Northern & Western Regional Assembly

19/08/2025

⏳ The deadline is approaching!

Join the next group of Cross-Border Ambassadors and help raise awareness of the realities and opportunities in .

🗓️ Applications close on 31 August – only a few weeks left!
🔗 Apply here: https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/border-focal-point-network/news/call-applications-cross-border-ambassadors-2025-mandate

15/08/2025

🌿 CSRD & Biodiversity: What You Need to Know — Live at ATU 🌿

📢 Big changes are coming for EU businesses — the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) means companies must disclose how they impact and depend on nature, and what they’re doing to protect it.

Even if your business isn’t reporting directly, larger companies will be asking suppliers about sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental impact.

At this session, you’ll learn:
🌍 What CSRD & ESRS E4 mean for biodiversity reporting
🧩 How businesses impact and depend on nature
📉 The risks & opportunities of biodiversity loss
✅ Practical steps to reduce your footprint & meet future requirements

📅 When: Tuesday 19th August
📍 Where: ATU
💬 Why attend: Stay ahead of regulations, protect your business, and help restore nature.

Let’s make your business nature-positive 🌱

14/08/2025

The NWRA is hiring a full-time permanent Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV).
Salary: €35,613 to €54,911 per annum (inclusive of Long Service Increment).

Closing date for applications: 4pm on Thursday 28th August 2025.

Visit our website for the information booklet and application form: https://www.nwra.ie/job-vacancy-assistant-staff-officer-grade-iv/

12/08/2025

12/08/2025

11/08/2025

📣 Táimid ag earcú: Oifigeach Cúnta Foirne (Grád IV).

Spriocdháta d’iarratais 4 i.n., Déardaoin 28 Lúnasa 2025.

Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, tabhair cuairt ar: https://www.nwra.ie/job-vacancy-assistant-staff-officer-grade-iv/

08/08/2025

Read in the Irish Independent about how the Technology Gateway Network is supporting enterprises to innovate and increase their levels of R&D resulting in new products, explore new materials, improve manufacturing processes and much more.

The Technology Gateway network, which provides businesses with access to expert researchers and facilities, is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27. This vital support helps drive R&D and collaboration across the country.

Read the full article here: https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/technology-gateway-network-breathing-life-into-small-and-big-businesses-all-across-ireland/a1067361917.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawMCzfFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBCS2txeTRESTE3VGwwY3BXAR6CM4WaVJwuiPh4Q1f8b4Oc99D8-EsrAyRzp2zINHuJI-_hSuH2TEDc2K4IGg_aem_N4feg-kvG21NCwCs4pr86w

Enterprise Ireland
Southern Regional Assembly

A recent Irish Independent feature, "Technology Gateway Network: Breathing life into small and big businesses all across Ireland", highlights the transformative role of the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network in fostering innovation across the country.

Full article: https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/technology-gateway-network-breathing-life-into-small-and-big-businesses-all-across-ireland/a1067361917.html

As the article outlines, since 2013 the Network has delivered over €75 million in research value through approximately 8,500 projects, supporting more than 5,800 companies nationwide. With 17 specialised centres located within Ireland’s Technological Universities and Dundalk Institute of Technology, and supported by over 300 industry-focused researchers, the Network has become a vital resource for companies seeking applied R&D support.

At WiSAR, our focus on smart, connected solutions enables us to support companies in developing new technologies, overcoming technical challenges, and enhancing product innovation.

Through initiatives like the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Scheme, which offers up to €10,000 in researcher time, the Network ensures that access to research and development expertise is both practical and impactful for companies of all sizes.

To learn more about how the Technology Gateway Network can support your innovation journey, visit: www.technologygateway.ie

31/07/2025

Job Vacancy - Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV)

🗓️ Closing Data for applications is 4pm, Thursday 28th August 2025.

For more information, visit: https://www.nwra.ie/job-vacancy-assistant-staff-officer-grade-iv/

31/07/2025

30/07/2025

Check out the latest video from the Urbancoop Interreg Europe project.

Tanya Whyte from the NWRA and other project partners speak about the benefits of the project and the importance of urban Cooperation and mutual learning among local government bodies.

28/07/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 📈

In an interview with the Irish Independent, NWRA Economist John Daly highlighted how the Northern and Western Region of Ireland's innovation system was ranked 41st out of 241 regions analysed by the European Commission's Regional Innovation Scoreboard.

The European Commission has classified the region as a 'Stronger Innovator'. In the interview, John explains how rising third-level attainment rates, collaborations among SMEs, and high rates of academic publications are driving this transformation in the region💡.

John also explained that much of the growth can be attributed to the activities of the Atlantic Technological University and the University of Galway, with these higher education institutions playing a central role in supporting the innovation system of the Northern and Western Region of Ireland 🧠.

Read the full article here:

The north-west, Ireland’s most rural region in population terms, has recorded the fastest rate of growth in innovation since 2018, with its ‘innovation systems’ ranking 41st out of 241 regions analysed by the European Commission.

28/07/2025

📣 The 3 Assemblies have been shortlisted for three awards at Irish Planning Institute Awards 2025.

The projects/initiatives which have been shortlisted are:

•𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐬 (Category 9: Research & Innovation)
The National Census Atlas is a groundbreaking tool that provides an unprecedented view of over 200 social, economic, and environmental indicators at the neighbourhood level across Ireland. It offers planners, policymakers, and the public detailed spatial insight across housing, health, education, demographics, and more. Built in partnership with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) Maynooth University and hosted by Tailte Éireann’s GeoHive platform, it sets a new national benchmark for data-driven planning. This is transformative digital infrastructure for smarter, more equitable decision-making. https://rdm.geohive.ie/pages/national-census-atlas

•𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 & 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 (𝐒𝐒𝐌𝐀)(Category 5: Climate Action and Category 9: Research & Innovation)
Delivered by the Regional Assemblies in partnership with the Department of Transport and delivered through leading consultants (BABLE Smart Cities), the SSMA is a flagship Pathfinder 27 project under Ireland’s National Sustainable Mobility Policy 2022–2025. At the cutting edge of local authority capacity-building for sustainable transport, the SSMA combines an interactive online academy, real-world mentoring, and tools for behavioural change to support compact growth and climate goals. With a focus on evidence-based planning, it empowers local teams to identify, design, and deliver smart mobility projects across Ireland. SSMA is a unique model of regional collaboration, innovation, and climate leadership in practice.
https://www.sustainablemobilityacademy.ie/about/ssma-programme.html

• 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 (Category 4: Heritage & Culture)
THRIVE enables local authorities to breathe new life into vacant or derelict publicly owned heritage buildings. Rooted in a citizen-centred Town Centre First approach and guided by New European Bauhaus values, it supports sustainable, inclusive and culturally vibrant regeneration across key towns and urban centres. The scheme is funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through European Regional Development Fund in the respective regions. https://www.nwra.ie/erdf/schemes/thrive/

These nominations underscore the power of regional collaboration, forward-thinking spatial strategies, and an integrated approach to shaping sustainable, future-ready communities.

🗓 The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Clontarf Castle Hotel on Thursday, 25th September 2025.

🔗 Full shortlist categories and details about the awards are available on the IPI website: https://ipi.ie/2025/07/24/irish-planning-institute-announces-shortlist-for-2025-planning-awards/

The shortlist for the 2025 Planning Awards features 55 nominees across 12 categories Projects from across the island of Ireland have been recognised for excellence in innovation as well as economic, social and environmental sustainability The Irish Planning Institute (IPI), the all-island profession...