The RDI Hub, the Kerry-based centre for fostering innovation and business growth, has announced plans to expand with the addition of 50 new spaces.
In addition to the 50 new desk spaces, the Killorglin facility is also installing a digital media lab with podcast, video and greenscreen recording facilities.
The hub claims that uver 50 companies have created 29 new products and services as well as 250 jobs since RDI Hub was launched as a not-for-profit public-private partnership by financial services firm Fexco, Kerry County Council, and Munster Technological University in 2020.
In the past 12 months, 16 companies have been onboarded. RDI Hub now hosts global companies such as Liebherr, Glencar Construction, Helgen Technologies and Taxamo.
The expansion has been announced ahead of a gathering of over 200 stakeholders in RDI Hub to celebrate its third anniversary, with David McWilliams set to deliver the keynote address.
In Association with
“The RDI Hub enables start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, corporates, and enterprises to create, digitalise, innovate, and scale businesses for future economies. It is through this work over the last three years that we have been able to transform the innovation ecosystem in the South West of Ireland," said Liam Cronin, CEO of RDI Hub.
"We are delighted to mark the latest milestone in the evolution of the RDI Hub and announce further investment which will enable us to build on the incredible work in developing and scaling companies of all sizes and sectors.”
"We have realised our vision by creating a unique environment for business to flourish and we are very excited about our ever-expanding programme of activity in the years ahead. We are excited about what lies ahead and have strong ambitions for the successes of our member companies in the coming years," he added.
Karl Aherne, chief operating officer of Fexco, which led the initial €21m investment in the hub, said: “Since opening its doors in 2020, the RDI Hub has transformed into a significant innovation ecosystem not just for the region, but also for Fexco.
"The hub has yielded some incredible outcomes such as Taxamo, and several intriguing breakthroughs in robotics, AI, the Metaverse, and conventional industries such as construction, agriculture, and tourism. Fexco sees the RDI Hub as a crucial part of our future innovation plans.”
RDI Hub was recently added to the European Commission's Startup Vision Forum for strengthening rural areas by 2024, and it was also named the Digital Business Ireland Business Hub of the Year.
RDI Hub will also run the next edition of the STEM Passport programme to encourage more women in STEM, with over 240 students expected to participate in 2023.
