The AIM Centre, Sligo and Western Development Commission (WDC) Secure Key Funding for ASTRIC Project
The European project is set to boost regional innovation and talent attraction with significant funding.
The AIM Centre, Sligo and Western Development Commission (WDC) are pleased to announce that they have successfully secured funding to participate in the ASTRIC project (Attract Skills and Talent through Regional Innovation Capacity insights). The collaborative initiative launched on October 1st, and involves Sweden’s Region Västerbotten and Savonia University of Applied Sciences of Finland.
The project, supported by €200,000 in funding from the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) programme, with €50,000 allocated for Ireland, aims to address the regional challenges of attracting skilled workers and talent. The ASTRIC project will help regions understand their strengths and weaknesses in innovation, using a tool called METRIC. This tool will gather and analyse data to pinpoint where improvements are needed most, helping regions become more attractive for skilled workers and talent. The project will also encourage collaboration between different regions and organisations, fostering new strategies for sustainable development and growth.
The ASTRIC project is particularly significant as it aims to understand and address the skill, and talent demands necessary for the green and just transition. By measuring regional innovation capacity through the METRIC tool, the project will monitor and understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within the region’s innovation ecosystem. This comprehensive analysis will allow for efficient and targeted activities to reach research, development, and innovation (RDI) and economic objectives, improving strategies for skill and talent acquisition and retention.
The AIM Centre will take the lead on mapping regional innovation ecosystems and identifying skill needs. It will also contribute to capacity-building workshops, provide rapid demonstrations of the METRIC tool, and develop transferability frameworks for evaluation solutions.
The WDC will contribute significantly by engaging in stakeholder mapping, exploring synergies with other projects, and contributing to feasibility studies. Their involvement will ensure the project’s outputs are aligned with regional and national policies, enhancing the impact on innovation and talent attraction within the regions.
Pictured: Imelda McCarron, EU Project Development Executive at WDC, Julie Dowling, CEO at AIM Centre and Allan Mulrooney, CEO at WDC
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, commented, “The ASTRIC project offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore innovative approaches to regional development. Strategically, this initiative is strong for us at WDC because it not only aligns with our ongoing efforts to attract and retain talent but also enhances our ability to leverage regional strengths and address key challenges. By participating in ASTRIC, we can ensure that our region is at the forefront of sustainable development, innovation, and economic growth, thereby significantly contributing to our broader strategic goals and long-term vision.”
Julie Dowling, CEO of AIM Centre, added, "We are thrilled to be part of the ASTRIC project, which aligns with our commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable development in our regions. By collaborating with international partners, we aim to create robust strategies that will attract talent and boost regional growth."
Jenny Ferry, Innovation Leader at Region Västerbotten and Project Manager for ASTRIC highlights, “We must continuously work to systematically evaluate whether our regional intervention capacity is generating the expected benefits, rather than solely relying on national figures,”. Ferry also mentioned “Through rapid demonstrations of the METRIC methodology (measuring regional innovation capacity), we aim to directly address the unique needs of rural areas with smaller populations.”
Participating Partners:
Lead Partner: Region Västerbotten (Sweden) Associate Partners: Savonia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Western Development Commission (Ireland), and Sligo Leitrim ITS Regional Development Projects DAC, trading as AIM Centre (Ireland)
The project is funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) programme, a transnational cooperation initiative between Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and several non-EU countries. The programme aims to promote sustainable development in remote and sparsely populated areas. ASTRIC exemplifies how NPA projects unite regions to tackle shared challenges and create long-term solutions for a sustainable future.