A delegation lead by Carlow County Council joined European partners in Perugia, Umbria from recently for the final exchange meeting of the InnoCom programme under the Interreg Europe initiative. The mission gathered 48 delegates from Ireland, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, and Ukraine. The Carlow delegation the Chamber of Commerce, Carlow Tourism, and South East Technological University,
InnoCom focuses on practical policy improvements that strengthen how public bodies communicate with and support small and medium-sized enterprises. Partners use the programme to refine digital tools, reduce information barriers, and share workable methods that improve SME competitiveness. Sviluppumbria, Umbria’s regional development agency, hosted the programme. The agency works with the regional administration to promote enterprise creation, innovation, internationalisation, and tourism across the territory.
Speaking about the engagement , Cllr Ken Murnane, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Counil noted 'Connecting Carlow with European partners delivers clear value for our local economy. The Perugia mission provided practical lessons we will apply to help businesses innovate, build skills, and reach new markets. This supports Council priorities to strengthen SMEs, deepen collaboration with education and industry, and grow tourism in a sustainable way”.
The agenda blended focused policy discussions with immersive field visits that highlighted the economic and innovation landscape of the Umbria Region. Delegates began at the regional offices, where they explored SME support instruments, tourism services, start-up development pathways, and the role of the Enterprise Europe Network in fostering internationalisation. These sessions provided a strong grounding in the region’s strategic approach to enterprise growth and competitiveness.
Building on this foundation, the group visited a series of organisations that demonstrate Umbria’s strengths across skills development, industry, and agri-food. At TS Umbria Academy, delegates saw how applied technical training and strong employer engagement drive high graduate placement rates. Città del Cioccolato showcased culture-led tourism tied to local industry, while OMA in Foligno demonstrated advanced aerospace engineering capabilities. The visit to BugsLife in Bevagna highlighted innovation in the circular economy, with the start-up transforming agricultural by-products into high-value protein ingredients. Finally, Il Castellaro in Ponte Pattoli offered insight into the region’s agri-food heritage through its olive mill and rural hospitality. These visits collectively illustrated the diversity and dynamism of Umbria’s economic ecosystem.
Reflecting on the study visit, Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise, emphasised the tangible value it brings to County Carlow. “For Carlow, this mission provided genuinely actionable insights across several key areas, including innovative approaches to enterprise communication, new perspectives on tourism development, and strong examples of effective collaboration between industry and education,” he noted. Comerford highlighted that such international exchanges deepen understanding and offer practical models that can be adapted to strengthen local policy and programme delivery.
He went on to explain that this initiative is one of four EU-funded projects currently being led by Carlow County Council. “Through direct EU funding, we are not only increasing the scale and sustainability of our programmes, but also creating significant opportunities for stakeholder learning, capacity building, and exposure to international best practice,” he added. “The benefits for Carlow extend far beyond the life of any single project these experiences help shape a more connected, competitive, and forward-looking local economy.”