The upcoming Globe Forum in Dublin is shaping up to be quite special. Johan, the CEO and his team have been building a very close relationship with the city of Dublin to create a forum that is focused on highlighting leading Irish sustainable innovators and positioning Dublin as a platform city for a system of open innovation. One of the most intriguing aspects of this forum and Ireland is the focus on the Irish Diaspora. A close-knit and passionately Irish community of millions spread around the world.
The focus of Globe Forum on the Irish Diaspora is supported by a number of efforts focused on using the Irish experience as a way forward for “Transnational Knowledge transfer through Diaspora Networks.” (UNESCO).
The actual definition of Diaspora is an interesting one. Diaspora is the Greek word for the ‘scattering or sowing of seeds.’ It refers to any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their traditional ethnic homelands, being dispersed throughout other parts of the world, and the ensuing developments in their dispersal and culture (Mahroum et al 2006).
The origins of the Irish Diaspora, as you probably well know is rooted in tragedy and catastrophe. It includes the millions of Irish Refugees who fled from Ireland to escape the potato famine and the associated political oppression. In recent years, Ireland has experienced a cultural renaissance and (until the recent economic crisis) exceptional economic performance that helped to pull Ireland into the 21st Century as Ireland positioned itself as a hub for the headquarters of multinational corporations while encouraging the return of the overseas Irish with free education and an openness to leverage the skills and experience of those millions of citizens that had moved away from their beloved homeland.
Many of these visionary policies can be attributed charismatic former Irish President, Mary Robinson who, in the 1990s began speaking in glowing terms of the Irish Diaspora and incentivizing their return through intelligent and innovative policy-making. This reversal of ‘Brain Drain’ has been coined ‘Brain Gain’ and is a complex process. Here is a short video on ‘Tapping the Irish Diaspora’
Ireland has suffered through the collapse of its housing market and dismal economic performance but is now re-envisioning its future and looking at new ways to make the most of Irish innovation both within Ireland and by reaching out via international partnerships to members of its diaspora in far-flung countries from the U.S. to New Zealand and Australia. Globe Forum in Dublin will no doubt contribute to this process by bringing together talented individuals and organisations in the spirit of open innovation and ‘crowdsourced’ solutions.
Some of the session highlights from the event are the following;
- Cities as Innovation Ecosystems:
This session will look at case studies of Smart, Open, Green cities. It will look at urbanisation as a driving force of sustainability
- Movement and Connection; Realising Innovation:
This session looks at the evolution of transport systems towards sustainability and asks the question, what might a sustainable transport system look like in 20 years or so?
- The Biomass Revolution
This session focuses on experts and innovators exploring the potential of biomass to drive an energy revolution and address the shortcomings of first generation biofuels. Algae, agricultural waste products, and other experimental sources are part of this equation.
For full details of all the sessions and to keep tabs on the event as it evolves and comes together, head over to the globe forum page here; http://bit.ly/aDkyYh
As we move closer to Globe Forum Dublin, I will be blogging about the individuals that will share their experiences and expertise on open innovation and related topics in a country that is home to a talented diaspora ready to contribute to defining Ireland’s future as a key player in sustainable innovation.
Soon, I will bring you all something special from an expert on the Irish Diaspora, stay tuned…..
