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The Next Innovation

Situation Room Studios

The world is experiencing unprecedented growth in technologies ranging from artificial intelligence and robotics to health advancements and automation. The Next Innovation podcast, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, explores what is emerging on the cutting edge of business. Join veteran tech reporter and award-winning host Jennifer Strong as she delves into the most potentially disruptive developments across sectors. Each episode features insights that appeal to business leaders and innovators who want to look beyond today’s trends to tomorrow’s transformations.

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Monday · 22 min
How Irish Companies Are Growing in America. One State at a Time.
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong takes us behind the scenes of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. In the lead-up to the sporting event, Enterprise Ireland hosts a series of gatherings that bring together Irish tech and business leaders, US economic development officials, and university representatives from the participating teams' colleges. Anna-Marie Turley, Head of FinTech at Enterprise Ireland, shares how this year's events enable fintech entrepreneurs to connect with other business leaders. Martin Murray, CEO of Furthr, shares how young companies can network and learn from industry leaders. And for Colm McGarvery, co-founder of medtech startup Selio, these business events help smaller startups gain insight and connections from university leaders. The episode also features Brian O'Shaughnessey, Chief Commercial Officer of Uniphar, an international healthcare service business. O'Shaughnessey shared that AI was a pivotal topic during the events, how the technology is changing the medtech landscape, and how Ireland is a key player in the company's growth in North Carolina. Since this year's football classic was played by the University of North Carolina and Texas Christian University, several university representatives traveled to Dublin to support and expand international efforts. Barbara Stephenson, former U.S. Ambassador and Vice Provost for Global Affairs of UNC, and Jason Salfran, Chief Investment Officer of TCU, discuss how collaboration with Irish leaders helps American universities with research and development efforts. Robert Allen, CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, explains how the Aer Lingus Classic offers a platform for state representatives to speak with Irish leaders whose businesses are shaping state economies and to explore future opportunities. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
August 14 · 25 min
Let the Games Begin: How the Aer Lingus Football Classic is Strengthening U.S.-Ireland Economic Ties
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong previews the Aer Lingus Football Classic, an annual NCAA "Week Zero" American college football game hosted in Dublin, Ireland. This year, the game will take place in late August and the participating teams will be the Texas Christian University’s TCU Horned Frogs and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill's Tar Heels. As a preview to the festivities, Jennifer speaks with various leaders to better understand how this game is a cultural and economic symbol of the Ireland-U.S. partnership, revealing how the game is more than just an international sporting event. Padraic O'Kane, co-founder of Ireland College Football Classic, plays a pivotal role in the annual event. He breaks down the process in the lead-up to the game and the significance of Martin Naughton, esteemed Irish businessman, in shaping the event's legacy. Christopher Chung, CEO of North Carolina's Economic Development Partnership, and Adriana Cruz, Executive Director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, share how the game is representative of the growing business relationship between Ireland and the U.S., offering insight into how Irish companies are growing on U.S. soil. Tommy Sowers, Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development at the University of North Carolina, shares how technological innovation is such a fundamental element of the university's success, and Mark Boeck, Senior Executive Director of Corporate Engagement at Iowa State University - a participating school at last year's event - shares what the energy and spirit was like during the game in Dublin. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive producer, Christine Baratta. Senior producer, Sharon Beriro.
August 5 · 26 min
The Arrival of Quantum Computers Is Closer Than You Think
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong breaks down how quantum computing and its latest developments could shape the future of technology. She speaks with Nobel Laureate John Martinis to better understand quantum mechanics, a key pillar of the technology, and Jason Lynch, CEO of Equal1, to examine how its latest spin qubit computer, the Bell-1, is helping companies explore how quantum could improve efficiency and provide smarter decision-making. Gabriele Meoni, Innovation Officer of the European Space Agency, shares how quantum computers could provide better data analytics for Earth mapping and his experience of working with Equal1's quantum computer. Plus, Isabella Ward, staff writer at Wired, shares what the latest trend of quantum computing says about technology after AI. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive producer, Christine Baratta. Senior producer, Sharon Beriro.
