Shannon Chamber welcomes today’s (Tuesday, 20 June 2017) announcement in Paris, France that Shannon Group plc’s International Aviation Service’s Centre (IASC) and DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurs are to partner with global aviation companies Boeing and Datalex to assist new start-up aviation and travel tech companies at Shannon.
Welcoming the ‘Propeller Shannon’ partnership, which was announced at the Paris Air Show today, Patrick Edmond, Managing Director of the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) at Shannon Group plc, said that having an incubator for start-ups would strengthen the aerospace ecosystem at Shannon.
“Given Shannon’s remarkable heritage and the human capital we have in aerospace, this new start-up hub is a natural step for us. Over the years, Shannon has been home to innovations such as the world’s first Duty Free and the first Free Zone, as well as GPA, who pioneered the aircraft leasing industry. I’m delighted that global aviation leaders Boeing and Datalex have agreed to partner with us and with DCU Ryan Academy to help us realise our ambition to make Shannon home to a new generation of aviation entrepreneurs.”
IASC and DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurs have been working on the ‘Propeller Shannon’ project, which will be formally launched in the coming weeks. Securing partners of the stature of the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing, as well as Datalex, a leading global digital commerce platform provider for travel retailers, is very significant validation for the initiative.
Said Steve Nordlund, leader of Boeing’s venture capital division, Boeing HorizonX, “At Boeing HorizonX, we believe in encouraging entrepreneurs and start-up companies who can help us identify innovations that can be brought to market and bring disruptive value to our customers. We are thrilled to be part of a partnership that will draw out the best of Irish aerospace technology innovation and help new companies carve a path to success.”
Commenting on the partnership Aidan Brogan, CEO, Datalex Plc said: “We are delighted to participate in this partnership. We are committed to the investment and support of technology innovation that allows our airline customers to better compete in today’s digital economy. In partnership with JetBlue Technology Ventures, Datalex Labs currently provides expert mentorship and access to its API Airways APIs for over 15 start-ups in San Francisco. We hope to grow and extend our engagement with new innovative start-ups in Ireland.”
The partnership was announced at the Enterprise Ireland stand at the Paris Air Show and highlighting its benefits, Clyde Hutchinson, Propeller Programme Lead, DCU Ryan Academy said: “This is a unique opportunity to build the next generation of Irish aviation success stories at Shannon and to lay the foundations for a strong Irish aerospace sector in the decades to come.”
Full details on the next phase of the initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
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About Boeing
By leveraging the power of the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing HorizonX applies its momentum to new business ventures to unlock the next generation of game-changing ideas, products, and markets. From investment capital to technology commercialization and market access, HorizonX turns new ideas and businesses into reality. www.boeing.com
About Datalex
Datalex is a market leader in digital commerce for travel retailers. The Datalex Commerce Platform enables a travel marketplace of over one billion shoppers covering every corner of the globe, driven by some of the world’s most innovative airline retail brands. Its customers include Aer Lingus, Air China, Air Malta, Air Transat, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Hainan Group, HP Enterprise Services, IBM, JetBlue Airways, Lufthansa Group, Philippine Airlines, SITA, STA Travel, Swiss International Air Lines and Virgin Australia. The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and maintains offices across Europe, USA and China.
Datalex is a publicly listed company and is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE: DLE). Learn more at http://www.datalex.com
About DCU Ryan Academy
The DCU Ryan Academy is a not-for-profit partnership between Dublin City University and the Ryan Family (Ryanair) with the objective to be the leading supporter of entrepreneurs and innovation in Ireland. Operating from its own campus, the DCU Ryan Academy bridges the gap between academia and entrepreneurial practice through a unique partnership between Ireland’s youngest university, DCU, and the family of one of Ireland’s greatest entrepreneurs, Tony Ryan.The Ryan Academy supports a vision where entrepreneurship and innovation are recognised as key drivers of Irish business success and acts as a catalyst in helping to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set and a real focus on innovation amongst Irish SME’s, corporates, start-ups and researchers through a range of training, leadership and funding initiatives. Learn more at http://www.ryanacademy.ie/
About IASC
Shannon is home to the largest aerospace and aviation cluster in Ireland, with over 60 firms and growing steadily. The Shannon aviation cluster spans the industry value chain, encompassing everything from aircraft leasing, maintenance and recycling to component manufacture, parts repair and business aviation. Shannon Group’s International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) helps these companies to develop their businesses. It also supports new entrants keen to join this growing nucleus of aerospace excellence, ensuring that Shannon remains a global centre for the aviation industry. www.iasc.aero
