The opening of International Markets Week, pictured are (l-r): Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD (centre) with Kevin Sherry, Head of International Sales and Partnering, Enterprise Ireland (left) and Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland
Ireland’s indigenous export sector has its sights firmly set on further strong growth both this year and next, according to a survey of 650 companies that took part in this year’s International Markets Week. The survey also revealed that almost all of these companies are confident the export sales momentum will carry through into next year.
Ireland’s indigenous export sector has its sights firmly set on further strong growth both this year and next, according to a survey of 650 companies that took part in this year’s International Markets Week.
Ahead of the flagship event, which began on Monday 17th September, almost 90% of companies surveyed said they expect to increase their exports in 2012, while over 75% said they will also increase their employment levels. The survey also revealed that almost all of these companies are confident the export sales momentum will carry through into next year.
This optimism was reflected in the remarks of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, when he opened the event. He pointed out that after three consecutive years of contraction, in 2011 employment levels in exporting companies had started to grow. “The Government is determined to build on this in 2012,” Mr Bruton said, “by improving supports like the establishment of a new Potential Exporters Division in EnterpriseIreland.”
The Minister also spoke enthusiastically about the role International Markets Week plays in the Government’s “Action Plan for Jobs” strategy. “My hope is that the companies attending this event will play a real part in Ireland’s economic recovery by succeeding in export markets, growing their companies and creating the jobs we need,” he said.
Over the course of four days over 700 EnterpriseIreland client companies engaged in over 2,300 individual meetings with EnterpriseIreland overseas Marketing Advisers. Between them these experts have specialist knowledge of 60 countries. EnterpriseIreland experts in public procurement and internet marketing were also available for advice on the day.
Speaking at the end of the week, EnterpriseIreland’s Head of International Sales and Partnering, Kevin Sherry, said he was impressed by the volume of activity and by the “optimism, enthusiasm and sheer energy” of the participants. “Their sense of purpose and direction was tangible,” he said.
“Some of the IMW participants are early stage exporters while others are already well-established in a number of markets and are now looking to expand further.
“This week allows these companies the opportunity to discuss their individual exporting ideas with any of our 70 or so market experts. On the back of the work done this week, these 700 companies will put new export plans into play which hopefully will lead to new export growth and new jobs to support that growth.”
As part of International Markets Week, EnterpriseIreland’s Market Research Centre provided access to competitive intelligence on specific markets and industry sectors, and the Client Management Development Department gave advice on Enterprise Ireland programmes designed to develop sales and export marketing skills. Information was also available on the Internationalisation Funding supports available to help EnterpriseIreland clients identify and research market opportunities. Bord Bia experts also attended and held meetings with a number of participants, as did representatives of three banks: AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank.
North America is a booming market for Irish companies, Enterprise Ireland recently announced Irish exports to USA and Canada in 2011 grew by a remarkable 16.5% to just over US$2 Billion. Strong gains were recorded in the Lifesciences, Beverages, Financial Services, Telecommunications and Enterprise Software Sectors. This growth is continuing throughout 2012. There have also been a number of acquisitions of US companies of late by Irish companies including ICON, CRH, Greencore, Ardagh and NTR. Here is a roundup of some of the main activities and Irish company news in US and Canada over the past few months...
North America is a booming market for Irish companies, Enterprise Ireland recently announced Irish exports to USA and Canada in 2011 grew by a remarkable 16.5% to just over US$2 Billion. Strong gains were recorded in the Lifesciences, Beverages, Financial Services, Telecommunications and Enterprise Software Sectors. This growth is continuing throughout 2012. There have also been a number of acquisitions of US companies of late by Irish companies including ICON, CRH, Greencore, Ardagh and NTR.
Here is a roundup of some of the main activities and Irish company news in US and Canada over the past few months...
Enterprise Ireland and ten Irish companies will be at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin this October, with a number of Irish companies exhibiting. For further information contact simon.barcoe@enterprise-ireland.com
Enterprise Ireland and Ireland's top med tech companies will be exhibiting at the Cleveland Clinic 2012 Medical Innovation Summit in October. For more information, please contact paul.breen@enterprise-ireland.com or join the conversation: #MIS2012 #entirl
Senior executives from America’s largest retail chains met with 17 leading Irish consumer products companies in Dublin in early September to explore the potential for large-scale distribution in the American retail market. The products on show included food & beverages, baby care, household, healthcare and tourism products as well as Nualight’s innovative retail lighting products.
Pictured left-to-right: Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Terry Frey, Corporate Vice-President, Kroger USA, Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland and Stuart McCready, Country Manager USA, Zip Firelighters.
