New innovation district is revealed for Dublin’s Docklands

TRINITY College Dublin has unveiled plans for an ambitious Grand Canal Innovation District centred on a new campus in the heart of Dublin’s docklands.

Part of the Grand Canal basin will be transformed into a concentration of start-up businesses, established companies as well as research, education and community facilities.

Modelled on similar ideas in major cities such as Boston, Toronto, Rotterdam and Barcelona, the idea is for a new innovation district that will bring together multinationals, new talent and university expertise.

The plan, which would include a new €1 billion TCD technology and innovation campus on a 5.5 acre site near Grand Canal Quay and Macken Street, is being supported by the Government.

Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, launched the far-reaching plan that he said would significantly strengthen Ireland’s competitive advantage when developing new indigenous companies or competing for foreign direct investment.

 “I am really excited about this plan to further develop the Silicon Docks as an Innovation District involving a collaboration of business, Government and the university sector,” he said.

“It speaks eloquently to our vision of making Ireland the tech capital of Europe and our plan to ensure that the jobs of the future are created first here in Ireland.

“The development of the district will also help to ensure the continued balanced development of the area to the benefit of the local community.”

Mr Varadkar added: “Many high-tech companies already have their European headquarters here, we have a young and talented workforce, a consistent and competitive corporation tax regime and a strong reputation for attracting and encouraging investment.

“However, we can’t take this for granted and we always need to look at ways to improve Ireland’s competitive edge.”

The Provost of Trinity, Dr Patrick Prendergast, added: “The presence of a world class university at the heart of the Grand Canal Innovation District will be the catalyst for collaboration and partnership between industry and universities.

“I am therefore delighted to announce that Trinity has decided after much thought to commit to taking the historic step of developing a second campus dedicated to technology and innovation on a designated site adjacent to Grand Canal Quay and Macken Street in the heart of the district.

“This 5.5-acre site is ideally suited to the proposed use and will transform the existing area.” 

Dr Prendergast said the involvement of the local community living in the Grand Canal area will be a key factor.

“Working closely with the local community, a campus of style and impact, with open spaces, ease of access and new retail spaces and services will spark further urban regeneration in the area as well as create educational and employment opportunities for all those living in close proximity to the district.” 

There has also been a broad welcome to the announcement of the establishment of a special advisory group to develop a roadmap for the Grand Canal Innovation District, to be chaired by the Secretary General at the Department of An Taoiseach, Martin Fraser. 

The Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer at Trinity College, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, welcomed the fact that a new memorandum of understanding between the main Dublin universities to work collectively on the development of the Innovation District proposal has been agreed. “For this vision to succeed we need the existing enterprise, start-up and residential communities – as well as Dublin’s leading academic institutions – to work together to support this initiative for mutual gain,” he said.

“The Grand Canal Innovation District will create an internationally visible focal point for excellence in research and innovation in Ireland. It will provide the scale, critical mass and density to resonate with the best global companies and to fully realise the ambitions of Ireland’s indigenous start-up and scaling companies.”

The consultation process will culminate in the development of a masterplan proposal for the Grand Canal Innovation District which will be developed over the coming months.