About

Project Partners

University of Ulster

Ulster is a university with a national and international reputation for excellence, innovation and regional engagement. We make a major contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of Northern Ireland and play a key role in attracting inward investment. Our core business activities are teaching and learning, widening access to education, research and innovation and technology and knowledge transfer.

Take a look at our courses and you’ll see how we’re preparing students for tomorrow’s world today.

  • We have a positive impact on the economy and community in Northern Ireland and employ over 3000 staff with an annual turnover of more than £200 million.
  • Technology and knowledge transfer and commercial exploitation of ideas are promoted by our Office of Innovation through a range of initiatives and ongoing research and consultancy with business and industry.
  • We are a major contributor to the Research and Development capacity within Northern Ireland and we support local business and industry. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise confirmed the strength and quality of our research and the advances that we are continually making.
  • We make a leading contribution to lifelong learning (via eLearning), widening access to education for all - enhancing the region's knowledge base.
  • Partnerships have been forged with other educational providers locally, nationally and internationally and we have a network of strategic partnerships throughout the world.

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) is strategically positioned mid-way along the Dublin-Belfast Corridor, on the border into Northern Ireland. Within a 90 minute drive-time from the campus there is an estimated population catchment of 3.29 million which accounts for approximately 52% of the population of the entire island in 2011, making the region an attractive location for inward investment and other economic development.

In 2012, DkIT was named runner up for Institute of Technology of the Year in the Sunday Times University Guide and a recent report into the economic impact of DkIT showed that for every €1 DkIT received in state funding, it generated €7.54 in economic impact at the local, regional and cross-border level.

As the main partner for the Republic of Ireland, Honeycomb - Creative Works encompasses the work of the Regional Development Centre and the School of Informatics and Creative Arts at DkIT.

The Regional Development Centre (RDC) is the commercially oriented interface between DkIT and the industrial, commercial and business life of the region, and makes available the expertise, facilities and resources of the Institute for the wider benefit of the regional economy. The Centre achieves this through the following range of programmes and activities:

  • Research & Development and Technology Transfer
  • Entrepreneurial Development Programmes
  • Incubation Facilities for Knowledge and Technology-Based Enterprises
  • Applied Research
  • Sectoral and Regional Development Initiatives
  • Spearheading and Supporting EU and Cross-Border Development Initiatives
  • Networking with Agencies and Organisations at Regional, National and International Level

Since it was founded the RDC has supported more than 864 entrepreneurs, incubated 117 knowledge based start-up enterprises and conducted 212 applied research projects. Since 2001 it has also managed €23.1 million of externally funded projects.

The Honeycomb Project Manager, based at the RDC, overseas all project activity across the six border counties of Ireland, as well as acting as thematic lead for the Networks of Scale activities across the whole project eligible area.

School of Informatics and Creative Arts also plays a key role in the development and delivery of Honeycomb. Within this School, the Creative Media Section prides itself in being a cultivator of creativity and thought, where lecturers and students actively engage with new technologies. Creative Media also recognises that digital and creative media are at the forefront of the knowledge-based economy, and the exploitation of digital content within the media and entertainment sectors and are an important strategic opportunity for economic development in Ireland. Staff from Creative Media are actively involved in developing the skills component of Honeycomb, in conjunction with partners from University of Ulster and Creative Skillset.

For further information on DkIT log on to and to see the work of the Regional Development Centre go to

Creative Skillset

We are working to help our Creative Industries collectively own and invest in skills and talent and to ensure they have world-beating leaders, who are inspirational, innovative and visionary entrepreneurs. We use our research programme and evidence base to highlight the link between skills and growth and work to ensure SMEs and micro enterprises are supported and partnered to address their skills and growth ambitions.

We want the creative industries workforce, including the large freelance community, to be able to access and invest in high quality, affordable training and development and to ensure that learning and training is of the highest quality and aligned to industry needs. We signpost that quality training to individuals and employers.

We work to ensure there are clear pathways into our industries for diverse new talent, with a focus on careers, apprenticeships, internships and traineeships. We guide employers to recruit openly and fairly and from the widest talent pool to ensure our industries attract the brightest and the best.