Anaeko are pleased to announce we have achieved AWS Select Tier Partner status and have become an AWS Public Sector Partner. This marks a significant step in our journey as a leading Data and Analytics company leveraging our partnership with AWS to offer innovative solutions to our customers in both public and private sectors.

We have had a lot of support from the AWS partner team and our distribution partner Ingram Micro and would like to thank them for helping us along this journey.

The partner tier status recognises our technical competency and our delivery expertise to our clients. We look forward to continuing to build on this and grow in partnership with AWS and Ingram.

Generation Innovation aims to inform, upskill and empower the young people of the current generation to thrive as the next leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs of the future. And Anaeko is proud to support this event founded by Catalyst by offering resources for their work experience programme 2024.

The initiative energises the imaginations and aspirations of young people in Northern Ireland by increasing their knowledge of skills and awareness of future careers in innovation. The ethos of the program believes that young people are central to unlocking Northern Ireland’s future as a globally renowned knowledge economy. That’s why we put them at the heart of our inspirational community of entrepreneurs, companies and education leaders.

The work experience programme is for ambitious 17–18-year-olds interested in up-skilling for the jobs of the future. Students receive Design Thinking training over the course of five days, learning how to work as part of a new team made up of students from across Northern Ireland. The new skills are then put to the test by solving a company challenge by developing a solution, before pitching it to the partner company and their fellow students.

Generation Innovation kicked off this year with a company training day for the Generation Innovation Work Experience Programme in the new Ulster University Belfast campus.

This training day allowed partner companies to join together and build out their Design Challenges that will be proposed to the students during the Generation Innovation Week.

Anaeko’s Challenge Statement for Generation Innovation Week

How might we come up with a solution that can bridge the digital skills gap across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds to drive inclusive growth and maintain economic competitiveness in Northern Ireland?

Anaeko is a Northern Irish Data Engineering company on a mission to deliver environmental and societal benefit through timely access to quality data. Fostering inclusivity within projects and partnerships is one way that Anaeko can deliver societal benefit.

At Anaeko, we endeavour to undertake projects that facilitate digital inclusion, ensuring that everyone can access and benefit from digital technologies. However, according to a November 2023 report by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), nearly one in five individuals in Northern Ireland lack digital skills, defined as not having engaged in various online activities such as using online services, finding information, communicating, and practicing internet safety. While 44 percent possess above-basic digital skills and 38 percent have basic skills, significant discrepancies exist across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Despite Northern Ireland surpassing the Republic of Ireland and the EU in basic ICT skills with 81.3 percent proficiency, challenges persist due to an aging population, lower productivity rates compared to the UK and Ireland, and gender disparities in digital skill distribution. Closing these gaps is crucial for maintaining economic competitiveness.

We look forward to working with the young people during Generation Innovation Week to explore and see what solutions they create against this design challenge.

On the 7th of December Anaeko in association with Digital Leaders, hosted a roundtable. The goal of the event was to bring together key stakeholders to explore the potential for delivering all-island cancer data infrastructure, aligning with the All-Island eHealth Hub for Cancer, a €4M Hub of Excellence funded through the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme. The primary focus of the event was to define the core data infrastructure and identify partners willing to help pump-prime this initiative.

The Power of Integrated Data: A Game-Changer in Cancer Control

At the heart of this initiative lies the recognition that data is core to unlocking pivotal insights in cancer control. The amalgamation of clinical, radiology, pathology, genetic, and molecular data is key the initiative, Dr. McDade, Professor Lawler, and Dr. Quinn champion the integration of these diverse datasets will lead to insights that will lead to more effective treatments and interventions for many different cancers.

Empowering a Citizen-Centred Data Ecosystem

Central to the vision is a data ecosystem that puts citizens at its core. This culture of data-sharing is not only about aggregating information but also about empowering individuals in their healthcare journey. This would lead to a reciprocal relationship wherein citizens contribute their data and, in return, receive personalised insights while contributing to improved healthcare strategies.

