Geoscience Ireland: Update on Activities

by Andrew Gaynor, former Business Development Manager, Geoscience Ireland

Geoscience Ireland (GI) is the geoscience business cluster which assists Irish companies in winning business overseas. GI is sponsored by Geological Survey Ireland (a division of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)) and is supported in accessing international markets by Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The member companies of GI target mineral, water environmental and infrastructure projects in markets including the UK, France, the Nordics, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Canada. GI comprises 42 members and welcomed Ground Investigation Ireland as its newest member in 2021.

GROWTH DURING TURBULENT TIMES

In 2020, GI members reported a turnover of €1.237BN, 33% of which was generated in overseas markets. There was a job creation figure of +70 of net new jobs; this is an increase on last year’s figures which aligns with the markets response to Covid19 policies. It is clear that GI members still face issues in travelling to projects in overseas markets.

OVERSEAS ACTIVITIES

The lockdown measures over the past year has witnessed several events move online, at many of which GI and Team Ireland participated. The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) hosted its virtual conference in March and GI collaborated with iCRAG in delivering the ‘Industry and Innovation’ booth. GI led the ‘Ireland – Open for Business’ forum which was attended by over 220 delegates; the 30 minute forum was opened by the Embassy of Ireland, Canada, and updates were provided by GI, GSI, DECC, iCRAG and GI member companies. GI had successful engagement with the Canadian market throughout 2021. Sean Finlay, Director GI, delivered a panel discussion at the much-anticipated Canada-EU Cleantech Workshop on CETA opportunities. GI collaborated with iCRAG at the annual AME Roundup AME Roundup conference delivered virtually from Vancouver; the Consulate General of Ireland, Vancouver hosted an online webinar during Roundup which facilitated some updates from the region. Via GI’s coordination of the ECfunded Geo Energy Europe (GEE) Geo Energy Europe (GEE) project, a webinar was hosted between the GEE project partners and associations in the Canadian geothermal market; an MoU is expected to be signed between the regions in the near future. Further virtual mining shows at which GI sustained its presence included The Mining Show, Dubai, and Mining INDABA, Cape Town; Cape Town; several GI and IMQS members including Mincon, CDE Global, PW Mining, SLR, ERM and Golder SLR, ERM and Golder also participated at these shows. GI collaborated with DFA and EI in delivering a webinar to Irish companies focussed on Brazil; this included delegates from Ministry of Geology, Mining & Mineral Transformation; the National Mining Agency and the Brazilian Geological Survey. GI remains a key stakeholder in the Geo Drilling Apprenticeship Geo Drilling Apprenticeship as delivered by IT Carlow and looks forward to working closely with its recently appointed Industry Liaison Officer, Shane Lavery; Shane succeeded Stephen Walsh in the position of ILO and we thank Stephen for his endeavours since the inception of the course. Some milestone updates from members over the past 12 months include: • Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions (GDG) has been appointed to assist a major client in China carry out various research projects. • Lisheen Technical & Mining Services has been accredited by the Minerals

Products Qualification Council (MPQC) to deliver training courses for underground mining. LTMS is also providing key services to the Galantas gold project in Northern Ireland. • Mincon is collaborating with Subsea

Micropiles Ltd to develop new technology to potentially benefit the offshore wind industry; further consortium members of this

Government-funded project includes the University of Limerick and

University College Dublin. • GDG is supporting fellow GI member

ERM in its development of ERM

Dolphyn, which comprises in situ production of hydrogen, powered by a floating turbine.

OUTLOOK & FUTURE AMBITIONS

In July 2021, DECC decided that GI should be located outside of GSI. Sean Finlay has been appointed to manage this transition to make GI a standalone business cluster, thus ensuring the continuation of GI as an industry led entity which expects to attract continued support from Enterprise Ireland. Links to GSI will be maintained via GI’s Steering Committee and other supports.