July 18 · 28 min
Why Data Centers Rely on This Crucial Technology
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong examines how data centers power technologies, including AI. She speaks to Niall McFadden, CEO of CEL Critical Power, an Irish mission critical power supplier who recently debuted a manufacturing facility in Northern Virginia. They're helping power new and developing data centers in the region, nicknamed "data center alley." In partnership with the Department of Defense through the SkillBridge Program, current and transitioning service members are ensuring CEL's capabilities are growing and reliable. Tommy Pan Fang, economist of Rice University, and Laila Kearney, US power correspondent at Reuters, break down what makes Northern Virginia such fertile ground for data centers. Jennifer also speaks with Igor Bargatin, associate professor and leading researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, about how orbital data centers could soon be an alternative to terrestrial data centers and what that could mean for tech companies and the future of AI. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
July 1 · 25 min
Want Faster Insurance Claims? AI Could Bring Them To You
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong gives us an inside look at how AI is transforming the insurance industry. As part of the annual InsTech Transformation Summit in Dublin, Ireland, leading insurance and tech startups convened to explore how AI, data, and operating model changes are reshaping the key pillars of the industry, such as underwriting, claims, service, and growth. Jennifer sat down with three company leaders to better understand what's driving these fundamental changes. She spoke with Aidan O'Neill, founder and CEO of DOCOsoft, a core claims management system, Aidan Brogan, Chief Commercial Officer of CodeEast, a software company driving better data analytics, and Niall Crowley, CEO of Inaza, a software company providing the operating AI layer for insurance companies. Each share how their company can help insurance companies provide faster, more reliable claims and, in turn, provide more accurate pricing and protective measures. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta. Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
May 28 · 33 min
Why American States Are Betting On Ireland
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong walks us through the recent SelectUSA Investment Summit, in which delegates from several US states explore the impact of Irish foreign direct investment. The podcast team attended the Investment Summit and had an opportunity to catch up with Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia and Minister Peter Burke, Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. They shared how the relationship with American states has expanded business and technological opportunities. The episode also features interviews with Tricia Utterback and Emily Desai of the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Cathriona Fay, Vice President of Clean Energy Production and Manufacturing at Illinois Economic Development Corporation, Amanda Fisher, Director of International Relations and Protocol for the Office of the Governor of Washington, and Elise Buchen, International Business Development Manager and Gabrielle Gerbaud, Executive Director and Chief Protocol Officer of the State of Minnesota. Each of these interviews highlights how Irish innovation, from quantum computing to dairy production, has encouraged a healthy state economy, boosted the job market, and enabled actionable growth. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
March 21 · 26 min
Live at SXSW: Irish Minister on Ireland's Booming Tech Hub
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong wraps up her coverage of SXSW as she sits down with two Irish leaders spearheading the future of Irish tech innovation. Jenny Melia is the CEO of Enterprise Ireland and Minister Robert Troy is the Minister of State at the Department of Finance. Their conversation with Jennifer examines Ireland’s growing role as a booming global tech hub, what it takes to ensure young entrepreneurs have the right resources for their businesses to flourish, and the differences between scaling a startup in the European Union versus the United States. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
March 17 · 33 min
Live from SXSW: Do Humans Still Matter in the Evolution of AI?
Happy St. Patrick's Day! In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong takes you to Austin, Texas, for the annual tech conference at SXSW. In this live panel discussion hosted at Ireland House, she sits down with Peri Kadaster, Chief Communications Officer of Nearform, a company that specializes in delivering tailored AI solutions for clients. The panel also features Brenda Jordan, CEO of Sobi Analytics, a company using AI to enable smarter and more efficient financial services. The discussion examines Ireland's growing role as a global tech powerhouse, the different ways AI can strengthen business operations, and the increasingly important role of human intelligence, hand in hand with AI. Plus, the panelists take questions from audience members. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
February 28 · 28 min
Inside The Chip Boom and The Builders Making It Happen
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong examines what's driving the latest chip boom, including how AI advancements and national security are incentivizing domestic production of semiconductors. Don Clark, a freelance tech journalist with over two decades of experience covering the semiconductor industry for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, breaks down how semiconductors are an essential ingredient in all forms of technology, the complex global supply chain of semiconductors, and how factories - or chip fabs, as they're known - are designed and constructed to produce chips. The episode also features Séamus Guidera, an architect at RKD Architects, a leading Irish architecture firm helping design sustainable semiconductor facilities around the world, Tony Woods, Managing Director of Midland Steel, a steel supplier that works on chip fabs, and Dan McAlister, co-founder and CEO of EIDA Solutions, a software that assesses quality control of chip fabs. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro. Additional production support by Global Situation Room.