Senior executives from America’s largest retail chains met with 17 leading Irish consumer products companies in Dublin in early September to explore the potential for large-scale distribution in the American retail market. Between them, the visiting delegates represent over 11,000 retail stores in the US. The products on show included food & beverages, baby care, household, healthcare and tourism products as well as Nualight’s innovative retail lighting products.
The US delegation, which was hosted by Enterprise Ireland, included Presidents and Vice Presidents of major US retail chains Walgreens/Duane Reade, Ahold, HEB and Kroger. The event was co-ordinated by GMDC, the US non-profit global trade association supporting general merchandise and health beauty wellness retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. Some of the household Irish brands that the US retailers met in Ireland included Handy Baby Products, Irish Breeze , Liliy O’Brien chocolates and Slendertone.
Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland cited the visit as “a major coup for Ireland and Irish products.” He continued: “To achieve a listing with any one of these US retail giants is a massive boost for any of these Irish consumer goods companies. It represents a major move into the US market, and a huge international endorsement for their products.”
Dublin-based web-content management company TERMINALFOUR has added St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia to its growing lists of Canadian clients. TERMINALFOUR provides web content management solutions to the Irish government and public sector as well as to Irish and UK higher education.
David Miller, COO TERMINALFOUR
Dublin-based web-content management company TERMINALFOUR has added St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia to its growing lists of Canadian clients. TERMINALFOUR provides web content management solutions to the Irish government and public sector as well as to Irish and UK higher education.
The win with Saint Mary's University, one of the oldest and largest universities in Halifax, is a significant one for TERMINALFOUR. Its website – www.smu.ca – receives 90,000 page views per day. As the central communications hub for the university, the website caters to the information requirements of 600 faculty and staff, 7,200 students and an involved alumni community. To meet the diverse information and communication demands of all these stakeholders, St Mary’s invested in TERMINALFOUR Site Manager. It has allowed the university to provide faster, more interactive content for users, and given non technical staff the power to easily update and develop the website.
David Miller, COO, TERMINALFOUR commented: "We're delighted to welcome Saint Mary's University into our global community of more than 110 university clients. The opportunities in the Canadian market are going from strength to strength, and this market has become a priority focus as part of TERMINALFOUR’s strategic growth plans.” Algoma University (Ontario) and Selkirk College (British Columbia) among other Canadian education institutions have adopted TERMINALFOUR. They also recently announced Legislative Assembly of Ontario as first client in the government sector. To this end TERMINALFOUR will exhibit at GTEC, Canada’s Government technology event in November in Ottawa.
July, Toronto - Enterprise Ireland recently showcased twelve of its finest software companies at the Microsoft World Partner’s Conference held in Toronto. Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference provides insights into Microsoft’s business and technology roadmap for the year ahead where users experience the latest in Microsoft-led solution innovations.
July, Toronto - Enterprise Ireland recently showcased twelve of its finest software companies at the Microsoft World Partner’s Conference held in Toronto. Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference provides insights into Microsoft’s business and technology roadmap for the year ahead where users experience the latest in Microsoft-led solution innovations.
The twelve companies represent Ireland’s most innovative software, services, and applications that are most relevant to Microsoft’s partner ecosystem. They include cloud infrastructure, Microsoft Dynamics CRM add-ons, investment management software, time management, web content management, and more. It provided a key opportunity for the Irish companies to share their solutions and business strategies to help the Microsoft reseller channel add new customers and incremental revenue.
Avril Murphy, Enterprise Ireland, Toronto comments, “The conference gave clients the opportunity to meet and network with Microsoft partners and staff from all over the world, and to attend many of the hundreds of workshops and key note sessions presented by Microsoft. Its success lies in the hundreds of contacts made by clients, and the number of follow up meetings, webinars, calls and proposals arranged before the clients had even left the exhibition floor!” The companies that exhibited were as follows;
August, Dublin - Education in Ireland recently sponsored the Global Irish Football Tournament (GIFT) in Ireland, a showcase of 12 US and Canadian teams in Dublin, prior to the Emerald Isle Classic clash between Navy and Notre Dame. The sponsorship is part of Education Ireland’s ongoing drive to encourage American high school students to consider Ireland as an education destination.
August, Dublin - Education in Ireland recently sponsored the Global Irish Football Tournament (GIFT) in Ireland, a showcase of 12 US and Canadian teams in Dublin, prior to the Emerald Isle Classic clash between Navy and Notre Dame. The sponsorship is part of Education Ireland’s ongoing drive to encourage American high school students to consider Ireland as an education destination.
