STRIDE Programme

Atlantic Technological University (ATU), alongside a consortium of strategic partners, has been awarded PEACEPLUS funding totalling €3.5 million to launch the STRIDE programme (Smart Rural Innovation Driven Empowerment) utilising smart technologies to identify and solve a wide range of problems encountered by rural cross border communities. The consortium is a collaboration between South West College, Alacrity, Atlantic Technological University, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Enterprise Fund, and Ulster University.

STRIDE will operate out of two key innovation hubs—The Workhouse in Enniskillen and The HIVE in Carrick-on-Shannon. With a team of specialist staff embedded within rural communities across Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim, and Sligo, the programme aims to empower local citizens by using cutting-edge digital technologies to tackle societal and economic challenges. ATU Sligo, will provide the technical support and solutions, solving digital problems identified within communities in Leitrim and Sligo.

STRIDE Programme Aim

The ultimate goal of STRIDE is to enhance the quality of life in rural areas, reinvigorate local communities by enabling more effective delivery of social and economic services while promoting long-term community sustainability.

STRIDE Programme Objectives

STRIDE will result in a jointly developed solution to address key societal challenges specific to rural areas through the application of digital technologies (social innovation). It will result in the following outputs:

1 jointly developed social innovation solution taken up
1000+ rural citizens & key statutory agencies engaged in a bespoke STRIDE Design Thinking Programme
80 rural specific social innovation challenges identified & solved
1 STRIDE digital portal
8 larger scale social innovation transformation projects identified & solved

STRIDE will enable people from diverse backgrounds to work together to collectively identify & address common challenges within their communities.