David Pollard

Webinar today 1pm. where we will be focusing on the governance failures of the Irish State Broadcaster - RTE, with Co Founder and Chair of The Corporate Governance Institute, David W Duffy. Join us for this webinar to understand the important role that you can play in improving governance on a board. Register now to secure your place: Register now: https://lnkd.in/evbs6pSx #CorporateGovernance #Leadership #Webinar

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Very interesting to see the process of a Health Impact Assessment being carried out. Many public health advocates seeking a Health Impact Assessment re proposals on Sale of Alcohol bill to extend alcohol availability. Such an assessment can provide guidance on reducing health inequalities.

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*Driving Innovation Through Collaboration: The Power of Connecting Industry and Research* In a world where innovation is key to tackling global challenges, the role of collaboration between research and industry has never been more vital. This recent article in *The Irish Times* highlights how Enterprise Ireland is bridging the gap between cutting-edge academic research and real-world industry needs, ensuring Ireland remains at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness. As someone who has worked extensively in **Research & Innovation (R & I)**, I’ve seen first-hand how partnerships between academia and industry can unlock transformational opportunities. It’s not just about technology transfer—it’s about creating a shared vision where talent, expertise, and resources combine to solve complex problems and drive meaningful change. At Atlantic Technological University we’ve been proud to contribute to this ecosystem, securing significant funding to build strategic partnerships and support pioneering research through our technology gateways such as WiSAR Lab and Technology Gateway and our EDIH Data2Sustain. By focusing on the potential of our researchers and forging relationships with forward-thinking companies, we aim to play our part in strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in innovation. It’s not always easy, but when the pieces come together, the results can be incredible. #Innovation #ResearchAndInnovation #Collaboration #IrishIndustry #Impact

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📉 The Closure of the NDRC: A Step Back for Irish Startups? It’s deeply concerning to hear that the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is set to close next year. For years, the NDRC has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s startup ecosystem, providing early-stage startups with critical funding, mentorship, and resources to innovate and grow. At a time when global competition for tech investment is fiercer than ever, this decision risks undermining Ireland’s reputation as a hub for innovation. International investors need confidence that Ireland supports its startups and fosters a strong pipeline of innovation. This move feels particularly short-sighted given the potential threats to Ireland’s economy, such as the possibility of tariffs on Irish exports under a Trump presidency. Now more than ever, Ireland should be reinforcing its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation, not pulling back. The NDRC has played a vital role in fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem and ensuring Irish startups can compete on a global scale. Its closure risks creating a significant gap in early-stage support, just when we need to double down on promoting Ireland as a leader in innovation. If we’re serious about safeguarding Ireland’s future economy, we must urgently reconsider decisions like this and ensure we’re investing in our greatest assets: our people, talent, and ideas. What are your thoughts? How do we ensure the Irish startup sector remains strong in the face of these challenges? https://lnkd.in/g4FDrDBM National Digital Research Centre to close next year as contract ends

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Really encouraging to see that stakeholder interest and increased EU regulatory requirements are causing more companies to focus on embedding more sustainable practices in their business. Read our full report here: https://lnkd.in/eiGJ6AQn

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Stephen Donnelly's appointment as Minister for Health in June 2020 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that heavily impacted Ireland's healthcare system and its policies. The Human Tissue Bill, or #OrganHarvesting Bill, particularly its opt-out clause for organ donation, reflects ongoing debates about transparency, healthcare accountability, and ethical governance. While Donnelly's tenure has been marked by controversies and critiques, any direct connection between his leadership and the omission of the opt-out clause in the Human Tissue Bill would require deeper investigation into legislative decisions and influences. ~ Policy Prioritisation During COVID-19 ~ Given the pandemic's strain on the healthcare system, Donnelly's focus may have shifted away from public consultation or ethical debate over the opt-out clause. ~ Legislative Transparency ~ The omission of an opt-out clause could suggest political hesitance to confront divisive public health issues under his leadership, raising questions about Fianna Fáil's and Fine Gael's priorities. ~ Healthcare System Management ~ If #ExcessDeaths and systemic failures have increased since 2021, the absence of critical reforms, such as an opt-out organ donation system, seem to highlight broader systemic issues under his ministry and within the Health Service Executive. ~ #SerialKillerDoctors ~ #OrganHarvesting ~ #ExcessDeaths ~ #ProfitOverPeople ~ #HumanRights ~ #PatientSafety ~ #OpenDisclosure ~ #OptOutForAll ~ #MedicalAccountability ~ #TruthlnHealthcare ~ Fianna Fáil ~ Fine Gael ~ Suzanne Crowe ~ @StephenDonnelly ! ~ Simon Harris ~ Leo Varadkar ~ Health Service Executive ~ Department of Health - Ireland ~ Helen McEntee ~ Department of Justice ~ Colette Cowan ~ Bernard Gloster ~ @Paul Reid! ~ The Bar of Ireland ~ Law Society of Ireland ~ Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) ~ RTE ~ ~ #SerialKillerDoctors ~ #OrganHarvesting ~ #ExcessDeaths ~ #ProfitOverPeople ~ #HumanRights ~ #PatientSafety ~ #OpenDisclosure ~ #OptOutForAll ~ #MedicalAccountability ~ #TruthInHealthcare ~