A total of 12 teams including 7 top U.S. high school teams, 2 college teams, 2 Canadian high school teams and a UK all-star team contested the tournament. Gill Roe, Manager, Education in Ireland commented: “We were delighted to be involved in this programme, because high schools students, their parents and counsellors are obviously our key target market. Over the last year we have seen a 43% increase in applications from US high school students to Irish universities.”
Ireland ranks as a top-class destination for international students. The International Student Barometer ranks Ireland ahead of all other English-speaking countries, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands for international student satisfaction. Education in Ireland has been involved in promoting the Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the USA for over 20 years, and Ireland ranks as the 9th most important destination for US students.
For more information see http://blog.educationinireland.com/ where current US student ambassadors talk about their experiences studying in Ireland.
An Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, Patricia Rooney, US Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund.
Enterprise Ireland’s recently launched Global Irish Contacts Programme is already gaining significant traction in bringing successful Irish expatriates in contact with growing Irish businesses. This newly introduced programme could play a key role in the Irish road to economic recovery.
Enterprise Ireland’s recently launched Global Irish Contacts Programme is already gaining significant traction in bringing successful Irish expatriates in contact with growing Irish businesses. This newly introduced programme could play a key role in the Irish road to economic recovery.
It doesn’t need to be said just how important the Irish Diaspora is to the reputation and future recovery of this country. Despite moving from the Emerald Isle, most expats feel a close affinity to Ireland - that in many cases can lead to more than just good feeling - as has been shown at events like the Global Irish Economic Forum.
Government-led, the Global Irish Economic Forum brought together 270 members of the Global Irish Network (GIN) who were based in 37 countries. This influential group of Irish people from across the globe met with the Taoiseach, Government, State Agencies and domestic business leaders to come up with innovative ideas for economic renewal, job creation and the restoration of Ireland’s reputation abroad.
The second of these forums took place in Dublin Castle in October 2011 and turned out to be the birthplace of the Global Irish Contacts Programme.
“It was suggested at the forum that GIN members could be of benefit to companies in Ireland by helping them to access markets abroad,” explains David Byrne, Manager of Latin America and High Growth Markets at Enterprise Ireland.
“It fits with our already active engagement with the wider Diaspora in international markets, Enterprise Ireland, so through the Department of Foreign Affairs, reached out to the GIN seeking their assistance to support the work of Irish companies in international markets. We asked for their help in assisting Irish companies gain greater knowledge and access to their specific sectors in international markets and they responded very positively.
“However, we were keen for the programme to be very much on a voluntary basis with an opt-out situation for participants at any time. So in that sense it is unlike a mentorship programme. We wanted people to come to us voluntarily with their skills and their market knowledge. We were delighted when over 100 responded initially to the request and more are coming on board every day.”
The participants have agreed to engage with Irish companies who are already at an established level with some prior knowledge of an export market. “We already have a significant number of people mentoring Irish companies but this isn’t the same thing,” stresses Byrne. “It is an introductory networking service provided by Enterprise Ireland and how far it goes depends on the strength of engagement between the Irish company and the Global Irish Contact member.”
Initially the programme has been run in two key markets: North America and Asia. This is so it could be tested in both developed and developing markets, respectively. “Entering a developed market requires a different approach to a newer emerging market” says Byrne. “Also regions are culturally very different. Irish companies would already be comfortable with the American approach to business but perhaps less so in Asia. We wanted to test the system at both ends of the spectrum.”
One participant based in Singapore has been both enthusiastic and accommodating in his involvement. “I was originally a scientist and I have a PHD in Chemical Physics,” explains Dr Noel Moore of the Global Irish Contacts Programme. “I worked in the laser business for a number of years for multinationals, then I decided to go out on my own.”
Moore moved out to Singapore seven years ago and is now a serial investor and entrepreneur. He is currently director in two companies: DPS, which provides training for pharmaceutical and medical device companies; and Fresh Brew, a marketing and communications firm he set up with his wife.
“I’ve come to a point in my own career where I’m no longer worried about where the next pay cheque is going to come from,” says Moore. “So I’m willing and able to impart my expertise onto those in Ireland who need it, particularly in the medical device and technology area. There’s a lot of good will in Asia in terms of supporting Irish enterprise.
“You don’t need tonnes of money to support the Global Irish Contacts Programme: just some of your time. It doesn’t take me huge amounts of effort to put guys in contact with local distributors here etc. It’s not like I have any special skills in that respect. They could go ahead and try and establish contacts themselves. But if, for example, you’re in an Irish company making medical devices and you need to hook up with someone you can trust in Korea, on your own that could take months. For me it’s just a phone call away.”
Dundalk-based Blueacre Technology is one such company that Moore and the GICP have assisted. This optics company develops laser-based machines for the medical device industry. Since its inception in 2006 Blueacre has derived over 75 per cent of their revenue from the export market, particularly in Asia.
