Limerick Pitches to Deliver Unique Sports Initiative with National Sports Cluster

Limerick to Deliver Unique Sports Initiative with National Sports Cluster – Limerick is to bid to secure funding to position itself at the forefront of sports innovation and initiatives. The project which has been in the pipeline for almost two years, aims to capitalise on the various elite sporting facilities and assets already in the region.

Limerick pitches to deliver unique Sports Initiative with National Sports Cluster 

Limerick is to capitalise on its reputation of being Ireland’s Sporting Capital with the announcement that it is to bid to establish a National Sports Cluster in the region.

The bid comes following the announcement of a €60m Enterprise Ireland Competitive Regional Enterprise Development Fund, which aims to support major new collaborative and innovative initiatives that can make a significant impact on enterprise development across regions or nationally to build the unique capabilities to grow the regions.

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This funding will deliver on the objectives set out in the Action Plan for Jobs which lays out clear actions and targets to help create positive conditions for job creation.

Limerick is to bid to secure funding to position itself at the forefront of sports innovation and initiatives. The project which has been in the pipeline for almost two years, aims to capitalise on the various elite sporting facilities and assets already in the region.

These facilities include UL’s sports campus and research facilities, LIT’s Sportslab (Europe’s leading strength and conditioning centre) in Thurles as well as a range of companies involved in other sports-related activities, from sports technology to nutrition companies.

This is a strategic initiative to developing Ireland’s growing sports industry which will also provide a fast landing facility for international companies looking to scale into Europe and provide a location for the organic development of sports entrepreneurs and sports research.

This development will provide a coherent approach to sports participation, performance, business, research, development and education.

Innovate Limerick, along with the Regeneration Office of Limerick City and County Council, has been working closely with UL, LIT, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Limerick Sports Partnership, Sporting Limerick and the Mid West Action Plan for Jobs Programme Manager to develop this collaborative initiative in line with the Mid West Action Plan for Jobs.

Action 105 of the Mid West Plan states: “pursue the creation of a start-up and enterprise ecosystem for sports-related startups, leveraging the educational, training and vocational opportunities in the region.”

Mike Cantwell, Head of Innovate Limerick said: “Limerick is uniquely placed in Ireland to co-locate athletes and performance related activities with sports tech businesses and research. “

He continued: “This high-impact enterprise initiative will support sports-related jobs creation will operate out of ‘The Engine’, the new name for the former Biblical Centre on Dominic Street in the heart of Limerick city centre.  We have engaged with Kernel Capital as a private equity partner and look forward to welcoming the first cohort of companies this September.”

This month sees the launch of SportsTech Ireland, a not-for-profit created to position Limerick as a leading destination for SportsTech companies. They will be rolling out a series of programs and events to help develop the ecosystem over the next three years. They are also working with the IDA to attract sportstech companies to the region, as well as connecting athletes, coaches, educators, entrepreneurs and investors to each other, to further develop the ecosystem. For more info see www.sportstechireland.com

To visit the official Innovate Limerick website click here

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