Driving the Big Data for Better Health Agenda

The potential of big data in healthcare is immense. By harnessing vast and varied datasets—clinical, omics, and imaging—researchers can glean new insights predict disease trajectories, and develop tailored treatments. Dr. McDade, Professor Lawler, and Dr. Quinn envision Ireland at the forefront of the big data revolution in healthcare, using these insights not only for cancer but also as a catalyst for innovation across various diseases.

Creating Cancer Data Trusted-Research Environments: A Unique Opportunity

The urgency to establish Trusted-Research Environments for cancer data on the Island of Ireland cannot be overstated. This initiative presents a unique opportunity to bring together stakeholders, policymakers, and institutions to lay the groundwork for Proof-of-Concept projects. Driven by these visionaries, the goal is to galvanize support and collaboration to demonstrate the tangible benefits of an integrated data infrastructure through key use-cases.

Conclusion: A Collaborative Data Infrastructure

The vision set forth by the roundtable could lead to a paradigm shift in cancer research and healthcare on Island of Ireland. By championing integrated data infrastructure, fostering a citizen-centred data-sharing culture, and driving a big data agenda, they pave the way for a future where data isn’t just information—it’s the catalyst for innovation, better health outcomes, and improved lives.

There was huge support of the concept from all participants at the roundtable. A number of Use Cases were identified and follow-on event are planned in the New year to progress the initiative.

ARUP were selected as TechFest winners for the ‘Best Use of Technology: Whole Life Performance’ Award for the project, ‘Unlocking the power of AI to achieve early blockage detection in sewer networks’ at the TechFest Awards 2023, powered by Construction News and New Civil Engineer.

ARUP designed an AI-powered predictive modelling algorithm in partnership with Anaeko for Northern Ireland Water, with the aim of achieving early blockage detection within their network.

Blockages in sewer networks and surcharge-related flooding pose a major challenge to wastewater companies and cost millions per year in repair work.

ARUP developed an AI-powered predictive modelling algorithm for early blockage detection in NI Water’s network. The algorithm aims to enable NI Water’s technical operations teams to arrive on site before blockage events can cause any significant impact to the network.

As part of the overall project outcomes Anaeko partnered with ARUP, as a specialist data engineering company, to provide expertise on PowerBI Dashboard reporting. After user research and stakeholder interviews, through our UX process, we produced dashboard designs and documentation that can be used as groundwork for future development of a PowerBI centralised platform.

The benefits of a centralised system, where NI Water could access their blockage data, alerts, and predictions, include reduced environmental impacts from unintended pollution or spills, improved regulatory compliance and increased customer satisfaction.

Find out more about the TechFest Awards: TechFest 2023 Winners

This day last week Anaeko attended this years INVENT Awards at the ICC Belfast, where we acted as corporate sponsors of the ‘Business Software’ category and had the absolute pleasure of presenting the award to this years winners SEQO.

 The INVENT Awards are Northern Ireland’s premier competition for innovative start-ups to showcase their business acumen and budding entrepreneurial spirit.

Organised by science and technology hub Catalyst with headline partner Bank of Ireland, the annual INVENT Awards celebrate the brightest new business ideas with the greatest commercial potential from across the region.

Ten finalists were chosen to compete for the main prize at a showcase event in the ICC Belfast, with GoPlugable taking home a prize package from the total prize fund of £52,000. Founded by Maebh Reynolds GoPlugable is dedicated to facilitating the transition to electric vehicles for first-time buyers who lack access to personal home chargers. By providing a platform to locate, reserve, and share neighbouring EV home charging points.

As sponsors of the Business Software category at this years awards, Anaeko CEO Denis Murphy had the honour of presenting this category award to SEQO, an innovative new start-up founded by Brendan Lowry and Claire McCaffrey. SEQO is a platform for managing continuity in the TV and Film Industry.  

