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Customers across the Nordic Region are turning to Multihog to provide machines for streets, airports, and ski resorts. Multihog’s highly adaptable range of multi-purpose machines are used for a variety of applications, from snow and ice clearance in winter, to grass and hedge trimming in summer.

After selling Moffett Engineering, Jim McAdam founded Multihog in Dundalk in 2008 to solve a need he had for cutting his own garden that is on a slope. Today, Multihog has adapted and pivoted into a multipurpose machine used by customers all over the world. Enterprise Ireland met with Jim and discussed the story of Multihog and what has led to their success in the Nordic Region to date.

Q: How did the business start?

“When we sold Moffett Engineering, I went out looking for a machine to solve a problem I had for cutting my garden that was on a slope. When I found nothing in Europe, I expanded my search to the States. I test drove many machines and purchased an old machine that seemed like it would work. The machine didn’t solve my problem and it was then I decided to make a machine for myself. Once I started doing my research, I realized the market needed a multi-purpose machine. We started Multihog in March 2008 and exhibited our first model that November at Agritechnica in Germany. Our main product then was multi-purpose tractors, which were being used for winter applications.”

As Multihog began to grow, they continued to develop their machines to suit the needs of existing customers and to target new ones. These focused on customer led development and ensured Multihog’s continued success through a worldwide pandemic as McAdam explains:

“In 2020 when Covid hit and many of our main customer targets such as airports, ski resorts and construction sites shut, we saw a huge fall in demand. Fortunately, we had developed a new product, a compact sweeper, which we had just launched at the end of 2019, which is used for cleaning sidewalks and cycle lanes within towns & cities. Coincidentally, in line with Covid and the increase in biking and walking in cities, the demand for our sweeper shot up and we pivoted the business to focus on producing these machines, which now account for over half our sales. We saw rapid growth of around 55% last year and are expecting over 40% this year. The pivot was critical to us still being here today.”

Q: How did you begin exporting to the Nordic Region? Did you target one country in particular to begin with?

“We’ve had a number of false starts in the Nordic region. In 2012, we met our first Nordic customer, a dealer in Norway, but we never really got off the mark. It wasn’t until we met Sweep Sopmaskiner, our current dealer in Sweden that things really started for us. They’re two young guys leading the business, their father owned the business before and though they hadn’t a lot of sweeping experience, they were very energetic and keen to succeed.

With them, we’ve really taken off in Sweden. Part of the reason for our success in the region is the fact that our product is a dedicated four-wheel drive sweeper, one that can maintain the same streetscape year-round. So, it sweeps through the summer and then becomes a winter machine that’s just as effective in the Swedish winter.

Another factor that has enabled our success up North has been changing our sales structure and strategy. We now have dedicated resources managing different regions and we put people out in the market to meet dealers face-to-face regularly. Oftentimes you have to sell the concept before you can sell the machine, and that was a big hurdle for us. Having people meet face-to-face with the dealers means educating them on the machine and in turn they are more likely to promote it. For example, this week, David Rogers from our sales team is with a new dealer in Norway. We’ll have the dealer set up demonstrations with leads that they want to follow up on and this is the way we build an understanding of the product in the market.

Q: You’ve clearly has a lot of success in the Nordic region so far, if you are to look back what do you see as the key factors to that success and is there any advice you would give to other exporters considering looking North?

Having had so much success in the Swedish market has been a fantastic reference for us, both across the Nordics and the rest of Europe. We’ve seen a lot of growth since 2020 and we’ve subsequently partnered with new dealers across Norway, Finland, and Denmark. I think having a reference from a similar market is a big advantage.

Now that we’ve built our brand in the Nordics, we find that dealers there are much more interested in the product. It’s a market that has significant potential for a product like ours and we know we’ve got more progress to make there.

Finding the right partner is definitely a key ingredient for success and the chemistry with Sweep was great from the start. They were energetic, excited, and with ambition that matched our own. They were very capable of speaking their own mind and challenging things. So, if something was wrong, they wouldn’t be long telling you it was wrong. But they would also give you a fix, would always contribute and had a big influence on our initial success in the Nordics.

Q: How have Enterprise Ireland had an influence on Multihog both up here in the Nordics and more generally in terms of international expansion – what kind of what supports have you been able to make use of?

Enterprise Ireland’s support around market research and local knowledge has been fantastic. For example, in Norway it was Enterprise Ireland who got us in the door with our most recent dealer.

