Shaping the Future of Irish Food & Farming, Together.
What if we could bring together the brightest minds in Irish agriculture—our farmers, our innovative food producers, our world-class researchers, and our tech visionaries—to solve real-world challenges and unlock new opportunities? That is the vision behind the Collaborative Living Laboratory (CLL).
Led by Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, the Collaborative Living Laboratory is a groundbreaking initiative designed to supercharge Ireland’s food, farming, and agri-tech sectors. It’s more than just a project; it’s a dynamic ecosystem built on a powerful idea: that by working together, we can build a more prosperous, sustainable, and competitive future for our entire industry.
What is the Collaborative Living Laboratory?
Think of the CLL as a gym membership for innovation. It’s a regional hub with a national ambition, offering a space where stakeholders can get hands-on, subsidised access to the latest technology, expert support, and collaborative opportunities
It’s a place to safely test-drive the future:
- For Farmers: Trial new sensors, drones, and farm management software to improve efficiency, increase profitability, and enhance sustainability—without the huge upfront investment.
- For Food Producers: Collaborate with experts to develop new products, explore sustainable packaging, and streamline processes to scale your business and enter new markets.
- For Agri-Tech Companies: Test, refine, and validate your hardware and software with direct feedback from the end-users, dramatically shortening the path from idea to market.
- For Researchers: Apply your work to real-world commercial challenges, ensuring your innovations have a tangible, lasting impact.
A National Vision, Rooted in Our Region
While centred in Waterford, the Collaborative Living Laboratory is a project of national significance. It directly supports Ireland’s goal to be a world leader in sustainable food production and aligns with key national and regional strategies, including the Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) and Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).
Our goal is to create a powerful, enterprise-led collaborative model that can be replicated across the country, strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a global hub for agri-food innovation.
Driving Growth, Creating Opportunity
By breaking down the traditional barriers between industry, research, and technology, the CLL will become a catalyst for economic growth. It is designed to:
- Stimulate Startups & Create Jobs: By lowering the risk and cost of innovation, we will provide fertile ground for new high-value businesses and create skilled employment opportunities within our communities.
- Enhance Competitiveness: Give our local SMEs and farmers access to the tools and knowledge they need to compete and win on a global stage.
- Build a Powerful Network: Forge lasting, formal links between farmers, food producers, academia, and government to unlock new collaborative ventures and drive the entire sector forward.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
The Collaborative Living Laboratory is more than a project—it’s a partnership. The success of this initiative depends on the engagement and insights of stakeholders like you. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey to build a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable future for Irish agriculture.
This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund’s Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27.