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One key thing I've learnt from Service Design is that assumptions are easy to fall in to, but rarely ever accurate. Every time I delve in to service user research and talk to people on the ground, their feedback surprises me, and the insights I develop are always new and unexpected! There is also a culture in large organisations with sticking with the status quo, because 'that's how we've always done it'. This old adage is no longer good enough. When we know better, we do better. Throw out assumptions and talk to people! 🙌🏻

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N-TUTORR was about student empowerment, staff & curriculum development, and the digital ecosystem. All three elements are necessary for #transforminglearning

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Grateful for the opportunity to get involved in another PAI Review, this time exploring the human side of innovation and dissecting mental health challenges along the road to driving change. Check out the full edition below!

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The end of the Accelerator Era Ireland’s state-backed tech accelerator, the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC), has announced it will shut down in November 2025. Founded in 2006, the NDRC explained that the government has “concluded that the enterprise ecosystem has evolved significantly” and, as a result, will not extend the accelerator’s contract beyond next year. Until then, operations will continue as usual. This development signals a broader shift in the startup ecosystem. By 2025, I believe the traditional accelerator model will be largely outdated. A similar trend is likely in Italy, where, within the next two years, many of the 20+ accelerators launched under CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti's Rete Nazionale Acceleratori program will (quietly) close their doors (disclaimer: this is just my opinion). Why? - Accelerators (except a few ones) have proven to be often economically unsustainable, with limited funding and a reliance on corporate sponsors who may no longer see sufficient value in supporting them. - The startup ecosystems have evolved, favoring more targeted, flexible, and scalable models over the traditional accelerator approach (and with a larger need to focus on later stage funding rather than seed). The question is no longer whether this shift will happen, but how quickly the industry will adapt to a post-accelerator world. #startups #openinnovation #accelerators Mind the Bridge Isidro Laso Conor McGinn Phillip Mckenna Ernesto Ciorra Salvo Mizzi Gianluca Dettori

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A truly worthwhile initiative in improving mental health understanding and service. A responsive timely mental heath service intervention can be so impactful

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How to develop green 💚 software in companies? what is green software? Thanks to all the people who collaborate to this project to the first release of the Sustainability Toolkit for green software development especially to Samarth Santosh. At the School of Business Maynooth University and IRESI we want to make the difference promoting sustainable practices. Access to our microcredentials: https://lnkd.in/gTWPT7Wg

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🔎 🔮 Such an important message to get across to Government from all Universities research departments. Its been over 25 years since the last round of PRTLI (Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions). Investment is badly needed in the sector. https://lnkd.in/eGiUEZ2E

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Our new report titled ‘Embracing Diversity in all its Forms’: The Voluntary Secondary Sector in Irish Education examines the contribution of the voluntary secondary sector to the Irish education system, taking a holistic view of what schools are doing and how they are doing it.   💡 Learn more about the report: https://lnkd.in/egey-46y   📄 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ePr5mChz

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"The Irish government has allocated €80 million in capital funding to higher education institutions for research equipment and infrastructure upgrades." This is welcome news, helping universities to maintain and increase our ability to conduct research with access to appropriate faculties, equipment and technology. https://lnkd.in/eavRfBWV

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In today’s The Irish Times I write about the missed opportunity (and worse) that is the Governments Free Hot School Melas Programme.  * I believe free school meals are an important tool in tackling food poverty and have the potential to improve child health (and there is lots of evidence to support this). Having a good school meal programme is a good government policy.  * a school meal programme could provide nutritious freshly cooked food to children daily while supporting local economies and Irish food producers. At the very least, it should not harm the environment or health.  * the programme being rolled out generates huge amounts of packaging waste, and meals are being served that don’t meet the Government’s own nutrition standards and include highly processed foods. * the most vulnerable children living in poverty need and deserve school meals. It has tangible benefits in terms of school attendance and educational performance, it can reduce inequalities. But being poor does not mean you deserve less than wholesome nutritious food.  * if the state feeds people with public money, it should feed them well and do no harm. #foodpolicy #schoolfood #irishfood #sustainablefood #sustainablefoodsystems  https://lnkd.in/e8y_ZCiv

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Finola Howe said it and I couldn’t agree more! We have a range of different training activities coming up at University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) - check out our professional development opportunities here https://lnkd.in/ewXfbrn7 #engagement #partnerships #impact #valorisation #entrepreneurshipatuniversities

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Our research paper, "Breaking barriers: a qualitative exploration of healthcare access for crack cocaine users in Limerick," is now published in BMC Health Services Research! This paper highlights key barriers to healthcare access and emphasizes the need for improved coordination and stigma reduction. Kindly read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gyxPQRwB

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