Farming: Enterprise centre launches Collaborative Living Laboratory feasibility study report
Pictured are Mary O'Neill, lan Mernagh, Eleanor Kent, Bill O'Gorman, John Flahavan and Eunice Power. Photo: Patrick Browne
Dungarvan Enterprise Centre launched its Collaborative Living Laboratory (CLL) feasibility study report.
The CLL is a major initiative that has the potential to transform innovation and collaboration across Ireland's agri-food and agri-tech sectors.
The feasibility study report, officially launched at South East Technological University (SETU), explores the development of a collaborative, coordinated platform that will connect farmers, agri-food producers, agri-tech enterprises, researchers, enterprise support agencies and regional stakeholders across the South East.
The Collaborative Living Laboratory concept is designed to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation, creating an ecosystem where innovation can be developed, tested and scaled through meaningful collaboration between industry, academia and enterprise support organisations.
As Chairperson of Dungarvan Enterprise Centre and Professor Emeritus at SETU, Professor Bill O'Gorman has played a leading role in advancing the vision for the Collaborative Living Laboratory and supporting the feasibility study process.
The study represents one of the most comprehensive programmes of stakeholder engagement, international benchmarking and applied research undertaken in the sector to date. It highlights significant opportunities to strengthen regional innovation capacity, support sustainable enterprise growth and enhance the competitiveness of Ireland's agri-food and agri-tech industries.
The launch event brought together representatives from higher education institutions, enterprise support agencies, enterprise centres, agri-food and agri-tech businesses, farming organisations, researchers and local and regional authorities to discuss the study's findings and future implementation pathways.
Speaking at the launch, Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences at SETU, emphasised the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of the sector.
She said: "The agri-food and agri-tech sectors are central to the economic and social fabric of the South East and of Ireland as a whole. The Collaborative Living Laboratory represents an exciting opportunity to bring together farmers, industry, researchers, and enterprise agencies in a meaningful and practical way to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities for innovation and sustainability."
Professor Bill O'Gorman said: "We hope to achieve widespread dissemination and awareness of the implementation of the Collaborative Living Laboratory to support the continued growth of agri-tech and agri-food enterprises. By creating stronger connections between enterprise, research, and regional stakeholders, the CLL has the potential to drive innovation, sustainability, and economic development across the sector."
Dungarvan Enterprise Centre looks forward to collaborating with stakeholders across industry, academia and government to advance the next phase of the initiative and help realise the vision outlined in the feasibility study.
