Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

How can universities take AI from ‘threat to an opportunity’?

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 13h

Anitia Lubbe from the North-West University in South Africa, explores how, with education, there is potential for greater trust in the use of AI.

Anitia Lubbe discusses the rise of AI in the educational sector and how increased knowledge has the potential to reduce misuse.

Founders’ Exchange series kicks off in Dublin to support start-ups

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 13h

Founders, investors and advisers gathered at Dublin’s Digital Hub for the first of a new series of events designed to answer two of the big asks on this year’s Founders’ Listening Tour with Enterprise Ireland – networking and access..

There's a new event on Ireland's start-up calendar. Yesterday saw the inaugural Founders' Exchange event which sees Enterprise Ireland partner with Silicon Republic to help better inform start-ups.

Centripetal: 349,000 Irish networks vulnerable to cyberattacks

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 14h

Centripetal finds that Dublin faces the highest risk, recording the greatest concentration of vulnerabilities across all industries.

Centripetal finds that Dublin faces the highest risk, recording the greatest concentration of vulnerabilities across all industries.

Accessibility start-up DevA11y bags €2m to expand team, scale US presence

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 18h

The pre-seed round was led by Miles Ahead, with participation from European angels, as well as support from Enterprise Ireland and the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC).

Irish digital accessibility start-up DevA11y has raised €2m in pre-seed funding to expand its team and scale its presence in the US.

Jentic joins AWS GenAI accelerator

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 18h

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:
💶 EU launches AI strategies to boost tech uptake
🙂 Jentic joins AWS GenAI accelerator
🪪 Discord breach includes up to 70,000 gov IDs

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Jentic becomes first Irish start-up to join AWS GenAI accelerator

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 19h

Jentic, the Irish AI start-up with the heavy-hitter founder team, has become first Irish player to join AWS GenAI accelerator in Seattle.

Dublin's AI start-up Jentic is on a roll having raised a major pre-seed round last year. It has been selected on AWS' Gen AI accelerator in Seattle.

70,000 users may have had IDs leaked in Discord breach

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 19h

Communications platform Discord has provided an update on a recent security incident, explaining that as many as 70,000 users globally may have had their government IDs stolen in a malicious breach.

Communication platform Discord has announced that 70,000 government IDs may have been exposed in a recent cyber attack.

EU’s new AI strategies target industry adoption and research

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Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 20h

The strategies are part of the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan – first introduced this April – which aims to place Europe as a global leader in the tech.

The EU aims to double Horizon's Europe's annual investments into AI to more than €3bn.

Which rapidly growing sectors are hiring right now?

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Hottest sectors that are hiring right now! Demand is soaring across AI, software development, cybersecurity, and HR tech, some of the fastest-growing sectors shaping the future of work. If you’re building your tech career, now’s the time to explore these opportunities 🔗 vist.ly/49rag

In Ireland and further afield there are a number of exciting organisations looking to add to their teams across a range of sectors.

Top tips for improving organisational cyber hygiene

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

A company is only as strong as its cybersecurity network so employees and employers are equally as responsible in ensuring a safe and productive environment.

Here are some top tips for ensuring everyone in a company, from the top down, have the skills needed to achieve a cyber secure workplace.

Galway’s Fortis Medical gets €2.1m DTIF award for post-stroke wearable

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Issues with walking are common after stroke, and healthcare providers need more data to help.

Fortis Medical Devices, RCSI and Smart Electronics will work on a post-stroke wearable with €2.1m from DTIF.

Skillnet Ireland to receive €54.2m from Budget 2026

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

The money will be used as part of a wider strategy to leverage upskilling and meet the needs of the changing entrepreneurial landscape.

Skillnet Ireland will put the €54.2m it will receive from the 2026 Budget towards investing in skills support for small and large businesses.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for porous molecular innovation

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists – Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M Yaghi – that developed a new form of molecular architecture with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow.

The trio’s work on developing metal-organic frameworks can be used to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide or catalyse chemical reaction.

How to stay ahead of NIS2 and the latest EU cybersecurity rules

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Legal expert Ricky Kelly from RDJ explains the current cyber regulatory landscape and what businesses can do to stay up to date.

Legal expert Ricky Kelly from RDJ explains the current cyber regulatory landscape and what businesses can do to stay up to date.

Linux Foundation to set up open-source governance body for React

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

In Accenture’s graduate programme you can expect an intensive course that develops talent and gives you the core skills. Expert advice from Accenture details how graduates can embrace the next phase of their educational and professional lives 🔗 vist.ly/49p9t

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Non-profit organisation the Linux Foundation announced yesterday (7 October) its intention to establish the React Foundation, an open-source governance body for the React UI library.

The React Foundation will maintain React's infrastructure, organise events and creative initiatives to support the React ecoystem.

SoftBank to acquire ABB’s robotics division

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Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Check out today’s Daily Brief for the latest sci-tech news, including:

🤖 SoftBank to acquire ABB’s robotics division
💻 Linux Foundation to set up governance body for React
🔬 Ireland’s biggest cancer research programme gets €28m

...and more!
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Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Gauri Vaidya discusses her experiences undertaking work in the AI space and the importance of key mentorship not just in education, but in life.

‘Success is defined by how many people are impacted by the work you do’

Gauri Vaidya discusses her PhD at the University of Limerick and how mentorship and guidance can greatly impact your career and entire life.

SoftBank to acquire ABB robotics unit in multi-billion dollar deal

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Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Reportedly, the acquisition will empower both organisations in ‘a new era of AI-based robotics’.

Japanese multi-national investment firm SoftBank will acquire the robotics division of ABB in a $5.4bn deal.

Budget 2026 first look: Increases in R&D tax credit, Enterprise Ireland allocation

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Ministers Donohoe and Chambers presented Budget 2026 to the Irish Dáil today. We take a first look at the implications for Irish tech and science companies and start-ups.

Ministers Donohoe and Chambers presented Budget 2026 to the Dáil today. We take a first look at the implications for Irish tech and science companies and start-ups.

Ireland’s biggest cancer research programme gets €28m for new phase

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 1d

Ireland’s biggest cancer research programme gets the greenlight for phase 2 with plans to scale up and further integrate patient involvement.

Co-funded by Research Ireland, industry and not-for-profit organisations, Precision Oncology Ireland is developing personalised cancer care.

LinkedIn data: Is flexibility a double-edged sword for women at work?

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 2d

New research suggests that flexible working options have the potential to limit promotional opportunities for women.

LinkedIn has published new data indicating that flexible working arrangements could impede promotion opportunities for women in the workplace.

This data scientist is making waves in neuroscience

Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 2d

Featured Employer of the Week: Optum. This data scientist is making waves in neuroscience. Optum’s Lisa discusses the factors that drew her to a research career in neurodegenerative diseases. Read the full Silicon Republic feature 🔗 vist.ly/49kx8

We spoke with Lisa at Optum to understand her perspective on a job in the data science space and the various challenges and highlights.