February 14 · 34 min
The Sports Tech Powering NBA and NFL Athletes
More than twenty years after the Moneyball phenomenon proved that numbers could win games, sports are entering a new data revolution. In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong unpacks how the latest generation of sports tech is powering performance. Martin O’Reilly, CEO and co-founder of Output Sports, shares how his company’s matchbox-sized sensors give coaches like the University of Colorado’s Steve Englehart real-time strength and performance metrics. Engineer Conor Walsh explains how his Harvard lab develops prototypes that adapt to each user, from runners to patients regaining mobility. And Nick Sprague reveals how Orreco uses biomarkers and motion capture to deliver individualized insights to NBA and Premier League players. Orreco has been named as part of the 10 most innovative sports tech companies by Sports Business Journal. But can too much tracking undermine the human side of the game? Journalist Zach Schonbrun raises critical questions about the double-edged sword of personalization. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
January 26 · 33 min
The Next Workforce in Space Isn’t Human
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong speaks with Ethan Barajas and Jamie Palmer of Icarus Robotics, an Irish co-founded start-up, about their work developing dexterous, AI-enabled robots designed to operate alongside astronauts in space. The co-founders reflect on the experiences that led them into robotics, from an early NASA internship to time spent as a test engineer with the Mercedes Formula One team. They discuss how general-purpose robots can handle routine and hazardous tasks aboard the International Space Station, and explain how this may change the way astronauts spend their time in space. They break down the technical and operational challenges of testing robots for microgravity and explain why teleoperation is a crucial step toward fully autonomous physical AI. The conversation also explores what has surprised them most about working in the space industry, why the data they are collecting today could shape the next decade of space exploration, and how New York City’s growing international tech scene is supporting the next generation of engineering startups. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
January 12 · 37 min
The Top Tech Trends to Expect in 2026
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong sits down with other prominent journalists from the tech industry to break down the biggest tech trends to expect in 2026. Joining Jennifer are Jeff Wilser, a freelance tech reporter, AI expert, and podcast host, Charlotte Jee, news editor at MIT Technology Review, and Robert McMillan, a cybersecurity reporter for the Wall Street Journal. They explore how the different iterations of AI, including agentic AI, will shape the future of cybersecurity, finance, healthcare, and defense. They also examine how AI-generated content is altering general interest in social media among younger generations, the energy impact of data centers, the future of quantum computing, and the emergence of humanoid robots. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
Dec 26, 2025 · 30 min
Meet The AI Agents Defending Against Cyber Threats
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong unpacks how agentic AI, a new form of AI technology, is shaping the landscape of business operations, specifically how it is fortifying cybersecurity efforts. We meet Thomas Kinsella, co-founder of Tines, an Irish technology company that employs agentic AI for smarter workflows and increased production. Dr. John Williams, professor of agentic computing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), walks us through how agentic AI differs from large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and Anne Neuberger, former U.S. deputy National Security Advisor for cyber and emerging technology, explains how the use of agents in cybersecurity can better detect unusual behaviors and prepare against foreign adversaries, including how Chinese attackers targeted Anthropic AI, an AI research company. Plus, Lane Bess, former CEO of Palo Alto Networks, shares how companies can integrate AI agents to both protect and enable workers. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
Nov 27, 2025 · 32 min
With This Tech, You Can Farm Smarter, Not Harder
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong explores how agriculture is rapidly digitizing, from herd apps to autonomous drones. Texas cattleman Cody Alexander shares how rising costs, shrinking labor, and family tradition shape daily life on his multigenerational ranch. Meghan Bochanski, North America Growth Manager at Herdwatch, a cloud-based herd-management app, explains how the software is helping producers track treatments, calving, and performance data in real time. From Ireland, Donal Skelly, Product Manager for LVLogics, describes how the silo monitoring company built a wireless, self-cleaning silo sensor to eliminate dangerous climbs and give farmers remote visibility into feed levels. Agricultural automation expert, Dr. Alex Thomasson of Mississippi State University, outlines how drones, autonomous tractors, and AI are redefining fieldwork. And PJ Huffstutter, agriculture reporter at Reuters, breaks down the economic barriers facing farmers, from the cost of land and equipment to the connectivity gaps that slow digital adoption. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
Nov 21, 2025 · 30 min
Got Milk? These Technologies Could Get It To You Faster
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong explores how automation and AI are transforming the dairy industry, from personalized milking systems to smarter supply chains. We meet Cody Alexander, a cattle rancher in rural Texas, who walks us through his farm and cow maintenance. John Daly, head of Research and Innovation at Dairymaster, a company focusing on automation efforts in dairy production, explains how sensors and robotic teat sprayers are enhancing animal welfare and productivity. Dr. Julio Giordano, a professor of animal science at Cornell University and co-director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA), shares how digital monitoring systems can help farmers detect illnesses earlier and improve overall herd well-being. Leigh Hamilton, CEO of Piper Systems, a company focused on digital technology for milk collection, testing, and sampling, explains how new forms of metering and sampling ensure farmers are paid fairly and high-quality milk is delivered. And Gary Gallagher, CEO and founder of OptaHaul, a software company focused on dairy logistics, discusses how the tech can cut costs and carbon emissions in milk transport. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
Oct 3, 2025 · 34 min
Here's the Sports Tech Powering NBA and NFL Athletes
More than twenty years after the Moneyball phenomenon proved that numbers could win games, sports are entering a new data revolution. In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong unpacks how the latest generation of sports tech is powering performance. Martin O’Reilly, CEO and co-founder of Output Sports, shares how his company’s matchbox-sized sensors give coaches like the University of Colorado’s Steve Englehart real-time strength and performance metrics. Engineer Conor Walsh explains how his Harvard lab develops prototypes that adapt to each user, from runners to patients regaining mobility. And Nick Sprague reveals how Orreco uses biomarkers and motion capture to deliver individualized insights to NBA and Premier League players. But can too much tracking undermine the human side of the game? Journalist Zach Schonbrun raises critical questions about the double-edged sword of personalization. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Executive Producer is Christine Baratta, Senior Producer is Sharon Beriro.
