In cross Irish partnership with innovation district Sister, Galway hub seeks to ease UK expansion costs for Irish start-ups. New agreement opens reciprocal access to workspaces and networks.
Platform94, the west of Ireland’s largest innovation hub, has signed a twelve‑month partnership with Sister, Manchester’s £1.7bn innovation district, in a move aimed at smoothing the path for Irish technology companies entering the UK market.
The agreement, announced in Manchester on Thursday, establishes a dedicated base in the city for Platform94 members and offers Sister’s customers access to workspace and soft‑landing supports in Galway.
“80% of our community leaders are targeting new or continued growth in the UK over the next twelve months”
Both organisations said the arrangement would reduce practical barriers for early‑stage international expansion and encourage deeper collaboration between two of Europe’s most active regional technology clusters.
Manchester abú
The partnership provides reciprocal complimentary desk space and short‑term workspace access, along with connections to local networks and advisers in both regions. Platform94 said the arrangement responds directly to findings in its 2026 Business Outlook, which identifies the UK as the primary growth target for its community of scaling companies.
Marie Donnellan, chief executive of Platform94, said many founders were ambitious about expanding into the UK but continued to face financial and operational obstacles at the earliest stage of entry.
“80% of our community leaders are targeting new or continued growth in the UK over the next twelve months. While ambition is strong, the cost of expansion remains the number one challenge for founders scaling internationally. This partnership tackles that reality by giving companies trusted space on the ground, local networks and the practical support they need to test, land and scale with confidence,” she said.
Manchester has become the largest technology hub outside London and one of the fastest‑growing in Europe, with more than 10,000 digital companies operating across the region. Sister, launched in 2024 as a joint venture between the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, now supports more than 50 start ups in sectors including artificial intelligence, sustainability and advanced materials.
Northern soul, western edge
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, welcomed the agreement as a continuation of discussions held during a recent regional trade mission to Ireland.
“Both Greater Manchester and Galway are home to thriving digital and tech sectors, with shared strengths in areas like AI and medical technologies. It is great to see those discussions result in this partnership, which is all about helping innovative companies work together and access new markets. Many Irish companies have chosen Greater Manchester as their UK base, and by strengthening our offer we can make that process more straightforward for the next wave,” he said.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said the partnership reflected the depth of long‑standing ties between Manchester and Ireland.
“Irish businesses are drawn to Manchester for our innovation ecosystem and access to world‑class talent. By connecting two leading innovation hubs, we are making it easier for ambitious companies on both sides to collaborate, share expertise and scale while creating opportunities for our residents,” she said.
In Galway, Platform94 has expanded elevenfold since its establishment in 1994 and now supports more than 500 companies on site, contributing more than €2bn in gross value added to the regional economy. The region is also home to eight of the world’s ten largest medtech multinationals, including Medtronic and Boston Scientific.
Liz Bamber, director of place at Sister, framed the collaboration as a way to lower the friction for cross‑border entrepreneurship. “This partnership is more than sharing desks. It is about supporting businesses to grow and expand, and share talent, ideas and ambition. By linking Sister and Platform94, we are creating an environment where entrepreneurs can scale across borders, enter new markets and leverage industry experts,” she said, adding that entrepreneurs would also gain access to the University of Manchester’s innovation resources through its Unit M division.
Enterprise Ireland, whose funding supports Platform94, said the partnership aligned with efforts to strengthen the presence of Irish exporters in the UK, their largest international market. Laura Brocklebank, the agency’s UK manager, said it would help Irish firms build meaningful connections in Manchester when they are ready to scale.
The announcement was marked with a showcase event in Manchester attended by Burnham, Enterprise Ireland representatives, Manchester Investment Development Agency Service, Skillnet Innovation Exchange and a number of Platform94 member companies already preparing for UK expansion.
Top image (from left): Dr Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Marie Donnellan, CEO of Platform94; and Liz Bamber, Director of Place at Sister
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