In more general terms the support in research and development are of major importance, particularly because it’s such a big cost. Right now, we have a big development project ongoing for a new electric sweeper, the first of which we expect to have up and running towards the end of this year, and that’s supported by Enterprise Ireland.

We also did a digital marketing project in the last 12 months through EI and you can see the benefit of that coming through; it’s improved our website, and our whole analytics operation. We now know who’s on our site and we now know what customers are looking for, what are the keywords, etc.

Q: What are your expansion plans in the Nordics? Where do you see yourselves, maybe 2 to 5 years from now in terms of Multihog’s work across the Nordics.

We have the products we have today, but we also have new products in the pipeline. So, our priorities are both in R&D and product development, as well as market development. In the Nordics, our plan is to become market leader, to be the number one.

If we want to be number one, we really must work very hard because we’re selling in markets where we’ve got long-established companies as competition. Our point of difference is that we use technology to develop our machines that they might not have the capability to do. We’ve built expertise in finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics for airflow in the vehicles using advanced software which enables us to simulate our product on screen. This allows us to see how it performs and make tweaks to really fine details. In the case of our sweeper, this meant the moment it hit the ground, it was a performing machine.

While we’re not number one yet, we’re certainly building momentum. And that’s our challenge, not just in the Nordics, but in every market – balancing the product and market development to continue to grow in the 40 markets we’re in globally.

Michael Norman, Market Advisor Life Sciences and Healthcare Nordic Region, Enterprise Ireland

At the core of the so called ‘Medicon Valley’ (the Danish-Swedish life sciences cluster home to more than 60% of Scandinavia’s pharma industry), the Danish market is one that offers a plethora of opportunities for Irish MedTechs and producers of medical devices. The Danish life sciences market has shown strong and consistent growth over the last decade, is forecast to continue growing at 4-6% annually in coming years and had an estimated total market value of €3.7BN in 2021, homing some of the world’s largest multinational companies in the medical device, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors, including Novo Nordisk, Coloplast, and LEO Pharma.

The Danish healthcare system is regarded among the best in the world and cutting edge, innovative technologies, as well as any tools that allow for cost reductions and treatment/monitoring of patients outside of hospitals are in high demand. Government subsidies mean healthcare professionals are willing to spend on quality products and increases in public expenditure on medical technology are evident. On top of this, Denmark has ranked consistently high in terms of ease of doing business (4^th globally according to the World Bank’s most recent analysis), Copenhagen has strong infrastructure keeping it well connected to Ireland and other countries and over 90% of Danes can communicate proficiently in English, all of which point to Denmark being an excellent market for Irish firms to target. However, despite these various factors, Denmark can prove a tough market to crack. In this piece, we look at three key areas that Irish firms must build a strategy around prior to entering Danish MedTech market, namely the structure of procurement in Denmark’s healthcare system, route to market and pricing strategy.

1. Procurement

To achieve success in the Danish healthcare market, it is essential to understand the structure of the healthcare system, which is characterized by public-private collaboration. Within this, upwards of 85% of purchases of MedTech and healthcare equipment are through public procurement, which is done on a regional level, with authorities in five separate regions of Denmark looking after their own tenders (typically published in Danish). Thus, having a presence on the ground, or a means to keep a close eye on upcoming projects is essential. Also of note is the Danish reimbursement system for the private sector. General practitioners and dentists act as independent businesses and make their own purchases of devices and technologies but are reimbursed for these purchases. The rate of reimbursement will vary across different products and so understanding how this system affects your product is key when entering discussions with buyers.

It is also important for firms to acquaint themselves with The Danish Medicines Agency, or Lægemiddelstyrelsen, the government body responsible for regulating medical devices and pharmaceuticals in Denmark. As across Europe, medical devices in the Danish market must be CE marked, allowing them to be distributed freely. Lægemiddelstyrelsen also charges a registration and annual fee for manufacturers operating in the region. The registration fee will typically be in the region of 1150 DKK (circa €150), with the annual fees varying according to the class of device.

