Innovation is the answer to many of the challenges that threaten our shared future, according to Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.
Minister Harris was speaking at the 2023 American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham) annual dinner and US-Ireland Business Awards, which celebrated the global impact that teams and individuals from across the business sector are having on markets and society because of the research and innovation taking place here in Ireland.
Minister Harris said: “We believe research and innovation is the answer to many of the challenges that threaten our shared future, such as climate change, geopolitical instability and inevitable further pandemics. But, to borrow a phrase from President Truman, we need policymakers, businesses, researchers and innovators with ‘courage, imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand’.”
Minister Harris also noted that the continued future success of the Irish economy “now centres on our people”.
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“Investment in education, in innovation, in human capital is essential to deliver economic success. You know this. This was one of the main issues your members are raising with you.”
As part of this investment, Minister Harris highlighted that his Department will soon launch the details of the Innovate for Ireland scheme, a new public private partnership to attract PhD researchers to Ireland.
Global impact award
As part of the event AmCham presented its inaugural US-Ireland Business Awards under three categories: global impact, global community and global leadership. These awards are sponsored by BT Ireland and EY, with The Irish Times as the official media partner.
The global impact award was presented to Icon, for its role in the search for vaccines and treatments for Covid-19, specifically its partnership on Pfizer and BioNTech’s investigational Covid-19 vaccine programme. Icon has extensive experience in vaccine clinical development for commercial businesses, governments and NGOs, having participated in over 160 vaccine studies in the past five years. Icon has conducted or is currently involved in over 130 Covid-19 related trials.
Shay Walsh, managing director, BT Ireland, highlighted the importance of having teams and businesses here in Ireland working on innovative projects that are having a significant, positive impact on global markets and society.
Walsh said: “Ireland and the US have a long history of working together to encourage research, development and innovation for the betterment of society at large, whether that is in technology, life sciences or the green economy. As a leading communications provider, our purpose at BT Ireland is to connect for good. Being involved in the US-Ireland Business Awards was an opportunity recognise the amazing contributions by US-Ireland businesses not only in trade and investment but also those businesses who contribute to the communities they are a part of.”
Walsh added: “The outstanding innovation we have in Ireland deserves its place on the international stage. For over 30 years, BT Ireland has been at the forefront of technology in Ireland, building on the wider reputation of BT as a leading global network and communications provider. As part of the eco-system here in Ireland our goal is to enable businesses in Ireland to realise their full potential and make positive contributions to society.
Through the power of technology and innovative solutions we’re supporting organisations to build stronger, smarter, more secure business that enables them to thrive in the new world. We are a key player in data centre services, multi cloud propositions and collaboration solutions for Ireland’s global multinational corporations.”
Global community award
The global community award was presented to Qualtrics’ Five for the Fight EMEA initiative, for its positive impact on society and community.
Five for the Fight EMEA was founded by Qualtrics in 2017 as a public charity aimed at fighting cancer. The initiative was created with milestones for hiring researchers, and the aim is to bring the best and brightest scientists together study cancer. The goal of Five For the Fight is to make more survivors. Over the past five years the EMEA programme has raised over €1.15 million.
Katie Burns, consulting partner, EY Ireland said: “In business, society is our first and most important stakeholder.
“In the context of worldwide change, driven by economic development and growth, good company practice is no longer just about what we do as a business community, both here, and beyond our shores. Increasingly, it’s about how we do it.
For a sustainable future, it’s critical that Ireland’s business community continues to stand up and demonstrate leadership, acting ethically at the core of strategic decision making, across employee policies, investment decisions and partner and supplier agreements.”
Burns added: “Today, non-financial contributions are an important investment for social and economic stability and organisations - regardless of their size - are uniquely positioned to facilitate positive societal change. Businesses up and down the country contribute to the long-term health, welfare and wellbeing of employees and the local communities in which they operate; and this positive ripple effect carries out, across wider society.
“At EY, it’s at the heart of our purpose: to build a better working world. This is our guiding light, every day, informing everything we do.”
Burns said: “It’s most appropriate that, given the challenging times we live in - and recognising that challenge is often the catalyst for great innovation and positive change – AmCham’s global community award celebrates those that demonstrate an unwavering drive and commitment to make a real difference, most particularly across the critical areas of gender equality, inclusion, reducing social discrimination and enabling education, and justly rewards those organisations whose contributions make stand-out, lasting impact on communities and society.”
Global leadership award
The global leadership award was presented to Lorna Martyn, senior vice president of technology, Fidelity Ireland, for her significant positive impact on US-Ireland business relations.
Martyn was instrumental in the evolution of Fidelity Ireland developing a technological hub that is vital to the ongoing growth and success of Fidelity’s wider business. She is also a board member of the Irish American Partnership, which supports education and community programmes across Ireland, and she is actively involved in developing the technology ecosystem in Ireland.
Speaking at the event AmCham president Seamus Fives said: “In this room tonight, we have representatives from companies that are among the most successful, most impactful and most innovative in the world. Your companies, along with US MNCs across Ireland, are employing 376,000 people directly and indirectly and spending €31 billion in the Irish economy every year.”
He added: “There are a number of key opportunities for Ireland building on this tremendous success, including future-proofing our talent pipeline, advancing our sustainability agenda and our net zero ambitions and increasing Ireland’s research capacity. We welcome the ambition of the Government’s White Paper on Enterprise and the commitment to increasing Ireland’s overall expenditure on R&D to 2.5 per cent of GNI by 2030. The American Chamber is establishing a task force which will work to bring forward recommendations focused on strengthening and growing Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem, and we look forward to continued engagement with the Department and other key stakeholders to support businesses working in R&D.”