On 28 May 2019, DEVISE lead partner ERNACT in conjunction with Donegal Digital hosted a workshop at the CoLab building on the Letterkenny Institute of Technology campus, in Donegal (Ireland). The aim of the event was to identify how the business of digital technology buyer and supplier companies in Donegal could be improved by working together to overcome mutually identified opportunities and challenges.
Over 40 attendees including representatives from SMEs based in Donegal, business development agencies (Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Donegal Local Enterprise Office) and staff from Letterkenny Institute of Technology, CoLab and WiSAR lab, participated in the workshop.
Our project leader Jose Manuel San Emeterio began with a presentation of the main conclusions from the recent DEVISE supply/demand regional assessment. Following this, attendees were divided into 4 groups for a breakout session under the themes:
- Process automation/Factory automation
- Digital marketing
- Digital training in small businesses
- Test new technologies
According to Colm Mc Colgan (ERNACT General Manager), the focus of the workshop was to identify concrete opportunities that could be implemented by companies based in the county. The first group discussed sketching out a process automation pilot, as results coming from the DEVISE survey carried out in the region indicated high demand for process automation solutions amongst Donegal companies. The second group identified a digital marketing pilot they would like to see implemented. The third group exchanged ideas on how digital training requirements could be solved for small companies. Finally, the fourth group explored the use of innovation vouchers to allow companies pilot the use of new digital solutions.
The event proved very successful with lots of discussion on the steps to realise the opportunities that can overcome the challenges.
About Donegal Digital
Donegal Digital is a public-private partnership comprised of eight organizations, companies and institutions with the vision of “Digitally literate communities co-building sustainable enterprises and societal services”. For more information, please visit www.donegaldigital.ie
