FEATURE ARTICLE
Businesses must get Brexit-ready - that means being Lean
 
Sunday Independent: Lean is a proven business practice that continuously delivers greater value for businesses while using fewer resources.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Brexit strategy: 5 first steps for Irish businesses preparing for Brexit
Silicon Republic
 
Anne Lanigan, Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit lead, kicks off a series on how Irish businesses can prepare for Brexit with a focus on strategy.
Valitacell secures €2m in new funding
RTE
 
Early-stage biotechnology company Valitacell has secured €2.02m in funding through the latest round of Horizon 2020 SME instrument Phase 2. 
Bringing Ireland’s fintech finest to Money20/20 Europe
Silicon Republic
 
Tom Holgersson is Enterprise Ireland’s fintech market adviser for the Nordics. In a matter of days, he’ll be welcoming the largest cohort of fintech companies ever to visit the Nordics to join him for Money20/20 Europe.
The start-up figuring out finances for freelancers
Irish Times
 
Trezeo is a new solution to end the precarious finances of the self-employed by providing subscribers with a regular, defined income. 
Rocket scientist says space the place for budding entrepreneurs
Irish Times
 
The man behind one of the world’s first rocket launches from a private site has called on Irish spacetech firms to focus on small satellites if they want to get ahead.
3 Irish companies secure over €5m from Horizon 2020 SME instrument
Horizon 2020
 
Three Irish companies were successful in securing almost €5.33 million between them from a total budget of €99.96 million under phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument.
UL pharma centre receives €1.3m funding to clean up industry’s act
Irish Tech News
 
New research projects being carried out at a leading national technology centre will help biopharmaceutical companies in Ireland improve their manufacturing processes and increase competitiveness.
'A new period of economic revival' - Irish-based companies at SelectUSA investment Summit
Irish Independent
 
US-based Enterprise Ireland officials attended the event, which is the most high profile initiative in the country to connect global companies and facilitate business investment.
Forex future will be in the cloud
Irish Examiner
 
The one-year-old start-up has been first to market with a cloud-based foreign exchange processing engine which connects banking payment products to the wholesale foreign exchange marketplace.
Seven Irish start-ups given the secret formula for success at Coca-Cola HQ
Irish Independent
 
Seven of Ireland’s brightest business minds from the fastest growing food and drink start-ups in the country were selected to participate in the Thrive Project, a joint partnership between Coca-Cola and Enterprise Ireland.
REDF Regional Information Sessions
 
Enterprise Ireland will host regional information sessions on submitting applications under the new Regional Enterprise Development Fund of up to €60m - read more for dates and locations.

Enterprise Ireland will host regional information sessions for those interested in obtaining further information, and those who may be interested in submitting applications under the new Regional Enterprise Development Fund of up to €60m. Registration is required. Details below:

20 June:     
Errigal Country House Hotel, Cootehill, Co. Cavan from 1.30-3.30pm

22 June:     
The Strand Hotel, Limerick from 8am-10am

22 June:     
Clayton Hotel, Sligo from 1.30pm-3.30pm      
                                              

23 June:     
Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from 10.30am-12.30pm        
                  

26 June:     
The Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare from 10.30am-12.30pm    
                          

29 June:     
Ard Ri House Hotel, Tuam, Co. Galway from 6.30pm-8.30pm             
 

6 July:        
The Red Cow Hotel, Dublin from 1.30pm-3.30pm    
                                

The competitive funding has been provided by the Department of Jobs, through Enterprise Ireland and is a key action to support the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and the Action Plan for Rural Development. The Fund is aimed at accelerating economic recovery in every part of the country by delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths. The Fund will support significant collaborative regional initiatives to build on specific industry sectoral strengths and improve enterprise capability, thereby driving job creation.

Under a competitive process, Enterprise Ireland is now seeking applications for funding under four streams with varying investment levels:

1.      Major Change Projects - €2m up to €5m per project

2.      Regionally Significant Projects - €250,000 up to €2m per project

3.      Local & Community Enterprise Development Projects - €50,000 up to €250,000 per project 

4.      Industry Clusters - €50,000 up to €250,000 per project

Competitive feasibility funding to support the development of high-quality regional projects is also available as part of this initiative.

Jerry Moloney, Manager, Mid-West and Regional Development Initiatives, Enterprise Ireland said, “A key role of Enterprise Ireland is supporting enterprise development. These information sessions will provide a practical opportunity for people to learn more about the new Regional Enterprise Development Fund and will be helpful for anyone interested in submitting an application under the Fund. These Funds are important drivers of enterprise growth and job creation, and we look forward to supporting more regionally-based projects through this initiative.”

The Regional Action Plans for Jobs seek to build on the strengths and opportunities in each region and to build a regional ecosystem including a diversity of companies and sectors, sectoral clusters, a spirit of innovation and collaboration, a good physical and digital infrastructure and appropriate research and technology capability.

The closing date for the first call for Streams 1, 2, 3 and 4 is 3pm Friday 18th August 2017.

€1m Regional Entrepreneurship Competitive Start Fund (CSF)
 
Win up to €50k per company with Enterprise Ireland's Regional Entrepreneurship CSF - call opens on 21 June to start-ups who are based outside of Co. Dublin and closes at 3pm on 5 July. 
FinTech €500,000 Competitive Start Fund (CSF)
 
A lifestyle choice led to Hesus Inoma’s decision to set up WeSavvy, a digital insurance platform. A previous winner of Enterprise Ireland's Fintech CSF, this is his advice on making your application.
Be Prepared Grant
 
Up to €5,000 is available for Enterprise Ireland client companies with the Be Prepared Grant, designed to help SMEs develop an action plan.
UPCOMING EVENTS
21st June 2017: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Act 2017, Dublin
22nd June 2017: Excel at Growth - Strategic Business Planning, Dublin
28th June 2017: Learning Tech Ireland 2017, Dublin
28th June 2017: Fuelling Ambition Roadshow, Co. Cavan