FEATURE ARTICLE
BDO Development Capital Fund leads €6m investment in the Obelisk Group
 
The BDO Development Capital Fund today announced a €3million investment in the Cavan-headquartered Obelisk Group, a specialist in service provision to the telecommunications and utilities sectors since 1996. The investment is backed by matching bank funding which together will drive the expansion in the telecommunications and power infrastructure sectors in both the UK and South Africa where the Obelisk Group is already well established.
25% increase in international students studying in Ireland since 2012
 
The annual ceremony for International Student Ambassadors was held Thursday 21 April at Farmleigh. The event recognises the contribution made by international Student Ambassadors to supporting the work of Education in Ireland, in attracting international students to Ireland, as well as honouring the Higher Education Authority’s Government of Ireland International Education Scholars.

Minister O’Sullivan honours the contribution of International Student Ambassadors promoting Education in Ireland globally

Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. attended the annual ceremony for International Student Ambassadors at Farmleigh last Thursday.The event recognises the contribution made by international Student Ambassadors to supporting the work of Education in Ireland, managed by Enterprise Ireland, in attracting international students to Ireland, as well as honouring the Higher Education Authority’s Government of Ireland International Education Scholars.

Now in its fifth year, the Student Ambassador Programme is a key element in the promotion of Ireland as a centre of excellence in international education. 75 students from Canada, Chile, Brazil, Russia, China, India, Germany, Malaysia, Nigeria and USA, studying at 23 higher education institutes across the country, are actively promoting Ireland as a destination of choice for third level education. Read the full article here: International Student Ambassadors
INDUSTRY NEWS
D4H technologies - They could be heroes
Silicon Republic
 
For first responders in disasters or emergencies anywhere in the world, technology developed in Ireland is accompanying them on the front line. D4H Technologies is headquartered in a lighthouse on Howth Head overlooking Dublin Bay and was born out of the passion of its founder Robin Blandford for the business of rescue workers and saving lives.
Irish scientists in breakthrough to protect phones from superbugs
Irish Independent
 
Smartphones, door handles and even stair rails in hospital will no longer be breeding grounds for superbugs and germs thanks to Irish scientists. They have discovered a way to stop common items we touch from becoming riddled with harmful bugs and has the potential for preventing people from picking up superbugs such as MRSA or the E. coli bacteria that results in food poisoning.
Exits and IPOs the best medicine for Ireland’s medtech hub
Silicon Republic
 

While the digital sector is getting all the glory, Ireland’s medtech scene is a hidden gem of an industry, comprising a vibrant indigenous – as well as multinational – cohort of start-ups and industrial giants. Last week, at a medtech innovation conference organised by Seroba Life Sciences, EY and Enterprise Ireland, 50 medtech start-ups pitched for funding from venture capital firms with €13bn in funds under management. 
US giant set to buy Steripack’s medical business for €70m
Irish Times
 
Steripack makes sterile packaging for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries with factories in Ireland, Poland, the United States and Malaysia. US packaging giant Bemis has agreed to buy Steripack’s medical and pharmaceutical business, which had sales of $65 million last year, for an estimated €70m.
MagGrow: Helping farmers grow more
Irish Times
 
MagGrow is a magnetic spraying technology that helps farmers grow more by using less. The system, which has been three years in development, gives better coverage than conventional crop spraying systems and also reduces spray drift by more than 80 per cent. Set up in 2013 by brothers Gary and David Wickham and business consultant David Moore, MagGrow now employs 12 people and is based at NovaUCD.
EpiSensor’s technology reveals important insights
 
EpiSensor’s wireless monitoring technology has contributed to a first-of-its-kind project commissioned by the UK Government’s Department of Energy & Climate Change to measure the in-service performance of heat pumps installed under the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. 
Coindrum signs agreement with travel retail giant Dufry
Moodie Report
 
Launching at Dublin Airport last year, Coindrum is the brainchild of Lukas Decker, founder & CEO, backed by Ryanair Co-Founder Declan Ryan. Coindrum allows passengers to convert unwanted coins into airport shopping vouchers with a recently agreed partnership with retail giant Dufry and Milan Malpensa Airport. 
Technology Gateway Network: Industry Showcase May 10th
 

Enterprise Ireland in partnership with the Institutes of Technology has established a nationwide network of 15 Technology Gateways which deliver technology solutions for Irish industry close to their market needs. Since 2013 the Gateways have a proven track record of working with industry and have completed over 1,200 innovation based industry projects with more than 600 Irish based companies.

Enterprise Ireland in partnership with the Institutes of Technology has established a nationwide network of 15 Technology Gateways (www.technologygateway.ie ) which deliver technology solutions for Irish industry close to their market needs. Since 2013 the Gateways have a proven track record of working with industry and have completed over 1,200 innovation based industry projects with more than 600 Irish based companies.


This  industry showcase event is an opportunity for companies to network with the 15 Technology Gateways and discover how the Technology Gateways can help your company on its innovation journey. There will be an opportunity to view technical demonstrations from each Gateway as well testimonials from industry on how their collaborative industry projects with the Gateways helped their company. Enterprise Ireland staff can explain what Innovation Supports you can avail of to assist your company in the development of a high impact collaborative project.

The following speakers from industry will present case studies on their experiences of undertaking collaborative projects  with Technology Gateways.

9.30    Michael Gilvarry Neuravi

10.15   Fergal Downey Touchpoint Interactive

11.00   Ben Breen Sulzer Pumps

11.45   Dean Meagher Reagecon Diagnostics

 

Location: Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel Date: May 10th 2016

To register for this event please click on the following link: https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/1774/register
UPCOMING EVENTS
Technology Gateway Showcase
Fuelling Ambition Roadshow
National Industry 4.0 Summit
 
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