Eeolas Institute - Closure

Closure

The Institute, campus and the Academy were closed during 2008, after the 10 million euro initial investment was followed by 1.3 million euro of losses. Eeolas Institute Ltd. was dissolved, and the website, and current references on DCU's website, were deleted.

The new Academy re-opened in early 2009 and began to establish its reputation in the area of Entrepreneurship in Ireland. Under the guidance of a new CEO, Ann Horan, the Academy is now developing a number of proposals in entrepreneurship and innovation. The new Academy exists to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and to use its iconic building in Citywest as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurs and researchers to develop ideas, learn new skills and network. There is widespread agreement in business, political and academic circles that the key to Ireland’s recovery and future is the development and exploitation of our best and brightest people who have developed world class ideas to fuel world class competition. The Ryan Academy is working with researchers and entrepreneurs to help them achieve their potential. The Academy believes that the Social Economy will play a key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and we are committed to providing leadership and support to this key sector.

Areas of Focus include Education & Networking (Innovative, superior quality programmes relevant to the needs of existing and future entrepreneurs and supportive of the Government’s Smart Economy and social policies), research (Providing leadership in the fields of research and policy development for selected areas of entrepreneurship and innovation), collaboration (Promote entrepreneurship and innovation by forming and coordinating national and international partnerships with universities, state agencies, social sector, Corporates, multinationals and Small and Medium sized companies). The Academy also works in collaboration with others in innovation, for example working on the Your Country Your Call project that was launched by President Mary McAleese in February 2010.

The new Academy also delivers short term modules in subjects such as Social Enterprise Development, Foresight, Entrepreneurship for Engineers and New Product Development, and longer term courses for post-doctoral students in DCU under Academy's Director of Programmes Gordon McConnell.