Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital Derry City Council.

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Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital Derry City Council Derry City Council

Transcript of Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital Derry City Council.

Page 1: Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital Derry City Council.

Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital

Derry City Council Derry City Council

Page 2: Making Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Digital Capital 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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‘‘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

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‘‘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

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QuestionsQuestions

?

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Thank YouThank You

Cllr Gerard Diver Derry City CouncilStrand RoadDerry, BT48 7NNNorthern IrelandE: [email protected]: +44 (0) 28 7136 6506W: www.digitalderry.orgwww.investderrylondonderry.com