The Northwest Region has some of the largest regional FinTech and professional business service industries outside of Dublin. Our Northwest location affords us to strategically engage and collaborate with our FinTech colleagues in Derry/Strabane, the region has now become the melting pot of expertise and has the competitive advantage and access to EU, UK, & U.S. Intl markets helping FinTech businesses to innovate and thrive.

The region hosts three Universities; Atlantic Technological University, Ulster University & University of Galway, and has a proven track record of working with Industry on FinTech, InsurTech, RegTech, eCommerce, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Data Analytics, MedTech-Life Sciences, Engineering, and also hosting all related R&D projects.

ATU Donegal leveraging the collective strengths of ATU Galway-Mayo and ATU Sligo, FinTech Learning Labs Initiatives www.FTLL.ie provides FinTech businesses the opportunities to engage and partner in securing continuous learning and development of existing talent, by promoting Academia and Industry partnerships through our Work Based Learning Programmes, funded as a cost-competitive initiative, in developing industry related upskilling, reskilling and cross skilling micro-credential programmes.

The Northwest Region is already home to a wealth of top FinTech brands and has the 4th largest City Region population of circa 450k residents — and whilst today’s industries have been innovating for more than 30 years — in the last 10 years the FinTech Industry has really come into its own. Technology is playing an increasingly important role and the region is the perfect location for companies to grow their FinTech footprint.

The Northwest Region has a growing presence of start-ups specializing in a range of areas spanning all sectors, there is a genuine start-up culture in ATU Donegal’s CoLab with numerous tech events taking place and plenty of entrepreneurial spirit, in collaboration with the preponderance of international FinTech and RegTech businesses in Donegal and Derry.

The growth of the wider region is underpinned by a highly skilled educated talent pipeline. Leaders in the FinTech and RegTech sector from the Northwest City Region spanning the Ireland/Northern Ireland region, which is now coincidentally the border of the EU and the UK, are united in providing a base for start-ups, digital tech-hubs, ongoing collaboration through our Industry experts and cluster groups, which supports research and innovation across the entire region, ensuring businesses are now resilient against today’s challenges.

Finally, and in addition to providing outstanding market opportunities, the Northwest Region promotes the importance of Academia & Industry relationships and partnerships. Ireland’s strategy for the development of the International FinTech Services sector, which was recently updated/extended to 2026, incorporates and aligns with our www.FTLL.ie five FinTech themes, 1) ESG/Sustainability, 2) FinTech & Digital Finance, 3) Diversity Inclusion & Talent, 4) Regionalization Innovation & Promotion, 5) Operating RegTech Environment, which builds on ATU’s own knowledge and expertise.

FTLL connects Industry leaders to empower their organisations and employees in the FinTech sector – with the skills, knowledge and future know-how to create the new and challenging world of FinTech.

FinTech Learning Labs continues to collaborate with leaders from industry and academia through a range of tailor-made courses that stimulates innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, founders, innovators, change-makers and organisations by harnessing the powers of technology and innovation within FinTech, InsuTech, RegTech, E-commerce and Education services, that acts as an enabler to upskill, reskill and cross-skill, creating a more inclusive and diverse global workforce.

FTLL is a progressive and visionary learning labs where our leadership and governance are all-important when it comes to structure and delivery. FTLL continues to collaborate with industry leaders to envisage the future and be ahead of the curve when it comes to the benefits of life-long learning (LLL). The future objectives of FTLL lies in partnership with industry, understanding the world of digital transformation & innovation.

FTLL leadership and governance has the foresight to set LLL on the right path. Enterprises need to adapt quickly to survive and thrive in such a challenging ESG environment.

FTLL partners are a group of leaders, experts and innovators. Our members value the input of continued professional development in keeping their organisations, employees and teams motivated and at the leading-edge of FinTech Innovation.

The RegTech Supercluster, a collaboration between ATU, UU, Catalyst, Donegal County Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, and Alpha Innovation, supports organisations in the northwest as they develop their business models in a multi-jurisdictional environment to operate in the global marketplace.

FTLL always aligns and keeps the customer first, anticipating their needs, creating solutions that exceed their expectations has become the new normal in FinTech. Leaders in the FinTech sector are constantly creating innovative solutions that pre-empt customer needs and resolve them before they even request them. Organisations are increasingly using Data, AI, ML, AR, VR, Blockchain and of course Cyber to name a few.

Whether it is in the form of AI-powered chatbots or voice-activated website navigation, FinTech companies are focused on providing an excellent customer experience. So, when FinTech Learning Labs and industry connects – solutions can and have successfully eliminated the time and physical limitations through the support of FTLL being available anytime, anywhere.

FinTech companies in Ireland are leading the change in the FinTech ecosystem by creating new FinTech models that disrupt the status quo. FTLL are leading the life-long learning online platform supporting the FinTech ecosystem. Times ahead are going to be exciting for all regions across Ireland as FinTech Northwest Ireland and cross border Northwest City regions will continue to apply new technologies and create more proactive responses that will exceed customer expectations.