The International Content Service Center
Between the 6th and 9th centuries, Ireland became
a “knowledge economy” through the painstaking
and disciplined work of the disciples of St. Patrick
who transcribed the scriptures and ancient classical
texts, ensuring that all the great learning of the
Roman age did not irretrievably vanish. Now
over 1,400 years later, as we move swiftly from
the analogue to the digital age, Ireland has the
opportunity to re-define itself as a “knowledge
economy”. Piracy, ubiquitous internet access,
multiple devices and foundering business models
have thrown the traditional media industry into
crisis globally. What are required are integrated
services that can bring efficiency to the distribution
of digital content across territories.
The International Content Services Centre (ICSC),
a concept developed by the entrepreneur Neil
Leyden, was one of two proposals that won Your
Country, Your Call, a nationwide competition run
in 2010 to find two ideas that when implemented
would create opportunities for employment
and prosperity. The ICSC aims to create an
internationally-focused content cluster located
in Ireland that will act as a gateway between the
US and Europe for the distribution of digital
content - films, television, games, music, mobile
applications, etc. The ICSC aims to provide content
holders and digital content services companies with
the ideal environment to offer a range of end-toend services to help exploit and distribute their
content and intellectual property globally. This is
predicated on creating a positive and pro-business
legislative, regulatory and fiscal environment for
digital content, as well as for innovative services and
technology companies, both in Ireland but also in
Europe where barriers still block the free flow of
online services and entertainment across national
borders.
With the ICSC, Ireland aims to become the
‘test - bed’ for Europe’s Digital Agenda, which
given the size of our population and the inherent
flexibility that offers, is a tantalizing opportunity
for Ireland and E urope alike. This will be a magnet
for foreign direct investment as well as a boon for
the indigenous content and technology industries,
with the prospect of creating high value jobs and
increased trade revenue for the exchequer.