Connected newsletter: Irish tech talent recognised as Paddy Cosgrave returns

Connected at the Business Post is your source for the news that matters in technology and innovation, all told from an Irish perspective

Charlie Taylor
April 12, 2024

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EDITOR'S NOTE

It’s been a busy week in Irish tech news, so let’s get up to speeed.

Some of Ireland’s youngest movers and shakers were saluted this week with the publication of Forbes’ prestigious ‘30 under 30’ list of leading young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in Europe.

Paddy Cosgrave returned to the hot seat at Web Summit. Is this a wise move? Here’s my analysis on how this is a risky decision for the company.

US private equity giant Blackstone Group confirmed it has acquired a controlling stake in Irish data centre business Winthrop Technologies in a deal that values the company at more than €800 million.

Neurovalens, the Belfast-based healthtech company, has received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its electrical stimulation anti-anxiety device. The move paves the way for the firm to sell its Modius Stress solution directly to sufferers of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the US who hold a prescription.

The Central Bank of Ireland wants the powers to directly contact social media platforms over scams and other illegal content on their platforms under new EU laws.

Meta has secured permission to use diesel generators to power its Irish data centres if it has to come off the national grid in the event of an energy emergency.

Funding for Irish start-ups fell by 35 per cent last year to €847 million, according to new figures from TechIreland.

Intel is rolling out a new version of its artificial intelligence chip, aiming to challenge Nvidia in one of the fastest-growing parts of the semiconductor industry.

Staying with AI and Google this week unveiled a host of updates to its artificial intelligence offerings for cloud computing customers, emphasising that the technology is safe and ready for use in the corporate realm.

Nominations are now open for the Women in STEM Awards 2024, which recognise the many achievements and innovations of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in Ireland. Check here to see all the categories.