2. Route to market

While a significant appetite exists for new and cost reducing technologies in the Danish healthcare system exists, accessing this demand can prove challenging for incoming companies without a reputation and presence in the region. From Enterprise Ireland Nordic’s experience in the market, we find that the optimal route to market for Irish companies tends to be through finding the right distributor, as getting access to healthcare professionals, the users of medical devices, directly can prove extremely challenging. While taking a boots-on-the-ground approach and hiring staff in market can also be an effective means of engaging the private healthcare sector and accessing tenders, our experience suggests that until a firm is well established, a distributer tends to be the best way to go.

Normally, medical device distributors are not members of industry associations or exhibit at local trade shows. Larger distributors can be found through desktop research but smaller distributors that sell more niche products can sometimes be difficult to identify. This is an area where we at Enterprise Ireland can assist your company, as speaking local language and having an in-market network is key to finding the right fit.

3. Pricing strategy

Finally, we have pricing strategy. As previously mentioned, there is a major trend towards cost reduction and efficiency across the Danish healthcare market and thus price becomes central to any conversation with buyers or distributors. It is also important to consider that, anecdotally, Danes like to drive a bargain both in direct sales and through a distributor and are keen to feel as though they have got their money’s worth. As such, understanding how your price compares to competitors is key and must be well thought out prior to entering discussions. We see particularly high demand for products such as hospital supplies, wound care management, cardiovascular devices, orthopedic devices, general surgery devices and while there is money to be spent on the right technologies, finding it at the right price is just as important in Denmark.

While this market can prove difficult to crack at first, once a firm breaks in it can be extremely lucrative and the successes of companies like Vitalograph and Trulife, for example, show the huge potential for Irish MedTechs in Denmark. The aim of this guide is to give a short overview of the key elements to consider when entering the market.

Michael Norman is Market Advisor with Enterprise Ireland leading the life sciences and healthcare sectors in the Nordic Region.  For further support on your market approach in Denmark or more information on Danish healthcare, you can reach out to Michael at michael.norman@enterprise-ireland.com.

• The office will be PM Group’s fifth US location and employ over 30 Life Science design specialists

• Industry leader James Wright appointed General Manager of new office

• New location will allow access to PM Group’s innovative life science expertise and exceptional project delivery services locally in North Carolina

PM Group, life sciences project delivery specialists, today announced the location of its new office as Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The Company also announced the appointment of James Wright, as General Manager.

The office is being established to meet rapid growth in life sciences providing design, engineering, architecture, and commissioning/qualification services. The office will be led by James Wright who has extensive industry experience in delivering critical manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and internationally.

Over the next year, the office will expand to include 30+ life science engineers and architects. This exciting venture coincides with PM Group’s 50th anniversary and more than 10 years in the USA. The office is expected to open in July 2023 and will be the fifth PM Group office in the USA.

“PM Group is excited to provide our services in another top-tier life sciences cluster to multi-national clients as well as local companies. With a growth rate of nearly 40% over the past 10 years and close to 800 life sciences companies in the area, Raleigh-Durham represents one of the fastest growing life sciences markets in the USA,” said Andy Rayner, EVP & Executive Director, PM Group. “We are building an experienced local team, which will allow us to offer innovation and exceptional project delivery.

“We are delighted to welcome PM Group to the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina as it begins this next chapter in its history,” said Ryan Combs, Executive Director, Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP). “The Triangle Region has built a strong reputation as a hub for research, innovation and technology and, as we continue to experience rapid growth, our companies will benefit greatly from the resources PM Group provide from investments to delivering critical facilities for these new technologies.”

With nearly 25 years’ experience, James Wright has led global teams through the design, construction and CQ phases of large biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. He spent more than 15 years with Biogen in both the USA and Europe. Previously, he held a senior design position with UCB, based in the U.K. Wright holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University, and MBA’s from both Columbia Business School and London Business School.

In the USA, PM Group has offices in Boston, Philadelphia, Northern and Southern California, and has doubled in size and revenues over the past four years.

– ends –

About PM Group

PM Group is an international project delivery specialist with an average turnover of $540million and manages over €6bn in capital projects. PM Group is employee owned with operations across Europe, the USA and Asia. The Company has a 50 year track record in project management, process design, facility design and construction management for leading multinational companies. It is a world leader in the Pharma, Food, Mission Critical, MedTech and Advanced Manufacturing sectors.

As part of our series spotlighting successful Irish businesses in Canada, we are thrilled to introduce FlexManager. Their success in the Canadian market is reflected in the award for their compliance management software as one of Canadian Occupational Safety’s 5-Star OHS Software and Technology Providers 2022. In this Q&A, George Curley, CEO at FlexManager shares his insights on the company’s journey to Canada and their plans for future growth.

