A room filled with leaders in the Sports Tech sector gathered in Limerick’s International Rugby Experience yesterday to absorb the impact of whet has been achieved in the sector over the past number of years and to explore the potential for so much more.
The gathering was led by Gráinne Barry and Martina Skelly, founders of the not for profit Sports Tech Ireland in 2017 and the drivers of what is possible through what they imaginatively phrased yesterday as the ‘talent philanthropy’ of those supporting the growth of the sector.
The inaugural Sports Tech Ireland Industry Report, is a showcase of what that has delivered so far, and a comprehensive overview of the present landscape and future prospects of the sports technology and innovation sector in Ireland.
It highlights 85 companies that are operating in the space, and breaks them down across Athletic Performance (36%) The Business of Sport, including Sport for Business (23%) Sports Participation (21%) and fan and consumer engagement (20%).
Writing in the introduction to the report, Gráinne Barry who doubles up as SVP Operations for Stats Perform in the European base in Limerick said “The sportstech industry has experienced exponential growth and is forecasted to double once more in the next five years.”
“This surge is driven by leveraging technological advancements in various aspects of sports, including enhancing human performance, engaging fans, and optimizing the business of sport.”
“Opportunities abound with the integration of AI and the intersection with other sectors like sustainability, future mobility, eSports, and health.”
“This results in an industry driving job creation, economic growth and trade and investment.”
EA Sports, Riot Games, Strava, Whoop, LiveScore, Fitbit, Catapult, Glofox, Draft Kings and Stats Perform are among the FDI companies that have established a significant presence in Ireland.
Aimee Williams, Vice President of Content, Consumer and Business Services at IDA Ireland led a panel discussion on why it is that ireland is punching above its weight in the sector. She was joined by Trev Keane, founder of Epic Global and a world leader in the business of esports, by Dr Brian Moore, ther founder of Orreco who summed up the speed of change by saying that he had been both exhilarated and terrified by changes in the past week within the sector (!) and by Paul Ryan od Stats Perform.
Part of the reason for ireland’s strength is in talent and Rob hartnett of Sport for Business then led a second discussion around that space with Dr Kieron Collins of TUD, the leader of Ireland’s first Postgrad diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation; Denise Martin of the Atlantic Technological University and Olympian Neil Ryan who represented Ireland in the 100 metres at the 19196 Games in Atlanta and was able to draw on lessons from his own career since in Fintech with Finbourne Technology.
The passion for building the sector was palpable and the report is well worth a look.
The morning finished up with a rollercoaster tour through the development of Artificial Intelligence and the impact, challenges and opportunities it presents in sport with Patrick Lucey, Chief Scientist at Stats Perform and someone you should get to see and hear as soon as possible.
A heady morning of what the future can hold.
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