Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital

Derry City Council Derry City Council

About Derry~Londonderry About Derry~Londonderry

• The Regional City of the North West of Northern Ireland, Derry is located on the border with the Republic of Ireland

• Derry City is 72 miles from Belfast and 140 miles from Dublin• The City of Derry Airport is just a 1 hour flight from major UK cities

including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow• Regional population is over 400,000• Ireland’s youngest population with 40% under 25• Cultural, creative and historic Walled City and the inaugural UK City

of Culture in 2013

Digital Derry from the BeginningDigital Derry from the Beginning

• Derry City was renowned worldwide for its culturally rich, creative and talented people

• Schools in the city were amongst the best in the UK and Ireland• Unemployment and underemployment was very high• The region suffered from significant under investment by the public

sector • Deep divisions still existed within the City• The ‘One Plan’ was developed which included a theme dedicated to

‘Growing the Digital Economy’ • Significant amount of workspace unoccupied or derelict

Digital Derry StrategyDigital Derry Strategy

• Derry City Council worked with all stakeholders and the private sector to develop a digital economy and creative industry strategy

• A strategy was developed to:– To ‘animate’ and raise awareness of the digital content sector – Support the start up and growth of local digital and creative businesses– Promote the city as a Digital Hub

• A Digital Action Team and Digital Champion were appointed• The brand ‘Digital Derry’ was created• Work commenced on a Digital Derry Action Plan• Funding for Digital Derry was only circa £65,000 per annum in total

Digital Derry ‘1’ ActivitiesDigital Derry ‘1’ Activities

• Through the Digital Action Team and Digital Champion we:– Undertook sector animation with schools, colleges and universities to

encourage start ups– Hosted events and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs – Offered business support and incubation space to start ups – Organised Seed Competitions and Angel / VC Investor Pitches– Helped digital entrepreneurs access mainstream funding and support– Attended events all over the work to develop our digital network – Supported other organisations to secure funding for the digital economy

and creative industries

Parallel Digital Derry Activities Parallel Digital Derry Activities

• Work completed on Project Kelvin Telehouse• BT upgraded the telecoms infrastructure throughout the city to

be one of the fastest in Europe • Sites secured for Hi Tech Business and Science Parks• Invest NI continued to secure FDI clients for the city • Ernact, Noribic, University of Ulster, North West Regional

College and others secured funding to further develop the digital economy and creative industries

Where are we at today?Where are we at today?

Derry's digital economy:• Is the fastest growing sector in the North West of Ireland • Brings £35 million into the local economy• Employs hundreds of people• Hosts many of our most innovative entrepreneurs• Boasts a thriving and fast-growing digital content community• Created and supported up to 120 digital and creative start-ups

Where are we at today?Where are we at today?

A Super Connected City • Derry is right at the heart of the telecoms network between the

North America and Europe• 100% availability of fibre optic broadband connectivity to 34,500

homes & businesses • Connectivity with N. America is fast, reliable, secure and efficient

– Capacity: 40Gbs high-speed transatlantic data link – Speed: 67 millisecond connection to Manhattan, New York– Security: 99.999% (c 5 minutes downtime per annum)

Where are we at today?Where are we at today?

A City Ready for Investment • £80m of investment to date with another £77 million committed• 250,000 sq ft great value high-spec office space to choose from • An additional 700,000 sq ft under development inc North West

Regional Science Park and Creative Industries Incubation Hub • Industry focused universities with world-class research facilities• Business operating costs that are 55% lower than London and 36%

lower than Dublin• Great support for business - excellent funding and fiscal incentives

‘‘Development of Digital Derry 2’Development of Digital Derry 2’

• Continues sector animation, stimulation and ‘championing’• Focus on entrepreneurship & enterprise - target of 50 start ups pa• Also on skills, careers, funding and investment, and showcasing• Funding secured for key sector initiatives including digital and

multimedia, cultural, smart, • MoU with London’s Tech City and 400th Anniversary Linkages • Annual international digital cultural conference and festival• Seed Comp II and Business Investor Sourcing

‘‘Development of Digital Derry 2’Development of Digital Derry 2’

• Several capital projects underway, including:– North West Regional Science Park – Fort George Technology Park – Ebrington Creative Industries Hub – Enterprise NW Business Park – Incubation Space and Support at Magazine Studios and Noribic– Super Connected City bid submitted for Super Fast, Ultra Fast Zones

(80-100mbs) and City wide wireless broadband

QuestionsQuestions

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Thank YouThank You

Cllr Gerard Diver Derry City CouncilStrand RoadDerry, BT48 7NNNorthern IrelandE: gerard.diver@derrycity.gov.ukT: +44 (0) 28 7136 6506W: www.digitalderry.orgwww.investderrylondonderry.com