Q: Tell us about your organization and how you’re bringing it to Canada.

CGA Software Ltd came into existence because of a Canadian customer. We were still in product development mode but got the opportunity to partner with a Canadian business early on. Over the years, we have naturally picked up more Canadian clients along the way, started trading under CGA Technology, and rebranded our main product as FlexManager. Canada has been good to us, and we felt like it was the right time to reinvest and expand our offerings and services to better support our current and future clients in the local market.

Q: Why was Canada an ideal place for expansion for your business?

Canadian businesses’ ethics and morals, health and safety achievements, and their approach to social responsibilities align with the clients we want to do business with. FlexManager’s primary goal is to streamline company operations. In our sphere, that goal allows clients to do more from the field rather than being behind a desk, hidden away from what is happening day in and day out. To us, health and safety professionals, equipment management and compliance teams, or HR teams are not employed to do administrative work. While we all have a level of paperwork in our jobs, the more those professionals can apply their knowledge to the core business, the more the overall business benefits and excels.

Q: Since launching in the Canadian market – what have you found most surprising about doing business here versus other markets?

The ease of doing business in Canada. We’ve found clients and potential clients to be very open and welcoming. Their drive for excellence is inspiring and encouraging. It’s a pleasure to work with clients whose vision and goals align with our own.

Q: What are your growth plans for Canada in the next 2-5 years? Is there anything in particular that you are excited about?

Canada isn’t exactly small. If things go according to plan, in the next 2-5 years, we expect to open another office on the West Coast, so we have local resources to support the continued growth of our clients. Personally, I’m looking forward to exploring more of Canada as most of our clients have been focused in Ontario.

Q: What advice would you impart on other businesses looking to come to Canada too?

Do it. Nothing in our experience has been negative, and with such a big market available, there is enough potential business in Canada to make the investment well worth it.

Visit from Minister Simon Coveney with Enterprise Ireland’s CEO, Leo Clancy, Comes Amid 14% Increase in Direct Investment to the US and Record Highs in Two-Way Trade;

$269B invested and 100,000 employed by Irish companies in the US;

NEW YORK, May 15, 2023  — From May 15-19, 2023, Minister Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment along with Enterprise Ireland’s CEO Leo Clancy will embark on a five-day trade mission, visiting New York, NY and Boston, MA highlighting Irish innovation and partnership across the U.S. in the healthcare, fintech, construction, and consumer retail sectors.

“The U.S.-Ireland relationship has never been stronger or more dynamic,” said Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland. “We look forward to continued shared success in the future by way of connecting through events like this trade mission.”

Minister Coveney will meet with senior government officials and key players in the U.S. business communities, including IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Faherty. The trade mission will also feature a Women in Leadership Business Event and a tour of Hackensack University Medical Center.

The U.S. and Ireland’s long-standing partnership is a cornerstone to both country’s economic development. Irish companies invested more than $269 billion in the United States––making Ireland the ninth-highest provider of FDI to the U.S. Enterprise Ireland’s 2022 exports report revealed that Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland increased by 19% to a record €32.1bn ($35.6bn) globally in 2022.

On last year’s results, Minister Coveney comments that the results are “a testament to the resilience and vision in the Irish enterprise sector and the Government’s policy to assist Irish business in that vision,” and Coveney is “delighted to lead this trade mission showcasing Irish companies across a variety of sectors performing in the U.S. market at a world class standard.”

Key announcements to note:

• Argo Studio announces design director Michael Casey and role of Executive Architect of the $13M EC medical school campus.
• Faherty Brand will partner with Aran Woollen Mills, Jack Murphy, Magee, and John Hanly for a holiday collection centered around sustainable fashion and an innate connection with nature.
• PM Group will open their fifth U.S. location in Raleigh-Durham, NC with industry leader James Wright appointed General Manager of the new office.
• Prommt signed a U.S. partnership with FreedomPay, one of the world’s top payment brands. is
• Bevcraft Group is entering the U.S. market, appointing a US Commercial Director and is in the final stages of the acquisition of a US manufacturing company based in New Jersey.
• Salaso announces new commercial partnership with CareMedica to supply their platform to the CareMedica Group.
• HealthBeacon is launching their Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Platform in the U.S. through MedicoCX to support 225 Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Providers across the country.

