Today’s fast-paced advancements in technology are creating immense opportunities for businesses, while also accelerating the threat of being left behind. Open innovation has become a widely-accepted approach to business development and there has been a huge rise in companies harnessing opportunities by tapping outside potential. This approach offers big benefits to start-ups – providing them with access to clients, capital and other resources.
Against this backdrop, FutureScope was established – now in its fifth year, it is Ireland's only tech event dedicated to facilitating collaboration opportunities between start-ups, multinational companies, Irish enterprise, the research community, investors and state agencies.
The enormous appetite for collaboration, has driven the success of FutureScope, with exciting partnerships being increasingly forged between start-ups and MNCs, between public sector bodies and technology companies, and between the research community and industry.
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Collaboration across the spectrum
FutureScope aims to incorporate and showcase the diverse sectors which are benefitting through collaboration. Innovative tech solutions have applications in all areas - with start-ups even reaching as far as the stars - the European Space Agency will be at FutureScope highlighting both the challenges and exciting opportunities in the space sector for Irish tech start-ups.
The One2Watch competition, taking place at FutureScope, will pit together four finalists who will compete to be crowned Ireland’s most scalable business idea, winning a cash prize and a range of Dublin BIC supports. From medtech to advertising to event planning to infrastructure, this year’s finalists reflect the diverse reach of start-up innovation in Ireland.
For example, CroíValve, an early stage medical device company, has developed a device to treat a common heart valve disorder – tricuspid regurgitation (TR), without the need for surgery. While Electrical Analytics is aiming to transform industry models in infrastructure by developing a novel power quality monitoring system, backed by a cloud-based data analysis platform to enable power grid operators to have complete visibility over their entire distribution network.
Driving business growth
No matter the sector or application, collaboration in tech is certainly driving business growth - for start-ups and multinationals alike. At FutureScope, tech multinationals such as Vodafone and Esri will speak about multi-actor projects for smart cities initiatives that they are powering. HCL Technologies and Microsoft will be joined by start-up RecommenderX to explore how collaborative partnerships enable growth. Tech giants Facebook and Google are on board to discuss how their tools and programmes can be shared with start-ups.
Start-up success stories, such as NewsWhip, Sytorus, Fire, Blueface, Jobbio, Bizimply and Davra Networks will share their perspectives on what can be gained by taking a collaborative approach to scaling.
Public-sector enablers and investors, including Dublin City Council, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, HBAN and Smart Dublin, play a crucial role in creating the environment in which businesses can become increasingly collaborative, driving technological progress and the smart economy
Previous FutureScope events have proved that impactful relationships can spring from a quality network. For example, at FutureScope 2017, Irish IoT start-up, Davra Networks, was introduced to the team behind VentureClash, a United States-based $5 million global venture competition. Since then, Davra has been awarded $500,000 through VentureClash, facilitating the company’s entry into the US market.
FutureScope is focused on delivering attendees real value, whatever their area of interest, with four stages reflecting FutureScope’s four themes: the Insights Stage; the Innovation Stage; the Entrepreneurship Stage; and the Collaboration Stage.
Power of the network
Michael Culligan, CEO of Dublin BIC, the organisation behind FutureScope, commented on the importance of the networking side to FutureScope, “When you get 1200 engaged and purposeful business owners and innovators in a room, conversations are started and contacts are made that result in real business being done. From my time working with start-ups, scale-ups and multinationals, I’ve learned that entrepreneurial success is dependent on many factors including idea, market opportunity, team, execution, funding, and of course lady luck. I’ve learned to never underestimate the power of the network.
“We Irish have a natural curious and creative entrepreneurial mindset, but of course the international competitive bar is being raised all the time. Dublin BIC created FutureScope because we saw the need to leverage Ireland’s position as an emerging world-class tech hub with a thriving network of home-grown talent, infused with multinational expertise and experience, and an exceptionally supportive ecosystem.”
Opportunities arising from emerging tech
FutureScope 2018 will take place on Thursday, May 31st in the Convention Centre, Dublin. The event is limited to 1,200 attendees, to enable quality networking, and will feature more than 100 speakers and panellists, with 40 exhibitors.
If you wish to deepen your understanding about the implications of emerging technologies, such as AI, IoT, AR/VR and data analytics; if you’re interested in engaging with smart technology providers, researchers and citizens to solve city challenges and improve city life; if you desire the opportunity to build your network and explore collaboration opportunities with entrepreneurs and technology leaders, then FutureScope is the conference for you.