Expleo invests in Irish tech accelerator focused on addressing UN Sustainability Goals.
Tech and engineering consulting giant Expleo has revealed plans to invest €2m in an accelerator for team-led innovations and technologies that address the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The company’s annual hackathon in Ireland will determine which projects receive funding.
“We firmly believe that by collaborating and pooling our resources, we can find innovative solutions to address critical problems”
Expleo’s hackathon – launched in 2020 – has become a cornerstone of Expleo’s ability to consistently bring industry-leading innovations to businesses in Ireland and across the globe.
To support innovation, participants are equipped with the latest generative AI technologies and software development tools, along with comprehensive tutorials, hands-on training sessions and mentorship. All solutions are aligned with at least one UNSDG.
Solutions for people and our planet
Over the next two years, Expleo will invest €2m in sustainable solutions and other innovative ideas that are chosen for the accelerator. The investment will include deploying dedicated teams to develop the ideas and bring them to market, as well as understanding their sustainability impact, social benefit, and true market opportunity.
“On the back of our success in coming up with ideas and then solutions that address issues in areas such as cybersecurity, health and personal safety, our Innovation Accelerator underlines our commitment to investing in sustainable solutions for people and our planet,” said Brian Kennedy, head of Digital & Innovation at Expleo.
“We firmly believe that by collaborating and pooling our resources, we can find innovative solutions to address critical problems. Whether it’s developing new green technologies, supporting sustainable agriculture, or promoting responsible consumption, at Expleo, we are driving positive change in the name of sustainability and the UNSDGs.
“Our Innovation Accelerator is a fantastic opportunity for Expleo team members to collaborate, be creative, propose and then build innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Incredible ideas emerge when diverse perspectives come together. We hope that this Innovation Accelerator will not only stimulate new ideas and products but also foster collaboration within our functions and services.
“The accelerator, along with events such as our annual hackathon, encourage participants from different areas and skillsets to approach problem-solving with a fresh human-centric mindset. They are given the freedom to prototype rapidly using start-up principles, while also trialling new experimental approaches to solving client, sector, and wider societal challenges.”
The winning solution at last year’s hackathon was ‘Safe Hubs,’ a mobile app that can be used any time a person feels vulnerable walking or travelling on their own, usually at night time.