The Irish trade mission led by Minister Simon Coveney highlights the growing economic ties between Ireland and the U.S. and the significant contributions of Irish companies to the U.S. economy.

CONTACT: press@enterprise-ireland.com

Never before has there been such a ripe opportunity for Irish brands and creators to consider Canada as their next market. Canada and Ireland share many similarities including an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong pro-business environment. Canada is a strong and stable economy that attracts talent from all over the world and has a GDP of over 1.8 trillion dollars, making it the world’s 10th largest economy. It has 15 free trade agreements with other countries, making it an incredibly attractive market for Irish businesses looking to expand globally or use it as a jumping-off point to the rest of North America. In the past year, exports to Canada increased by 11% to €452 million. The benefits of the Canadian business environment are clear. The greatest opportunity, however, lies with the diversity and openness of the Canadian shopper. And it’s an opportunity Irish brands and creators should consider.

 

Unique opportunities for Irish brands to reach the Canadian consumer

 

With a population of over 38 million, Canada is a strong option for Irish brands wishing to expand to new markets. But to make the most of the opportunity, it’s important to understand the Canadian consumer. Canadian shoppers are a diverse group with a high standard of living. They are known for placing value on high-quality materials, craftsmanship, environmental consciousness and social responsibility. But they also look for deals just as much as the next shopper.

 

Looking deeper, according to PWC’s Canadian Consumer Insights Survey 2022 nearly half of Canadians (46%) say how a company supports human rights, local communities and employee inclusion and diversity often or always influences their trust in a company or brand. These preferences offer a great opportunity for Irish businesses that can deliver on these attributes in their goods. The same report found that young Canadian consumers expect an increase in fashion expenditure (37%), the largest increase after grocery purchases. But Canadians are also not immune to recent global economic pressures. The Retail Council of Canada recently reported that retailers with lower prices, discounts/special offers, and free shipping will appeal to 81 per cent of consumers.

 

Still, the most critical of all factors in reaching Canadian consumers is the boom of e-commerce adoption in the country. While prevalent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last few years has accelerated its adoption resulting in a population that is comfortable and accustomed to shopping online and from international retailers. According to the latest data provided by Statistics Canada, the total spending of Canadian online shoppers reached $32.80 billion in 2022. Now is an ideal time for Irish businesses to take advantage of the perks of cross-border commerce without investing in brick-and-mortar stores.

 

The benefits of Canada and Ireland’s economic agreement

 

With the implementation of the Comprehensive and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union, further opportunities to strengthen cooperation for Ireland have emerged. The elimination of tariffs on a wide range of goods has led to an increase in trade between the two countries. Additional benefits of CETA for Irish investors include the protection of intellectual property rights and the recognition of professional qualifications. All these benefits have resulted in easier and more economical commerce transactions for Irish companies.

 

We’ve already seen many Irish companies find opportunities with Canadian consumers. From Solvar, Fragrances of Ireland & Irelands Eye Knitwear — these are great examples of businesses that have seen the wonderful opportunities that the Canadian market can provide and have made use of the benefits of comprehensive economic agreements such as CETA.

 

A growing commercial relationship

 

As Irish companies continue to innovate across a wide range of goods and services, Canada remains a sound opportunity for Irish brands to export their products and reach relevant markets with a large consumer base. Canada has open-door policies in place when it comes to commerce that presents tremendous potential for any Irish business with the desire to expand globally. All these conditions, paired with a diverse and mixed population create the perfect consumer market for Ireland.

 

At Enterprise Ireland, we are passionate about helping Irish businesses take advantage of the opportunities that Canada has to offer and about strengthening the already successful relationship between both countries. As more Irish companies embark on the journey of global expansion, we are excited to accompany them and help them succeed.

 

 

This month, we marked a significant milestone in our agency’s history as we celebrated our 25th anniversary at the Enterprise Ireland Summit. The celebrations took place from the 17th to the 21st of April. The Enterprise Ireland A/NZ team travelled back to Ireland for a week of events, including launching our new company logo and branding, our 2022 Annual Business Results, and the Meet the Markets Event.

The highlight of the week was the Enterprise Ireland Summit on the 19^th of April, where over 800 businesspeople, investors, and other stakeholders from the Enterprise Ireland network gathered to celebrate the achievements of Irish indigenous industry over the past 25 years and to plan the next steps of their internationalisation journey.

