Pictured: Joanna Murphy, CEO of ConnectIreland, US Ambassador Kevin O’Malley and Heather Stafford from Business Oregon
A mutually beneficial alliance has been forged between Ireland and the US State of Oregon. ConnectIreland has signed a three-year Ireland-Oregon Start-up Exchange Partnership with the US state.
The goal is to increase co-acceleration and co-investment opportunities in both Ireland and Oregon.
ConnectIreland, the organisation tasked with encouraging overseas entrepreneurs to locate businesses in Ireland, has joined forces with Business Oregon, the US state’s economic development agency, to grow a strong framework.
Joanna Murphy, CEO of ConnectIreland, and Heather Stafford, Assistant Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Business Oregon, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (Friday 3 June) establishing bilateral cooperation between both parties.
The signing was attended by US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley.
‘Oregon and Ireland have a great deal of alignment in our strongest industries, start-up ecosystem, university research and development, and our like-minded cultures’
– HEATHER STAFFORD, BUSINESS OREGON
“The US and Ireland share an extraordinary and dynamic economic relationship,” said Ambassador O’Malley.
“This Start-up Exchange Partnership is a shining example of how we can come together to strengthen our commercial ties through collaboration and innovation.
Pact targets start-ups in industries from agriculture to the internet of things
“Developing an ecosystem to support innovation and entrepreneurship between Oregon and Ireland makes perfect sense, and we are delighted to enter into such a collaborative and positive partnership with our colleagues in Business Oregon,” said ConnectIreland CEO Joanna Murphy.
Start-ups in industries including agriculture technology, marine technology, internet of things, and semiconductor technologies, will be targeted through the exchange.
“Oregon and Ireland have a great deal of alignment in our strongest industries, start-up ecosystem, university research and development, and our like-minded cultures,” said Heather Stafford, assistant director of Business Oregon.
“Business Oregon is excited to embark on what represents a new model for international relationships. One where we build very intentional support systems for our promising global companies, whereby accessing the US or EU markets can be easier and entrepreneurs can instantly plug into a soft landing, taking full advantage of all the resources our economies have to offer.”
