Ireland chosen as vendor’s first site to achieve certification to ISO 56001
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Pictured: Rui Oliveira, APCER; Louise Barrett and Elaine Mulvaney, Martin O’ Flaherty, Mark Dullea, Dell Technologies; and Stewart Hickey, National Standards Authority of Ireland
Dell Technologies Ireland has become the first organisation to be certified for innovation under a new partnership between The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and APCER Group.
The certification, ISO 56001, is the first global requirements’ standard for innovation management systems. According to the NSAI, the standard is ‘revolutionising’ how firms foster innovation as it provides a framework for managing innovation in a systematic way. It is seen as critical for boosting competitiveness, productivity and growth, as well as increasing success rates of new products, services and business models.
In 2025, NSAI signed a partnership agreement with APCER, an internationally recognised certification body, specifically to give companies in Ireland a direct pathway for innovation management systems certification.
The first organisation to be certified under this partnership – Dell Technologies – is one of country’s largest multinational employers, with nearly 4,500 people based across campuses in Cork, Limerick and Dublin. Ireland is a strategic location for Dell Technologies globally and its Cork Manufacturing operation was chosen as the first organisation within Dell Technologies worldwide to achieve certification to ISO 56001.
Geraldine Larkin, CEO of NSAI, said: “The new standard is revolutionising how organisations embed innovation into their day-to-day operations. In support of national policy, NSAI is expecting adoption of ISO 56001 to grow rapidly in Ireland. Through this new certification partnership between NSAI and APCER, we can support companies in Ireland, both large and small, gain a competitive advantage by fostering a culture of innovation, whatever sector they operate in.”
Dell Technologies, an IDA client company, has invested significantly in innovation, redeveloping its Customer Solution Centre (CSC) in Cork, expanding its CSC Innovation Lab in Limerick and setting up an Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab, also in Cork. By successfully completing audits through this new certification scheme, the Cork manufacturing site was able to demonstrate that it had established, implemented, maintained and continually improved an effective innovation management system.
Alan O’Flynn, general manager of the Cork manufacturing organisation in Dell Technologies said: “[This certification] represents a recognition and validation of a vibrant culture of innovation here in Cork manufacturing operations and the deep commitment to innovation across the Dell organisation. This milestone underscores our steadfast commitment to fostering innovation for our customers, partners, and society in everything we do.
“We are especially proud to be the first in Ireland and the first in Dell to achieve this recognition, it’s a wonderful reflection of the amazing work and talent here in Cork, underpinned by the innovation ecosystem in Ireland that played a vital role in our journey.”
NSAI and APCER are both members of IQNET, an international certification network. Organisations that are certified to ISO 56001 through this new partnership, will also benefit from IQNET-recognised certification.
TechCentral Reporters