Other events included the Meet the Markets Event and Start Up Showcase. During the Meet the Markets Event the Enterprise Ireland A/NZ team and our colleagues conducted hundreds of face-to-face meetings with clients to discuss their future growth ambitions. On the 18^th of April, the 600-strong audience at the Start-Up Showcase heard insights from successful company founders on how they overcame challenges and achieved their growth ambitions.

During the Enterprise Ireland Summit, our CEO Leo Clancy announced our Annual Business Results for 2022. Exports from Enterprise Ireland-backed client companies increased by 19% to a record €32.1 bn. Exports to the Asia-Pac region increased by 11% to €2.37 bn. These achievements are a testament to the resilience and determination of our client companies.

The week-long celebration of Irish enterprise culminated with the Business Leaders Conference, where the audience heard inspiring stories from Irish companies on what they have achieved, how they scaled their businesses, and where the opportunities and challenges lie ahead within the international environment.

 

We are proud of our achievements in the past 25 years and are committed to helping Irish companies succeed globally. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the future. Thank you for your continued support!

FINEOS was established by Michael Kelly in 1993 as an IT services company – and its ensuing success allowed Michael to develop a core software platform for the Life, Accident and Health insurance industry. Today, this end-to-end SaaS platform helps life assurers globally provide the best possible service to their customers.

 

Combining a core insurance suite with digital and data capabilities, the FINEOS Platform is purpose-built for the Life, Accident and Health industry and the Employee Benefits market to seamlessly support insurers, employers, and employees on their insurance journeys. Teams can manage everything from absences to billing, claims, payments, policy administration, and providers – and, after acquiring Limelight Health in 2020 – FINEOS has created a complete quote-to-claim solution.

 

With secure and scalable cloud capabilities, low-code/no-code configuration, and the right APIs to support the broad partner ecosystem of Employee Benefits providers, Ian Lynagh, FINEOS Chief Financial Officer, believes the FINEOS Platform has become a key asset for the insurance industry worldwide. It is designed to support a variety of business models, languages and currencies enabling market solutions suitable for regional markets across the globe.

Simplifying insurance and finance processes

 

“FINEOS software helps the teams working in insurance deliver better customer service, process claims faster, develop new products, and make a bad day better for millions of people filing claims. Our presence is invisible to the consumer, but if FINEOS is there, we are simplifying their interactions,” according to the CFO.

 

FINEOS enables insurers to provide customer-centric group insurance that meets the demands of today’s workforce. In addition to traditional employer-paid benefits, the FINEOS Platform enables flexibility and speed to market for the wide variety of voluntary benefits that have been critical for American employers to retain and attract talent since the pandemic.

 

“Broadly, many Irish companies are performing very well in the financial services sector. However, within the life, accident and health insurance market, the growth trajectory for FINEOS required a reach beyond the Irish insurance sector. We took Irish technology know-how around the world, solving business challenges with a workforce that spread out from Ireland and grew over thirty years.”

 

And when taking it to the U.S. in particular, FINEOS found this complex market had a large ecosystem operating on legacy IT systems in need of incremental or total digital transformation. Therefore, its Employee Benefits solution found success there providing frictionless engagement to insurers, brokers, employers and consumers around disability, accident, and income protection.

 

Taking Irish technology around the world

 

Given the U.S. market’s reliance on commercial carriers for most work-related benefits, Ian goes on to explain why it’s the perfect customer base for the FINEOS Platform.

 

“Our biggest market is North America, and it represents about 30% of the global insurance market. FINEOS sees a huge opportunity to gain new name clients and expand relationships with current clients in Employee Benefits there.”

 

With a growing American presence, FINEOS now boasts a high-profile portfolio of industry leaders such as Mutual of Omaha, New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, Principal Financial Group, Sun Life Financial, Transamerica, and OneAmerica, among others.

 

But it doesn’t stop there – as the pioneering technology for the sector, FINEOS is prioritising R&D investments and data analytics to further its expertise. This means they are aligned with (and ahead of) global trends on a local scale. For example, total employee benefits management in the United States, hybrid state/private sector-driven benefits in Canada, Australia & New Zealand, and the international trend toward more flexible and integrated Life, Accident and Health benefits.

 

With this expertise, they have now built up a strong presence beyond the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. And they plan to expand that presence globally, focusing on continued growth in the U.K. and Ireland while also exploring other markets in Europe and in Asia.

