Minister of State Damien English said that the BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry will support a new generation of food entrepreneurs.
The junior Minister was speaking during a visit to the BIA Innovator Centre during a trip to Galway on Thursday.
There he met with Councillor Peter Feeney, who is also Chairperson of the Campus and Breda Fox, Head of the Local Enterprise Office, Galway.
The Campus is expected to be operational in the next few months as a food entrepreneurship hub for growing businesses in Galway.
When it opens it will offer workspace infrastructure and support services, including several new food production units and co-working kitchens together with learning and innovation services.
The project has received €4.1 million in funding under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund as well as the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme.
During his visit, Minister English said that expanding the AgTech and Food sectors is an important part of Enterprise Plan for the western region, and that the BIA Innovator Campus will be a platform for that development.
“This facility in Athenry will enable a whole new generation of food entrepreneurs, supporting those who see the potential to grow their food business by providing technical support and business guidance.”
Another part of the Minister’s trip was to the PorterShed co-working space for technology-focused innovation enterprises in the city.
The PorterShed recently moved into its new home in Bowling Green, where it has space for 130 entrepreneurs.
The state-of-the-art building, in Galway City centre, is the first of two new properties that will form part of the Galway City Innovation District’s expansion.
The second of these is nearby, with the repurposed Connacht Tribune building also set to be completed in late 2022.
During his visit to the PorterShed Minister English met with Finn Delaney of high-resolution, subsea surveying company Geomara; as well as Javier Santoyo of environmental company Blue Carbon Ireland.
The Minister said that it is important for people with innovative ideas to have access to supports like those available in Galway.