Congratulations to all the finalists that made it to the INVENT Awards:

• Greentech: Wake and Make – Energy, GoPluggable
• Health and Wellbeing: AXONNR, Little Sunflower
• Product: CycleAid, WearMatter
• Business Software: SEQO, Track
• Consumer Software: Feminatech, Learning Me

and to each to the category winners:

• Greentech: GoPlugable
• Health and Wellbeing: Little Sunflower
• Business Software: SEQO
• Product: CycleAid
• Consumer Software: Learning Me

As a company, we love to promote and engage with innovative enterprises at any level of development, to learn more about our services and how Anaeko could help your business grow! Complete the short form to the right of this article to get in contact!

About Belfast International Homecoming 2023

Belfast Homecoming celebrates a city which has seen — and survived — its fair share of challenges and emerged resolute, resilient and ready to rock.

At Homecoming 2023 they will showcase ebullient, emerging communities transforming the Belfast demographic, culinary and community landscape.

Global visitors will hear from civic leaders about their ambitious vision for the future and meet the peace-makers, bridge-builders and change-makers building a better Belfast.

A special focus will be on the business leaders and entrepreneurs driving forward the new city; all of them inspirational individuals keen to partner with you to source investment, advice and contracts.

Belfast International Homecoming will take place at Titanic Hotel, Belfast / The Belfast Harbour Commissioners on 28 September 2023.

Denis Murphy, CEO Anaeko, delighted to be Honorary Chair

I am delighted to be appointed as one of the Honorary Chairs for the Belfast International Homecoming and would like to extend a heartfelt and warm welcome to the Northern Ireland diaspora and supporters of Northern Ireland as they gather in Belfast for the much-anticipated Belfast International Homecoming. Belfast’s rich history and dynamic present are enhanced by your presence, as you contribute to the diverse and inclusive spirit that defines our community.

Over the last few decades Belfast has overcome numerous challenges to emerge as an outstanding example of positive transformation and progress. In recent years, Belfast has experienced a remarkable transformation, driven in part by a wave of inward migration. This influx of new talent and fresh perspectives has infused the city with vitality and innovation, propelling it into a new era of growth and renewal.

At the heart of Belfast’s resurgence are its visionary business leaders and entrepreneurs. These individuals have embraced innovation, harnessed the city’s potential, and are driving it forward on the global stage. Belfast has rapidly emerged as a thriving tech hub with a strong emphasis on both cybersecurity and software development. This city has successfully harnessed its strategic location, skilled workforce, and robust infrastructure to become a magnet for technological innovation. With a particular focus on cyber defence and software advancement, Belfast has cultivated a diverse ecosystem that encompasses start-ups, established tech companies, research institutions, and educational centres, all working in tandem to drive the evolution of digital security and software solutions. This collaborative environment, bolstered by proactive government support and foreign direct investment, has led to the growth of a vibrant community of experts and professionals in cybersecurity and software engineering.

About Anaeko

On the back of this wave, Anaeko has established an impressive track record of delivering innovation for North American cloud software pioneers, including industry giants like IBM and TidalScale. With a commitment to cutting-edge innovation and unwavering dedication to quality, Anaeko has consistently delivered solutions that have pushed the boundaries of cloud technology. Collaborating with these leading innovators, Anaeko has contributed to the creation of advanced software solutions that optimise cloud infrastructure, enhance scalability, and elevate overall performance. Through a combination of technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and a deep understanding of the intricacies of cloud computing, Anaeko has solidified its reputation as a trusted partner in driving forward the evolution of cloud software for some of the most influential companies in North America and beyond.

Join the Celebrations

The Belfast Homecoming 2023 promises to be an excellent event that brings together leaders, thinkers, and change-makers from around the globe to help accelerate this growth and renewal. Civic leaders will share their ambitious visions for the future, offering insights into the city’s ongoing transformation. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the peace-makers and bridge-builders and innovators who have worked tirelessly to build a stronger, more inclusive Belfast—a testament to the power of collaboration.

Please join in the celebration: Register Here