RDI Hub, a not-for-profit public/private business incubation and development unit in Killorglin,County Kerry, has supported almost 100 companies and seen more than a quarter of a billion euro in capital flow through these companies since it was established five years ago.
That’s according to an impact report published by the partnership this afternoon to mark its fifth anniversary.
RDI Hub says member companies have created and supported 430 jobs to date, while 70 new products and services have been launched by companies based at the Hub.
It says more than 10,000 people have attended RDI Hub training programmes, while it has provided STEM education to over 500 female secondary school students in Munster in 2024.
Enterprise Ireland and RDI Hub announced this afternoon the creation of a €1 million fund to enable SMEs to adopt and implement artificial intelligence solutions.
RDI Hub says that, over the next three years, the programme will deliver AI masterclasses, strategic workshops, training days and wraparound consultancy services to equip Irish businesses with the tools to thrive and engage in peer-learning in an AI-driven landscape.
RDI Hub represents a €21 million investment. It was established as a partnership between Killorglin-based fintech company Fexco, Kerry County Council and Munster Technological University.
Fexco Chief Executive Neil Hosty said the impact report demonstrated that RDI Hub had established a formula for launching new companies.
“In the past five years, the RDI Hub has evolved into a world-class innovation centre that delivers
results,” he said.
Carol Gibbons, Head of Entrepreneurship, Regions and Local Enterprise with Enterprise Ireland, said EI was proud of its involvement in the €1 million artificial intelligence project with RDI Hub.
“Over the last five years, the hub has shone a spotlight on the talent and innovation growing and emerging from within the south-west region and has provided an incubator platform to connect research centres, universities, industry associations, regional development agencies, experts, innovators and funders under one roof,” Carol Gibbons said.
