The BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry is a landmark project that has redefined food entrepreneurship and innovation in the West of Ireland. Officially launched in January 2024, by the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The event marked the opening of Ireland’s first National Centre of Excellence dedicated to supporting start-up, micro, and small food businesses.
At the launch, the Taoiseach praised the campus as a “game changer” for the West of Ireland and the national agri-food sector, highlighting its role in fostering innovation, sustainability, and rural employment.
The campus is the result of over seven years of planning, partnership, and vision led by Galway County Council, in collaboration with Teagasc, GRETB, LEO Galway, Western Development Commission, SCCUL Enterprises CLG, and the Athenry Community Council.
From Vision to Reality
The idea for the campus was born from a 2017 feasibility study that identified a critical need for a dedicated food innovation hub in the region. Galway County Council played a central role in:
- Coordinating stakeholders
- Securing the site on the Teagasc campus
- Driving funding applications through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund
- Overseeing planning and design
The result is a 24,768 sq. ft. facility comprising three purpose-built buildings, each tailored to a different aspect of food innovation and enterprise.
Launched and Thriving
Since its launch, the BIA Innovator Campus has become a national centre of excellence for food start-ups, scale-ups, and innovators. It is now home to over 40 food entrepreneurs and companies, supporting the creation of 360+ jobs and hundreds of training opportunities
The campus includes:
- BIA Obair: State-of-the-art food-grade production units (lease and pay-per-use)
- BIA Eolas: Training and knowledge-sharing spaces with access to Teagasc expertise
- BIA Blas: A centre for food culture and tourism, including a culinary training centre and exhibition space
- BIA Luas: Business acceleration supports, buyer showcase rooms, and hot-desking facilities
A Hub of Innovation
The campus regularly hosts events such as the Irish Drinks Forum, food innovation showcases, and training programmes. It is also a key player in Ireland’s Connected Hubs network, offering flexible workspaces and mentoring for food entrepreneurs.
“BIA Innovator Campus is a step-change project that will transform the food entrepreneurship landscape in the West of Ireland.”
— BIA Innovator Campus Team
