The Digital Surge Programme is well underway, with over 70 businesses across various sectors in Northern Ireland signed up to complete its advanced technologies mentoring sessions and masterclasses.
Many cite a desire for greater awareness of transformative technologies and knowledge of how to harness these to tackle real business challenges.
The Digital Surge Programme is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland, the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme and the 11 Councils. The project, led by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, is also funded by all local councils in Northern Ireland.
Charlie Tuxworth, one of the programme’s leading mentors commented: “Innovation is often made out to be difficult, something that requires a special kind of mindset, or a guru. That’s simply not correct. Innovation is a process, and a set of skills that can be learned and applied the same as any other discipline.”
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Charlie added: “One of the key attributes of this programme is that we have seen a really broad range of companies come onboard, from those in their infancy to well-established organisations. From media, engineering, tourism, food, and health sectors etc.; all come away with greater insights and clear pointers on how to “think differently” about the challenges they’re facing.”
One business that signed up to the programme is Acksen. Discussing why they have chosen to sign up to the Digital Surge Programme, Richard Phillips, Principal Software Engineer explained: “Through undertaking the Digital Surge Programme, we hope to gain a deep knowledge around the various technologies and how these could be integrated in a cost-effective way into our current and future processes. As an organisation we are on a journey, and by improving our knowledge now we can, through the help of the programme, put in place a roadmap. We don’t wish to adopt a top-down approach. We are keen to create an optimal approach that will ensure future success, so we want to use this programme to focus on the technologies that will be most suitable for us now and in the future.”
This Digital Surge Programme focuses solely on advanced technologies and their potential role in accelerating a business. It also appeals to those that are simply looking for baseline knowledge in these areas, with guidance on how one or more could be implemented into their business processes.
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Along with Big Data, the other technologies at the core of the Digital Surge Programme are Blockchain, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Virtual Reality / Immersive Tech, and Robotics.
Charlie concluded: “Contrary to popular belief - we don’t need to be inventing anything in order to innovate. This programme highlights that significant levels of innovation can be achieved by utilising transformative technologies that other people have invented.”
There are some places available on the programme. If you have under 50 employees and are based in Northern Ireland you can apply here
Source: Written from press release.
