Innovation at the service of the rural world to keep local brains in the villages

"There is innovation in everything. Just last week I was talking to people involved with marinas who are doing very innovative things in the local area. And it is also found in agriculture.” These are the words of Anne Marie McLaughlin, hub manager in Buncrana, a village of 7000 people in the far north of the Republic of Ireland, where leprechauns, sheep, and innovation peacefully coexist.

Anne Marie heads Inishowen Innovation, a technology hub where local brains can develop their full potential. Like Anthony and Aidan, who closed their company in Derry, Northern Ireland a year ago, and launched an underground drone software business here in Buncrana, Subterranean. There are several reasons for this. In particular, Anthony explains, the flexibility of renting premises, but, he continues, “We also have access to various types of government assistance. We are currently working on a grant proposal, and we have officials who come here and you can talk to them and get assistance because of their expertise in the field.”

In fact, the local government puts a lot of effort into the project. County Donegal, of which Buncrana is a part, used a disused administration building to convert into this hub. The building was extended, modernised, equipped, and made available to freelancers and start-ups for the development of their projects. Currently, around 25 companies, including start-ups, SMEs and multinationals, are taking advantage of it through various forms of subscription. A “necessary” project in the area according to John McLauhling, Donegal County Executive, “to bring new, highly skilled and innovative jobs. And the hope,” he continues, “is that people can start small here, grow, and then form a larger company in the