Bank of Ireland to partner with Trinity College Dublin on new Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub

Trinity College Dublin and Bank of Ireland announce a new partnership that will support students and graduates developing innovation and entrepreneurial skills at the university’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Hub today.

Trinity is recognised as the European leader for student innovation and entrepreneurship. All Trinity students, researchers, and graduates can avail of cutting edge innovation, entrepreneurial and idea development programmes at the Trinity Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub.

The new Bank of Ireland partnership will support the development of a new Undergraduate Certificate in innovation and Entrepreneurship as well as the expansion of existing programmes such as LaunchBox, the Trinity student business incubator and new programmes such as expert-led sprints and hackathons. These programmes will also benefit from the expertise of the Bank of Ireland Innovation and Enterprise team.

The new Undergraduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship will open in 2018 and will be open to all students from second year upwards. This is an innovative programme that provides additional educational and experiential opportunities to all students, fulfilling their entrepreneurial ambitions in tandem with their degree.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub will be housed in a state-of-the-art space that is currently being constructed and that will be co-located with the new Trinity Business School on Pearse Street. It is being specifically designed to foster the creation of ideas, with flexible workspaces providing for co-working and innovation for all. It will also provide an interface between Trinity and the bustling innovation ecosystem on its doorstep, with a view to establishing Ireland as the leading European centre for innovation.

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub forms the first phase of Trinity’s ambitious innovation strategy that will lead to the establishment of a new Innovation District in the heart of Dublin. Bank of Ireland is now on board as a foundation supporter of this plan.

Announcing the partnership, Bank of Ireland CEO, Francesca McDonagh said: “We are delighted to announce the next phase of our long-standing, successful partnership with Trinity College Dublin. Today marks the next chapter in our relationship: two of Ireland’s most established institutions joining forces to deliver a transformational vision for Ireland.”

“At Bank of Ireland we see innovation as being critically important – for our company, for our customers, and for the country as a whole. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to deepen our relationship with Trinity – a college associated with original thought and innovation for many centuries. We look forward to working with Trinity College on a variety of I&E Hub programmes to enable the ambitions of Ireland’s future leaders and innovators.”

Welcoming the announcement, Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast said: “Trinity is committed to providing an environment that supports and encourages innovation at all levels across the University, promoting entrepreneurship as an engine for economic growth, and for social and cultural development. It is a core element of Trinity’s strategy, ensuring that we create value from our leading research and equip our students with the ability to drive innovation and thrive in a world of constant change. This partnership with Bank of Ireland strengthens our capacity to promote innovation and foster a culture of entrepreneurship among all our students.”