Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Ireland’s Marketplace for Innovation

A structured platform connecting large companies facing innovation or digital transformation challenges with SMEs that have the talent, ideas, and solutions to respond.

What Is Skillnet Innovation Exchange?

Skillnet Innovation Exchange is a marketplace for innovation that links large corporates with innovation challenges to scaling SMEs that can develop and deliver solutions.

How it works:

• Corporates publish innovation challenges that reflect pressing problems or transformation needs.

• Selected SMEs respond with proposals or pitches.

• When a proposal is accepted, a deal is struck between the corporate and SME, enabling real collaboration and deployment.

Since its inception:

• Dozens of challenges published

• Over 500 companies engaged

• Partnerships across regional hubs including Ludgate, Galway, Kerry, and others.

Its goal is to democratize access: large companies gain exposure to fresh solutions, and SMEs gain opportunities to commercialize innovations, build credibility, and scale their reach.

Why It Matters for Ludgate & Our Community

Because Ludgate is a regional innovation hub, our community can benefit in multiple ways:

• Local Access: The Innovation Exchange publishes challenges via partner hubs like Ludgate, meaning local SMEs can participate without needing to travel far.

• Bridging Gaps: It helps bridge the gap between SMEs (often underserved) and larger corporates who need external innovation capacity.

• Real Projects & Revenue: This isn’t just ideation — successful SMEs can land real contracts, revenue, and partnerships.

• Strengthening Ecosystem: By engaging in these challenges, SME innovators sharpen skills (pitching, product-market fit, commercialisation) and become part of a national innovation network.

How You Can Participate

1. Register / Express Interest
   Join as a solutions provider (SME) or as a corporate with a challenge.

2. Review & Respond to Challenges
   When a corporate publishes a challenge, eligible SMEs will be invited to pitch

3. Pitch & Negotiate
   Shortlisted SMEs present their solutions. If a corporate accepts, a formal collaboration / contract is established.

4. Deliver & Scale
   After contracting, the SME carries out the agreed work. This gives real-world proof, scale, contacts, and future opportunity.

Recent Success & Impact

• Over 100 pitches have been made through the Exchange, resulting in 13 deals in a recent reporting period.

• Example: Horse Sport Ireland posted a data cleansing challenge; Miagen responded and delivered, closing a deal in just 10 days.

• The program has expanded to many Irish counties, including Cavan, Cork, Northwest regions, partnering with hubs like Ludgate to increase regional access.

Join Through Ludgate

As a Ludgate member or local business:

• You can apply via the Innovation Exchange by contacting Gavin Jeffery at gavin@ludgate.ie

• Watch for challenge announcements shared via Ludgate communications.

• Attend local info sessions or briefings (often run through regional hubs).

• Benefit not only from participating but from peer networking, visibility, and strategic insight