LOTTI Interregional Event LIM4 - Galway, Ireland

On September 25, 2024, the Irish partners of the Interreg Europe LOTTI Project, NWRA and WestBIC, hosted the 4th Interregional Meeting (LIM 4) in Galway. The event, held at Platform94, brought together representatives from Finland, Spain, Poland, and Italy, with online participation from Discovery Partners in Serbia and Albania.

The meeting began with an opening address from Councillor Declan McDonnell, Leas-Cathaoirleach of NWRA, who emphasised the value of collaboration with EU partners. Mary Ryan, Deputy CEO of WestBIC, welcomed the attendees, followed by a regional overview from James Donlon of WestBIC. Conall McGettigan, Assistant Director of NWRA, highlighted the strategic role of the assembly in shaping the region’s spatial and economic development.

The morning session included a series of interactive workshops where stakeholders shared Good Practices and provided feedback using Mentimeter, discussing how these practices could be integrated into the Interreg Policy Platform.

After the workshops, the group took part in a series of site visits. They began at Platform94, a business and technology centre established in 1994 to support scaling businesses in the West of Ireland. CEO John Brennan introduced the centre’s role in driving local economic growth, having supported over 300 companies and created thousands of jobs.

The next stop was Údarás na Gaeltachta in Spiddal, where Ultan Faherty gave a presentation on the organisation’s work promoting economic, social, and cultural development in Ireland's Gaeltacht regions. The group then visited FeelTect, a local company based at the GTEIC Innovation Centre, which is developing innovative solutions in connected health to improve wound care and patient outcomes.

Day two began with a steering committee meeting at PorterShed in Galway’s Innovation District, where Dushyant Singh, Programme Manager, shared insights on the resources available for emerging businesses. The group later visited the BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry, focusing on innovation and skills development in the food sector. The day concluded with a presentation by Elaine Negi from Bord na Móna, who showcased the transformative potential of green innovation and sustainable practices in today’s economy.

The LIM 4 meeting was a successful exchange of ideas, fostering collaboration among partners to support local identity, preserve cultural heritage, and explore innovative practices for regional development.