MANCHESTER, 13 Feb 2026: Sister, Manchester’s £1.7bn innovation district, and Platform94, Galway’s largest innovation hub, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to give customers international access to working spaces, enabling Manchester and Galway based start-up businesses to easily expand overseas.
The 12 month partnership is designed to benefit both hubs by offering reciprocal access to workplaces, encouraging collaboration and enhancing international links between the West of Ireland and Greater Manchester. Key features of the agreement include:
- Reciprocal Workspace Access: Customers of both Sister and Platform94 will benefit from free, short-term desk bookings, providing a “home away from home” for founders traveling between the two hubs.
- Knowledge Exchange: Facilitating direct collaboration between two of Europe’s most vibrant tech ecosystems.
- Market Entry Support: Streamlining the path for Irish companies scaling in the UK market and vice versa.
The partnership leverages the unique strengths of both European tech hubs to accelerate innovation and enterprise growth. Manchester currently stands as the UK’s largest tech hub outside of London and the fastest-growing tech city in Europe, home to over 10,000 digital businesses. Since launching in 2024, Sister has supported over 50 growing startups within the AI, sustainability, healthtech and advanced materials space.
Galway continues to strengthen its position as a global innovation centre, hosting eight of the world’s top ten medtech companies including Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Since 1994, Platform94 has grown to 11 times its original size, supporting more than 500 companies on site, enabling over 4,500 jobs and contributing more than €2bn in GVA to the regional economy.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “Both Greater Manchester and Galway are home to thriving digital and tech sectors, with shared strengths in areas like AI and medical technologies. During our recent trade mission to Ireland we explored opportunities for further collaboration and it’s great to see those discussions result in this partnership, which is all about helping innovative companies work together and access new markets.
“Many Irish companies have chosen Greater Manchester as their UK base, and by strengthening our offer we can make that process more straightforward for the next wave of businesses looking to expand here, meaning more investment and more jobs created in our city region.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester and Ireland share a deep connection that goes back centuries, and moments like this show how that relationship continues to deliver real economic value for both regions. Sister is establishing itself as a globally connected innovation district, and this signing with Platform94 reflects that. Irish businesses are drawn to Manchester for our innovation ecosystem and access to world-class talent and by connecting two leading innovation hubs, we’re making it easier for ambitious companies on both sides to collaborate, share expertise and scale successfully while creating opportunities for our residents.”
Liz Bamber, Director of Place at Sister said: “This partnership is more than sharing desks; it’s about supporting businesses to grow and expand, and share talent, ideas and ambition. By linking Sister and Platform94, we are creating a frictionless environment for entrepreneurs to scale across borders, enter new markets, and leverage industry experts. The University of Manchester’s world-class talent and resources will also be connected through its dedicated innovation arm, Unit M. Ultimately, we are forging a path where we can benefit from each other’s unique regional specialisms.”
Marie Donnellan, CEO of Platform 94 said: “80% of our community leaders are targeting new or continued growth in the UK over the next 12 months. While ambition is strong, the cost of expansion remains the number one challenge for founders scaling internationally. This partnership directly addresses that reality by reducing friction at the earliest stages of market entry – providing trusted space on the ground, access to local networks, and practical support that helps companies test, land and scale with confidence. By connecting Galway and Manchester, we’re creating a tangible pathway for ambitious businesses to move faster, collaborate more deeply, and unlock new opportunities on both sides.”
To mark the signing, Sister hosted a showcase event featuring several high-growth Platform94 customers currently scaling into the UK market, including Galvia, Buymedia, and SlickPlus. These companies represent the first wave of innovators expected to benefit from the enhanced connectivity between the two districts.