CDA – A Roadmap for Branding Dublin 2012 – A Discussion Paper

A Roadmap for Branding Dublin, A Discussion Paper 20126.8 Engage in Internationalisation“Dublin is becoming known as the Silicon Valley of Europe – there is anexciting new crop of both indigenous and international entrepreneursestablishing and growing their businesses here.” – Stakeholder InterviewStrategic Engagement in International NetworksDublin is striving to be a more open internationally networked city. A brand forDublin would reinforce international connections through engaging with theIrish diaspora and maintaining links with those who have spent time in Dublinas an international student, tourist or worker. The attraction of internationaltalent and international students to Dublin will continue to bring diversity andmany benefi ts, as well as creating new international connections and linkages.San José and Dublin City have been twinned since 1986 in a Sister CityProgram that strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level,promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic developmentbetween the two, as well as the greater Silicon Valley area and Ireland. Anexample of the practical outcomes that initiatives like this can deliver is theagreement signed in 2012 between the San José Environmental BusinessCluster and The Green Way, Dublin’s cleantech cluster, to increase R&D,business development, commercialisation and investment opportunitiesacross Irish and San José companies looking to access each other’s markets.Similar twinning relationships exist with Barcelona, Liverpool, and Beijing,and across Ireland all levels of government are seeking to establish newinternational connections. For example, in 2011, in the same week DublinCity Council travelled to Beijing to sign a formal twinning accord betweenthe respective capital cities, a delegation from Fingal County Council visitedChengdu with a view to also forming a formal twinning relationship, while inDublin, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food signed an agreementwith the Chinese Vice-Minister for Agriculture for the export of Irishagricultural products.71