Ireland has a new sustainability accelerator programme and everyone's invited

Dublin-based start-up and innovation hub Dogpatch Labs has announced it has partnered with the Irish government and industry partners to create a new sustainability programme 2050 with a view to make Ireland a leading global platform in sustainability innovation.

The 2050 programme will focus on three key areas - a start-up accelerator, a partner network, and a sustainability innovation forum.

“Sustainability is the most fundamental global challenge of this century and innovation will be a key factor in working out of this problem. We need to work together and Ireland has something unique to offer. As a country, our size and connectedness are our superpower, as we have the ability to bring together, activate and connect a wide range of stakeholders and national assets in a way that would be impossible in a larger country. Making this available to homegrown and International start-ups provides a way for them to make really meaningful progress,” says Director of Innovation at Dogpatch Labs David Power.

The 2050 Accelerator programme will kick off in Q2 2023 and it is open to Irish and global companies and start-ups who are solving climate challenges. Partnering with Kerry Group, ESB and Coillte, start-ups will benefit from the access to infrastructure assets, like wind farms, dairy farms and forestry and will have access to mentors from the sustainability sphere. 

The network has country-wide involvement through regional hubs based in Cork, Kerry and Galway in the West of Ireland. 

“Start-up innovation will play an important role in achieving our national sustainability targets, and these new key initiatives will help open the door to really practical and impactful activities for start-ups, that in partnership with government and private industry can really help Ireland move forward in this area. Ireland is well placed to take advantage of the global opportunity to become a real leader in sustainability innovation in line with the government’s commitments in the Climate Action Plan,” says Ireland’s Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth.

The deadline for applications to the 2050 Accelerator will close on 20 April 2023. Get all the information and how to apply here.