We were delighted to welcome our DPTC community to the Phase 2 Launch. It was great to finally meet face-to-face after such a challenging year for all. Many thanks to all of our speakers on the day. We were delighted to have An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue. A special thanks to Mr Conor Ryan, Arrabawn CEO, who was acted as MC and to Orla Kelly who coordinated the event with the support of Sorcha Regan and the DPTC team on the day.
On October 22nd, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, TD, officially announced a €14m investment from Enterprise Ireland in the next phase of research at the DPTC.
The investment announced will see the DPTC focus on key challenges for the sector, including the production of high-value quality products that are cost-effective and sustainable as set out by international commitments such as the EU 2030 Climate Energy Policy Framework.
With support from its industry partners and competitively won research projects, the DPTC expects to invest approximately €34m in research and innovation over the next five years.
Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy:
“The establishment of the Dairy Processing Technology Centre anticipated the significant market disruption that would occur with the removal of milk quotas in 2015. Anticipating disruption is now an essential part of business planning, and the DPTC was ahead of its time. Since then it has proved how effective collaboration between industry leaders and our research community can be and I am delighted that Enterprise Ireland will provide €14m to back its next phase of research”.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue:
“I, and my Department are so proud to continue to support the DPTC. I am heartened to see all the Co-ops from all over the country working together with the same goal in mind. I acknowledge and commend the role of the DPTC in this regard, in particular the strong collaboration with industry, and focus on both cost efficiencies and environmental sustainability. The work of the DPTC will be vital in further driving this agenda into the future”.
DPTC Centre Director, Dr Anne Marie Henihan:
“We, at the DPTC, are looking forward to delivering on the full potential of this investment and building on the successes and achievements of Phase 1 of the Centre. Over the next five years our industry partners will encounter many opportunities and challenges as they progress their growth ambitions and we will support and facilitate them in their pursuit of innovation and operational efficiencies that are grounded in sustainability”.
