The potential of disruptive innovation to positively effect job creation in the maritime sector will be explored at the IMERC Annual Conference which takes place at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork on Monday 7th October. A disruptive innovation is an innovation which disrupts, improves and replaces an existing product, process, approach or idea over time in unexpected ways. IMERC, the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster, is a partnership between University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and the Irish Naval Service.

Speaking in advance of the conference, IMERC Director, Dr Val Cummins said: “Ireland currently derives just 1% of its GDP from the maritime sector. To put that figure in context, the UK derives 5%, Denmark 11% and Norway 20%. Ireland aims for 2.4% by 2030. The ideas and plans that will emerge from the IMERC Conference will be an important opportunity to drive growth in the figures for Ireland.”

Ireland has the largest maritime area to land mass in the EU and is the third largest territory in the EU when its seabed is included. The maritime sector has huge growth possibilities for the Irish economy. This Conference is set to make a tangible contribution to the realisation of this potential by bringing together speakers and guests from North America and Europe from a range of backgrounds including industry, government, and academia, to discuss the role disruptive innovation can play in driving this sector. The conference will have an innovative format with audience engagement central and social media playing a vital role. IMERC is already making a big contribution to this sector with advanced plans for the development of a research and commercial campus in Ringaskiddy.

Dr Cummins continued, “There is a huge opportunity for Ireland to really benefit from its ocean resources in a planned manner for the first time in our history. The construction of the Beaufort Research Centre and the continuing ability of IMERC to attract new business are demonstrable indicators that IMERC is contributing to these aims.”

IMERC’s vision is to become a research and commercial cluster of world standing by realising Ireland’s potential in the global, maritime and energy markets of tomorrow. See www.imerc.ie or visit www.facebook.ie/imercwww.twitter.com/ImercIreland

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