Sep 16, 2025 · 25 min
Bringing Brands to Life With Augmented Reality
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the next era of spatial storytelling— how virtual and augmented reality are shaping the way businesses and consumers interact with technology. Michael Guerin, founder and CEO of Imvizar, explains how his company uses location-based immersive experiences to connect people with meaningful stories, creating hundreds of employee and visitor digital experiences for clients such as global accounting firm Grant Thornton, Salesforce, Google, and others. Then, Ben Lang, executive editor and co-founder of the virtual reality news site, Road to VR, takes us inside the rapid and exciting changes in the industry. And finally, Dr. Randall Hill, executive director of the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, shares how augmented and virtual reality applications can build understanding and deeper human connections. Plus, Rafa Pagés, co-founder and CEO of Volograms, walks us through how volumetric video capture is shaping the sports industry and bringing the cutting-edge technology closer to everyday users.
Aug 22, 2025 · 17 min
How Corporate Sustainability Can Keep Your Top Talent
What does real corporate climate action look like — and who’s driving it? In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the evolving world of sustainable business, where tech startups, multinational corporations, and farms alike are under pressure to reduce emissions across the globe. She speaks with Paul Murphy, CEO of ClimeAction, an Ireland-based company offering “climate action as a service” to help factories and supply chains decarbonize, and Josh Prigge, a leading ESG consultant and founder of Sustridge. Forbes contributor Joan Michelson shares how the EU has made strides past the US to meet its climate commitments. And we meet Yasmin Abdu, founder of CarbonTrac, a supermarket tech company backed by the United Nations and Samsung. Their insights reveal how business leaders are rethinking risk, regulation, and responsibility in the face of climate change
Aug 21, 2025 · 21 min
Is the Future of Storytelling Extended Reality?
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the immersive world of extended reality - or XR - and how it's reshaping storytelling, art, and technology. Featuring voices from across the XR industry, the episode introduces us to Mark Vena, a leading tech analyst at Smart Tech Research; Paddy Dunning, a visionary behind The Giant, a ten-story LED statue that transforms intro cultural icons; Camille Donegan, founder of Eirmersive, an organization helping Irish artists use XR; and Don McGuire, Qualcomm's CMO, who breaks down how AI and wearable XR devises are entering everyday life. We also hear from Janet Beck of Glasseye and Jad Zouein of OuterNet London, whose immersive installations are turning advertising and art into living, breathing experiences. From empathy-building VR to real-time audience engagement, this episode reveals why XR may be the future of connection - and why great storytelling still lies at its core.
Mar 14, 2025 · 34 min
Live from SXSW: How Will AI Work With Human Intelligence?
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly takes the stage at Ireland House, the designated meeting point of Enterprise Ireland innovators and leaders during the annual SXSW tech conference in Austin, Texas. As part of a live panel discussion, Samantha sat down with William Fitzgerald, co-founder of Bárd Global, Dr. Susan Leavy, ethicist and professor at University College Dublin, and Dr. Matt Lease, computer scientist and professor at the University of Texas. They explore the ethical considerations of AI-generated content, whether regulation can hurt or foster innovation, and what young companies should be privy to when considering AI tools. They also discuss how AI is transforming certain industries and what consumers should expect in the near future.

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