 

Across the world, Enterprise Ireland’s global teams are connecting the world’s most dynamic companies with the transformative Irish technology they need to compete and grow. We know where innovation lives. Let us connect you to it.

As March ends, the Enterprise Ireland A/NZ team would like to thank our colleagues, friends, and partners who attended any of our 14 events hosted across seven cities.

It was great to hear from Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney T.D. on the strength and continued growth of Irish Australian trade relations.

Click the following link to hear the Ministers thoughts on Trade Relations between Ireland and Australia:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7045939368754114560

The end of March marks another successful St. Patrick’s Week for the Enterprise Ireland A/NZ team. The team hosted 14 events across seven cities this month, celebrating Irish innovation and business in Australia and New Zealand.  

This year was marked by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney T.D. leading a trade and investment mission to Australia. This Trade & Investment mission was aimed at deepening the close cultural, political, and trade ties between Australia and Ireland. The Minister was joined by Secretary General Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Enterprise Ireland Head of Regions & Local Enterprise Carol Gibbons, and IDA Ireland Head of Regions, Property, and Enterprise Denis Curran. 

The Australian St Patrick’s day events began with the Melbourne Advisory Panel. We welcomed Stephen Nolan from Nutritics and Conor Lyden from TRUSTAP. Both companies gave engaging presentations and thank you again to our panel members for their invaluable advice and continued support for Irish companies looking to grow and scale in Australia.  

After a successful panel event, we hosted the Melbourne St Patrick’s Day Business Lunch. This lunch was attended by over 115 Enterprise Ireland clients, friends, and colleagues. During the lunch, we had several insightful speeches, including the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney. The continued success and close ties between the Irish and Australian markets were further highlighted in an insightful panel discussion between Emma Fitzsimons from Princess Pictures, Craig Katz of Daon, and Jim Breen from PulseLearning Global and IamHERE, moderated by Helen Waldron from Australian Industry Group (Ai Group). 

Our Sydney Trade and Investment Luncheon took place at the Calyx in the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase and celebrate Irish companies’ continued strength and success in the State of New South Wales. 

Following on from the success of the Melbourne Panel, an insightful panel discussion was also held in Sydney between Chris Littlewood, Country Manager for Combilift Australia, Kelly-Ann McHugh, Apac Director for MCO (MyComplianceOffice), and Skander Malcolm CEO and Managing Director of OFX, moderated by Helen Waldron from Australian Industry Group (Ai Group). 

Our St Patrick’s Itinerary of events came to an end on St Patrick’s day itself with two successful Panel events.

In the morning, we welcomed Stephen Nolan from Nutritics and Conor Lyden from TRUSTAP. Both companies delivered engaging presentations to Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Simon Coveney, Secretary General Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Enterprise Ireland Head of Regions & Local Enterprise Carol Gibbons, IDA Ireland Head of Regions, Property, and Enterprise Denis Curran, H.E. Tim Mawe Ambassador of Ireland to Australia, Consulate General of Ireland to New South Wales Rosie Keane and our wider business network.  

In the afternoon, we welcomed three Irish companies – Ingenium, Strata, and HT Materials Science – who presented their services/technologies for the construction sector to our panel of trusted advisors and received valuable feedback on the local market fit in Australia and advice on market entry strategy for the region. It was great to have Consul General of Ireland to NSW Rosie Keane and Enterprise Ireland’s Head of Regions and Local Enterprise Carol Gibbons in attendance.  

On behalf of the Enterprise Ireland A/NZ team, we would like to thank the traveling delegation and everyone who helped make the trade and investment mission a success. We are looking forward to another year of growing and scaling Irish companies in the Australian and New Zealand markets. 

This month, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. led a St Patrick’s Week mission to New Zealand. The mission aimed at deepening the strong and growing political, cultural and trade links between our two countries. The Minister was joined on the mission by Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Brendan Gleeson and APAC Director for Enterprise Ireland, Mary Kinnane and included meetings and events across three cities: Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington culminating in the official opening of the Embassy of Ireland in New Zealand, led by H.E. Ambassador Jane Connolly.

