Dell Technologies first to be ‘innovation’ certified under new NSAI and APCER partnership
Ireland chosen as first site within Dell Technologies worldwide to achieve certification to ISO 56001
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has announced that Dell Technologies Ireland is the first organisation to be certified for innovation under a new partnership between NSAI and APCER.
The certification is for ISO 56001, which 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: "Our congratulations to Dell Technologies on becoming the very first organisation in Ireland, and the first site within Dell Technologies worldwide, to be certified to ISO 56001 for its innovation management system.”
She added: “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.”
An organisation’s ability to innovate is crucial, which is recognised by government in its research and innovation strategy, Impact 2030, and in the 2025 Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.
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, GM of the Cork Manufacturing organisation in Dell Technologies said: “I am delighted to receive this certification to the new ISO 56001 standard on behalf of the Dell Manufacturing team in Cork. It 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 organization. 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. Our thanks to IRDG, Perfect Link, and NSAI for all the indispensable support provided throughout the process.”
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. Rui Oliveira, Chief Operational Officer of APCER, said: “Dell Technologies Ireland’s achievement demonstrates how ISO 56001 enables organisations to transform innovation from a strategic ambition into a structured, managed and measurable capability. By implementing an innovation management system, organisations move beyond isolated initiatives and align innovation with business objectives, strengthening competitiveness, improving decision-making and managing uncertainty more effectively. It also fosters a more collaborative, results-driven culture, while enhancing market credibility and creating the conditions for sustainable growth through continuous innovation.”
He added: “For APCER, this first certification under our partnership with NSAI marks a significant step towards making innovation management certification more accessible to organisations in Ireland. It also underscores the value of combining NSAI’s national role with APCER’s international experience and expertise in innovation management systems certification. As both organisations are members of IQNET, this collaboration is further reinforced, enabling organisations to demonstrate with credibility how innovation is effectively embedded and continuously improved across their business.”
Any organisations interested in finding out more about the benefits of certification to ISO 56001 can email the NSAI at certification@nsai.ie.
More information about the ISO 56001 series of standards can be found here.
[Disclaimer: All reasonable effort was made to ensure that the information on this page was correct at the time of publication. Any views or opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of NSAI. NSAI accepts no responsibility or liability howsoever arising from the contents of this publication or any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in the contents of the information provided therein.]
