DkIT launches innovative Healthcare Showcase, alongside announcing strategic partnership with the HSE

Dundalk Institute of Technology proudly launched the Innovative Healthcare Showcase recently, a major event focused on digital health innovation, in the presence of healthcare leaders, researchers, and industry professionals from across the country. The event marked a significant milestone in DkIT’s commitment to advancing healthcare through research, education, and enterprise collaboration.

Hosted at the DkIT campus, the event highlighted the long-standing legacy and leadership of the DkIT Regional Development Centre(RDC) – Ireland’s first innovation centre based on a higher education campus. Now in its 35th year, the RDC is a national leader in digital health innovation, driving major initiatives such as the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster, dConnect and DigiBio Healthtech Innovation Programme.

Fran Thompson, Chief Information Officer, Health Service Executive added:
“This agreement reflects our belief that meaningful transformation comes through collaboration. Working with DkIT allows us to share real-world insights with students while also gaining fresh perspectives through research and innovation. It’s a win-win for HSE Technology and Transformation and the wider system.”

Speaking after the event, Aidan Browne, Head of Innovation and Business Development, Regional Development Centre, DkIT, said: “These initiatives exemplify DkIT’s role in building a thriving digital health ecosystem, supporting enterprise growth, and leveraging pioneering campus-based research. The collaborations fostered by the RDC have positioned the Institute as a key player in both national and international healthcare innovation networks.”

It was fantastic to hear from all the industry, academic, and healthcare speakers from all sessions. Great insights into starting a business and accessing collaborating funding, partnering with academia on R&D, and the HSE’s ‘Digital for Care 2030’ strategy.

The Cluster is prioritising ‘consortium building’ in 2025 to pro-actively target, both R&D funding and joint commercial opportunities.