Ireland and New Zealand have long enjoyed strong business links with Irish companies such as FINEOS, Combilift and Skillsoft establishing a strong presence in the market. Agriculture in particular has been a key growth market in recent years. Ireland and New Zealand agriculture share many similarities. Pasture based dairy farming is at the core of both of industries. Similar soil, climate and farming practices has made this a welcoming market to many Enterprise Ireland backed agritech companies. Companies such as McHale, Abbey Machinery and Dairymaster have been successful in providing cutting edge Irish machinery to New Zealand farmers.

The mission led by Minister McConalogue was an opportunity to celebrate and deepen these links. The visiting delegation had meetings with Lincoln University and AgResearch to discuss areas of further collaboration to tackle shared challenges such as reducing methane emissions and ensuring sustainable agriculture systems. The Minister joined events organised by the Irish Business Network New Zealand across three cities to recognise the significant contribution by the Irish diaspora in building the successful trade relationship between our two countries.

In Christchurch, the delegation visited the Belfast site of Silver Fern Farms in Christchurch to see how the site is utilising Irish firm Emydex’s cutting edge software on their factory floor. Silver Fern Farms is the largest livestock processor in New Zealand. The new Emydex system configured for Silver Fern Farm’s handles everything from the booking and intake of the animals and follows the flow through the factory floor including the stun station, live weight, head inspections, carcass inspections, reinspection, and grading.

 

 

In Auckland, Enterprise Ireland hosted a roundtable discussion on the issues faced by the Irish and Kiwi agritech sectors. Hosted by KPMG and addressed by KPMG Global Head of Agribusiness Ian Proudfoot, the event brought together leaders inNew  Zealand to discuss issues around tech adoption, sustainability, and strategies to build and scale in the sector. During the event we were joined remotely by the founders of three leading Irish agritechs to share their insights, Diarmaid Mac Colgáin from Concept Dairy, Eoghan Finneran from Farmeye and Daniel Izquierdo from Micron Agritech.

 

 

We were delighted to host the Enterprise Ireland Wellington Advisory Panel at the newly opened Irish Embassy in Wellington. Fergal McGovern Founder and CEO of VisibleThread and Jack Ellis from Intuition presented to the panel. The Panel members offered valuable advice on next steps in market.

 

On behalf of the Enterprise Ireland, we would like to offer our sincere thanks to the visiting delegation as well as everyone who contributed to the success of the mission. We look forward to deepening our close ties with New Zealand in the years ahead.

This month, we took the opportunity to celebrate both International Women’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day with our Sydney network. Enterprise Ireland, together with IDA Ireland and the Irish Consulate in NSW collaborated on the Women in Leadership Lunch. Twenty-five senior female business leaders from Irish and Australian business gathered to discuss progress in driving diversity in their respective industries.

The Irish Consulate in Sydney, led by Consul General Rosie Keane, has long helped to grow the women’s business network locally, hosting regular networking and knowledge events, and highlighting the contributions of Irish women to Australian society. On St. Brigid’s Day 2022, the Consulate launched its Visible Women Campaign, sharing stories, memories, and the inspiration of prominent Irish and Australian women.

IDA Ireland, led in Australia by Deirdre Buckley and Kathryn O’Shea, supports a number of initiatives to encourage women into leadership, particularly in areas related to STEM. The organisation supports Irish women in STEM from the grass roots up through several programmes to attract, retain, and promote gender diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Enterprise Ireland’s Action Plan for Women in Business was launched by former CEO, Julie Sinnamon in 2020. Among the four key pillars, the plan aims to increase the number of female-led and founded Irish Businesses exporting and scaling in overseas markets.

More recently, Enterprise Ireland launched The Level Project. Overseen by EI’s Women in Business Manager, Sinead Lonergan, The Level Project is a toolkit aimed at helping Irish SMEs develop gender balanced leadership teams. The toolkit assists companies to assess their own current position across six key themes, and to put measures in place to help improve gender balance within their own senior teams.

Though we still have a way to go, signs of progress are there. In 2011, only 7pc of Enterprise Ireland’s high-potential start-ups were led by women, but this figure had risen to 37pc in 2022. Since 2013, 75% of the funds that Enterprise Ireland supports through the Seed &Venture Capital investment have a woman at partner/investment manager level.

Through initiatives like The Level Project in Ireland and Team Ireland initiatives in Australia and New Zealand, we can move the dial in increasing the number of women in senior leadership in businesses in Ireland and scaling globally.

To learn more about The Level Project and access the free Toolkit, you can visit: www.levelproject.ie