Ireland is ‘Coming of Age Digitally’

Ireland is coming of age digitally, gaining high rankings internationally in relation to e-commerce and online purchases.  That’s according to Philip Flynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) in his annual end-of-year statement on the Agency’s work.

Mr. Flynn said: “2012 was a strong year for digital in Ireland.  Irish enterprises are now well above their European counterparts in terms of e-commerce purchases and sales.  At the same time, consumers are turning more and more to the internet, with 2.6 million online shoppers in this country spending an average of €116 per month.

According to Mr. Flynn, a majority of companies based at The Digital Hub expanded their business operations in 2012.
“A survey we conducted recently showed 78 per cent of Hub companies increased their client-base in the past year, while two-thirds experienced a growth in business volume,” he said.  “Furthermore, 44 per cent of companies hired additional staff, while two-thirds intend to increase their workforce in 2013.
“Clearly, there is no recession on the internet, and the vast majority of companies at The Digital Hub are continuing to grow their business during these difficult economic times.  Our experience is that companies are finding innovative ways to overcome difficulties within the Irish economy.  In some cases, they are pursuing more aggressive marketing and sales strategies.  For others, their growth can be attributed to moving into – or expanding their existing operations in – international markets.” Over 70 per cent of companies at The Digital Hub export products and services.

“Resoundingly, it can be said that The Digital Hub continues to be a hotbed of innovation for new digital products and services,” said Philip Flynn.  “In the past, we played a key role in predicting the important contribution gaming companies would make to the Irish economy.  We were home to some of the first big indigenous games companies, as well as to high-profile companies that came here from abroad.
“As computer gaming became more established in the mainstream economy, we continued to explore emerging trends in digital.  We’re now concentrating on the next wave of digital enterprise, with a particular focus on health, education and mobility.

Mr. Flynn pointed to the establishment of a joint programme between the DHDA and St. James’s Hospital as one of The Digital Hub’s highlights for 2012.  “The programme is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to develop digital solutions to common health challenges,” he said.  “It will commence recruitment of companies in early 2013, with successful applicants offered a support package that includes collaboration with clinical professionals; free office infrastructure at The Digital Hub; and access to data from St. James’s Hospital during the development process.”

“We predict 2013 will be a watershed year for digital in Ireland,” said Philip Flynn.  “The increasing importance of digital was acknowledged by the Government in the past few weeks with the appointment of Lord David Puttnam as ‘Digital Champion’ for Ireland.  The national digital strategy will be published by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources early in the new year and the Lord Mayor of Dublin will publish a Digital Masterplan for the city by June 2013. The Digital Hub is centrally involved in both of these important initiatives.
“So, while 2012 was a strong year for companies at The Digital Hub and for Ireland’s internet industry overall, we anticipate even more exciting developments and further growth in this area in the coming year.”