GMIT Innovation Hubs awarded over €175,000 funding

GMIT has been awarded over €175,000 in funding for its iHubs on both the Galway and Mayo campuses from Enterprise Ireland.

The funding was announced by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar this week as part of €8.24 million in grants for 95 Enterprise Centres around the country under Enterprise Ireland’s Enterprise Centres Fund.

Enterprise Centres are embedded in communities in every county in the country. They provide space and training for entrepreneurs, allowing them to work remotely, access training and advice, and network with other business leaders.

The Innovation Hubs on GMIT’s Galway and Mayo campuses received grants of €101,442 and €75,828 respectively.

In total, the three IoTs in the Connacht-Ulster Alliance which are seeking to be designated a Technological University together received almost half a million in grants.

Letterkenny IT’s CoLab receiving the maximum allocation of €150,000, followed by Sligo IT’s Innovation Centre receiving €146,220.

The Presidents of the three IOTs, Dr Orla Flynn, GMIT, Paul Hannigan, LYIT, and Dr Brendan McCormack, IT Sligo, welcomed the grants announcement.

“As we know, this is an incredibly difficult time for businesses everywhere. This funding will help our innovation centres to implement a recovery plan for businesses within our remit.”

“It will take a collective effort and many months for businesses to recover. We thank the Tánaiste for his commitment to our region in aiding that recovery,” said Dr Seán Duffy, CUA Executive Project Lead.

The fund, which was launched in August, was open to both not-for-profit and for-profit enterprise centres which have seen their income significantly impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 95 enterprise centres, which are in every region of the country, will receive grants ranging from €10,000 to €150,000.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said “I am really pleased to make this funding available through by Department. It will help enterprise centres all over the country to modernise their facilities protecting the health and safety of people who work there and helping to secure much needed jobs.”