The most recent Global Cities Report – produced by management consulting company Kearney – ranked Dublin highly in its Outlook Index, jumping 24 places to ninth, behind cities such as London, Singapore, San Francisco, Paris and Tokyo. This particular index highlights those primed to become the next generation of global hubs, thus positioning Dublin as a key base for companies looking to compete on a global scale.
As a region, Dublin has seen a transformation in the past eight years. With unemployment now below 5pc nationally and the fact many global corporates have established headquarters here, the demand for highly specialised skills and office space presents challenges.
Enterprise Ireland has funded a strong network of enterprise centres and hubs across the Dublin region which are flourishing, innovating and providing flexible workspace for startup and expanding companies. Guinness Enterprise Centre, Spade kitchen incubator, Ghala DAC, Social and Local in Tallaght and the Social Innovation Hub are examples of recently funded projects.
Last month, Enterprise Ireland awarded more than €2m in regional enterprise development funding to develop The Collaboratory, an industry solutions hub in Blanchardstown, north-west Dublin. This workspace will support agile startups, scale-ups, SMEs and multinational companies within cyber security, internet of things and artificial intelligence, rapidly growing sectors here.
The flexible, co-working office market is thriving in Dublin and is as attractive for on-demand working space as other major European cities such as London, Paris and Stockholm.
The city and county’s coastal geography means, too, that the high-growth ecosystem of SMEs and startups, especially in industries like fintech and ICT, can look at expanding within Ireland’s regions as well as using its location to act as a gateway to markets overseas. Dublin is a dynamic source of startup funding and SME support programmes. Participating in events such as Techstars StartUp Week, powered by Dublin City Council, provides a valuable opportunity to promote awareness of innovation supports.
In Dublin, Ireland’s first technological university has received Enterprise Ireland funding to develop a national sectoral cluster. This will develop skills, enhance technology and productivity, and boost knowledge transfer for SMEs across the region.