonisation through advanced energy intelligence.
• Hanley Energy is providing customized, efficient energy solutions to the world’s most power heavy industries.
• Ocean Energy is capturing and converting the power of waves into electricity through unique technology.
• XOCEAN is operating an uncrewed, carbon-friendly vehicle to collect marine data with 1,000 x fewer emissions than an ordinary vessel.
• The Ready for a Green Future Campaign Film link can be found here: https://youtu.be/2bfGAtoVsHI 

For further Information and to request interviews, please contact:
Karen Lobo, Manara Global
Email: Karen.Lobo@manaraglobal.com 

© Press Release 2021