Learning
Central to our mission in IRDG is to help companies excel at research, development and innovation. A key component of that is the skill and knowledge base of your employees.
That’s why, once a company is a member, all employees are too. Together with us, they can develop competencies in areas such as Design Thinking, Service Design, Lean Innovation, Sustainability, Technology Trends, Innovation best practice and many more. The IRDG Innovation Skillnet is a valuable source of learning and training events.
IRDG provides a community where people share experiences, have their minds open to practices in other sectors and broaden their horizons to bring new and brilliant thinking to their work.
Check out our Events Calendar to see what you could learn with IRDG. Many events are CPD certified, keeping professionals up to date with training, information, skills and knowledge throughout their career.
Design Thinking
As Ireland’s leading voice for Design Thinking, IRDG has championed the practice in industry since 2014. We run regular workshops in Design Thinking and Service Design, and facilitate specialist interest groups hosted by member companies. IRDG is also a member of the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA).
In 2021 we held our 8th annual, Design Thinking Conference. Featuring 27 speakers from eight countries, alongside 500 delegates from 24 sectors of industry, it brought some seriously big ideas and insights to the table for all who attended.
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading experts in product and service design. Register your interest in Design Thinking 2022 or get in touch for details about design thinking in general.
“From the word go being a member of IRDG instilled a culture of R&D in our company. IRDG educated us as to the importance of on-going investment in R&D. The various IRDG seminars and meetings over the years have been invaluable to us. Networking with people from other member companies helps us to learn about better processes for R&D and so on. Updates from IRDG kept us abreast of all the assistance that Enterprise Ireland could give us and advised on the best way of accessing this assistance. I have no hesitation in recommending that companies that are serious about R&D should become members.”
Gerry Concannon, CEO, CBE Software
Lean Product Development
A proven methodology for implementing in-house product development capabilities, Lean Product Development (LPD) offers organisations an efficient programme for creating value. It can be applied safely into any existing Stage-Gate or Agile process.
As the exclusive license holder in Ireland for Ron Mascitelli’s ground-breaking methodology, IRDG has developed a one-of-a-kind programme designed to assist businesses seeking to bring efficiencies to their product development process. Our LPD programme is fully eligible for funding from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
Find out more about the benefits of lean thinking in your development processes.
Technology Trends Series
Emergent technologies mean many organisations are facing a change-or-die moment. Research tells us that 80% of business processes and practices will be transformed or no more by 2025. AI, AR, VR, blockchain and quantum computing are poised to deliver incredible new business opportunities, as well as new risks.
The IRDG Technology Trends Series offers delegates the opportunity to get hands-on with emergent technologies, while learning invaluable strategies for its implementation.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this inspiring series. Find out more.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a big area and we know companies are at different stages of maturity with it. To help you on your journey, from wherever you are starting, we have launched our Sustainability Series. Covering everything from sustainability strategy to sustainable innovation – seeing how sustainability considerations such as environmental, social, financial are being integrated into all company systems including design, research and development (R&D) and day to day operations, it is open to all members.
Our special “Sustainability Leaders Group” is also a unique forum to network and share experiences with peers from industry.
Get in touch for more details about joining our Sustainability & Innovation series.
“It makes me wonder how they do it but IRDG keep opening up these wonderful opportunities for us to visit leading companies such as Microsoft, Kerry Group, Dairymaster and Analog Devices. Getting direct access to their Centres of Excellence for R&D and hearing about the latest developments from their innovation leaders is both inspirational and educational. Through these visits I have also made very important business connections with people from all sectors. Every single one we have attended has been invaluable to us.”