7 minute read
Dates for your Diary
Upcoming Events:
Limerick Chamber are delighted to partner with UL @work, we will work together to provide enriching and informative content across our social channels. As well as an event, which will be announced in late Autumn. www.limerickchamber.ie
Limerick Chamber hosts Sustainable Goals: Global Goals Event- Business Conversations in association with Concern Worldwide and Irish Aid – September 22nd 12pm-1pm
Limerick Chamber Connects with Network Limerick: Networking to Empower You 20th October more details can be found via www.limerickchamber.ie
2021
Launch Event:
2021
Application Closing Date: Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards Close of Business 6th October to be submitted electronically to cmoloney@limerickchamber.ie
Limerick Chamber Connects with Glasgow Chamber - Virtual networking event for all members 2nd December. More details available www.limerickchamber.ie
Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards: Shortlist Announcement: 29th October be sure to follow us on social media:
Twitter:@LimerickChamber Linkedin: Limerick Chamber Facebook: Limerick Chamber Instagram: @limerickchamber Or check out www.limerickchamber.ie
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Member Mixer Maximise your membership event 8th September 12pm-1pm
Limerick Chamber together with PwC host the Annual Budget Update event which will take place 12th of October. More details can be found www.limerickchamber.ie
Limerick Chamber Business Excellence Series: Sustainability will take place on Nov/Dec 2021more details will become available in the coming weeks.
Final Ceremony: Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards 19th November 2021 more details can be found www.limerickchamber.ie
LIT forms the RUN-EU (Regional University Network-European University) Alliance
Industry across the Mid-West has always been supported by Limerick Institute of Technology through the cultivation of talent and helping businesses find solutions to challenges. Working closely with industry partners to improve competiveness through Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI), LIT’s focus on impactful research has and will continue to help strengthen the country and address skills needs. Now LIT, with its Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest partner AIT (Athlone Institute of Technology), has been successful in an application to form a new European University Network. Partnering with six other Higher Educational Institutes from across Europe, the Regional University Network (RUN) EU initiative will copper fasten the role LIT plays in driving social and industrial innovation in Limerick, the Mid West and across Europe. But what is RUN EU and how will this
new partnership, benefit businesses and industry on the ground in the Mid-West? In July 2020, LIT joined this new Higher Education Network to not only increase opportunities for students, but to also promote the economic, social, cultural, and sustainable development of the regions covered by the network. Its focus being the provision of necessary skills so students, researchers, and regional agents can successfully face the challenges of the future. Overall, this is an educational project of scale with an arm heavily involved in Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer to develop vital interregional connections. The team leading the research element of this project are LIT’s Vice President of Research, Development, and Innovation Dr Liam Brown, and Head of Research and Technology Transfer, Dr Paudie Murray. Through joining the network LIT will now provide industry in the region with access to a new collective of research and skills expertise from the 8,000 staff and 75,000 students across the total eight partner universities. Following the establishment of RUN EU and its partner institutes, LIT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary County Councils. The MoU will now pave the way for the formation of the European Zone for Inter-Regional Development (EZ-ID), allowing higher education institutes to work with regional governments in driving innovation in their regions
Photo caption L- R: LIT representatives at the RUN-EU meeting in Brussels in February 2020. Dr Liam Brown, Vice President Research, Development & Innovation. James Clifford, LIT Undergraduate Student, Marketing and Management. Samuel Carvalho, LIT Postgraduate Student, Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Prof. Vincent Cunnane, President. Jade Foynes, LIT Postgraduate Student, Applied Social Sciences. Dr Paudie Murray, Head of Research and Technology transfer Paschal Meehan, former VP International
across Europe. President of LIT Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “As we become a Technological University, our commitment to EZ-ID and that of our associated partners in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary local authorities, allows for a joint approach between education and local government in addressing societal challenges such as climate change and social innovation, as well as supporting economic and industrial development.” While LIT is Deputy Coordinator of
The RUN-EU network consists of Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal), Polytechnic of Cávado and Ave (Portugal), Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), Athlone Institute of Technology (Ireland), Széchenyi István University (SZE) (Hungary), Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK (Finland), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), and FH Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Austria).
this European University initiative, it now leads the RUN-EU Discovery Programme, aimed at building European future-facing RDI teams with a mix of students, academic staff, researchers, businesses, regional and social partners from six countries. The teams will address societal challenges to deliver innovative solutions that will be adaptable to different regions across Europe. Speaking about the impact RUN EU will have in the region, Dr Liam Brown said: “The RUN-EU project includes the development of ‘Interuniversity Future and Advanced Skills Academies’ and ‘European Innovation Hubs’ that will reinforce our academia-business collaboration in the focus areas of Future Industry and Sustainable Regional Development, the Bio-economy and Social Innovation.” In a year where many industries and workforces have faced trialing times, it’s clear LIT’s collaboration with the RUN-EU network will bring many new opportunities for industry in the region, particularly for SMEs across innovation, digital transformation, and other business opportunities.
THE SITE HERE IN LIMERICK IS ONE OF VISION CARE’S LARGESCALE MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS FOR THE CONTACT LENS BUSINESS.
In June 1996 Johnson & Johnson Vision Care started operating in Limerick with 60 employees. Over the last 25 years, the company has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the largest contact lens manufacturing facilities in the world, with a workforce of 1,600 people. According to John Lynch, Plant Leader, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, the operations in Limerick play a fundamental role in supporting Vision Care’s mission to change the trajectory of eye health around the world. “Our aspiration at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care is to bring improved eyesight to people around the world through the research, development and manufacturing of new medical device technologies. The site here in Limerick is one of Vision Care’s largescale manufacturing operations for the contact lens business.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION CARE – Celebrating 25 Years in Limerick
quality, engineering and support functions. The company has a strong focus on career progression through continuous education. From certificate to doctorate level programs, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has supported 300+ employees in developing skills in new technologies since 2016. To strengthen the early-career talent pipeline, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care leads an industrywide apprenticeship and graduate program, locally sponsoring 30+ trainees per year.
“Our teams in Limerick are serving patients today with our current portfolio and are also working to deliver new breakthroughs in contact lens technology for the future”. The Johnson & Johnson Vision Care operations in Limerick have had a significant impact on the county over the years, offering high quality, skilled jobs. Vision Care provides 1,600 jobs in the areas of manufacturing, The Vision Care team has a strong culture of championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Recently the team was recognised amongst the 12 winners at the third annual, company-wide, Johnson & Johnson DEI Honors Ceremony. Vision Care Ireland was awarded a DEI Honor for Building our Diverse Workforce – in acknowledgment of their work to build a more diverse and inclusive technician workforce in Ireland. Since opening in 1996, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has put down deep roots in the Midwest region. The company is committed to supporting the local community and employees are very active in fundraising, corporate social responsibility, and sponsorship activities. The employees at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care are passionate about supporting local charities and have supported multiple organisations down through the years through fundraising and volunteering. According to John Lynch, the company will be marking the 25year anniversary and taking the opportunity to thank colleagues past and present, “It has been an incredible journey since Johnson & Johnson Vision Care opened in Limerick in 1996. 41 of the employees that started here on the opening day 25 years ago are still working with us today. We will be marking the 25 years with a celebration for our workforce. We also want to take the opportunity to thank colleagues past and present, our suppliers and the community here in Limerick and the greater Midwest region for all their support. We look forward to many more successful years here in Limerick”.