“Countries in Asia such as Singapore have a very well educated population and they have a strong desire to develop new products and enter new markets,” explains David Gillen, Founder and Managing Director of Blueacre Technologies. “These countries are also very well financed, with an excellent industrial-academic spin out infrastructure. Where they are lacking is the experience to engineer these new ideas into working systems, quickly and cost effectively. Contacts and networking are everything in this business though and the GICP has fast tracked the opening of a number of doors for us, which we would have struggled to open ourselves.”
In many respects the Global Irish Contacts Programme is a formalisation of how most business is generated: through personal relationships. “There has always been a willingness in the Irish expat community to assist Irish companies,” says Moore. “But making that initial contact can be a serious barrier for some who aren’t lucky enough to already know someone somewhere on the ground.”
GEM report authors: Colm O’Gorman and Paula Fitzsimons with John Brophy, Carrig Solutions (centre)
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report published this week shows that there has been an increase in early stage entrepreneurial activity in 2011 with approximately 2,200 enterprising individuals setting up a new business each month.
Pictured at the launch of the 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report for Ireland are (l-r): Paula Fitzsimons, Report Co-Author and National GEM Coordinator, Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People and Colm O’Gorman, Report Co-Author
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report published this week shows that there has been an increase in early stage entrepreneurial activity in 2011 with approximately 2,200 enterprising individuals setting up a new business each month.
The findings also indicate that almost three quarters of these start-up entrepreneurs expect to become employers. While the majority of the businesses will remain small, the employment impact of these new enterprises is significant when taken together.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, TD, welcomed the findings, saying: ‘It is successful businesses, not Government, that create jobs. That is why the Government's Action Plan for Jobs includes a series of new measures to support entrepreneurs and new start-ups, and to drive continued growth in this critical sector of the economy. In this regard I am pleased to note the results of the GEM research, which indicate that more people were starting new businesses in 2011 than were a year earlier. It is good to see increased numbers of enterprising individuals determined to turn difficult circumstances into an opportunity for personal and commercial success.’
The report itself has been compiled by the National GEM Co-ordinator Paula Fitzsimons of Fitzsimons Consulting and Dr Colm O'Gorman, Professor of Entrepreneurship at DCU Business School.
Commenting on the report Tom Hayes, Head of Micro Enterprise and Small Business at Enterprise Ireland said: ‘Starting and growing enterprises is fundamental to achieving regional economic growth. In this context it is heartening that the GEM Report demonstrates that a significantly higher proportion of Irish entrepreneurs are engaged in medium or high technology sectors (11%) compared to averages across the OECD (7.3%) and EU (7.9%). These are the kind of companies with the potential to become innovative, export-focussed businesses with the capability to grow internationally and create value add jobs in the Irish economy’.
Footballer turned entrepreneur, Niall Quinn launched the IT’s Happening Here initiative to promote career opportunities in the Irish-owned software sector, where around 1,500 vacancies are waiting to be filled. IT’s Happening Here is targeting software professionals both at home and overseas and offers creative, dynamic positions with multiple responsibilities in Ireland’s home-grown software industry.
Niall Quinn is pictured with some of the 600 Irish-owned software companies promoting the new initiative.
Footballer turned entrepreneur, Niall Quinn launched the IT’s Happening Here initiative to promote career opportunities in the Irish-owned software sector, where around 1,500 vacancies are waiting to be filled. IT’s Happening Here is targeting software professionals both at home and overseas and offers creative, dynamic positions with multiple responsibilities in Ireland’s home-grown software industry.
The campaign is centred around the new ITsHappeningHere.ie website where Irish-owned software companies can post their jobs.
IT’s Happening Here, an industry-led initiative of the Irish-owned software industry supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Jennifer Condon, Manager of Software Division at Enterprise Ireland said: ‘Finding IT talent is currently the single biggest challenge for our software companies. Strongly focused on exports the Irish owned software industry is one of our fastest growing indigenous industries delivering double digit growth in exports every year. It is crucial that we attract talent to the industry to ensure continued growth at this level.’
Niall Quinn, whose company Q Sat will soon be looking for technically gifted professionals said: ‘The Irish have always been a creative people and our IT industry is a demonstration of this creativity. The Irish owned software industry is leading edge, innovative and dynamic and contributes significantly to both our economy and our culture. We are looking to attract the very best talent from graduate to director level to keep us at the top of our game.’
Jarlath Dooley, chair of the industry working group behind IT’s Happening Here and HR Director in Version 1 adds: ‘There are currently 1500 open vacancies in this industry. These roles offer exciting opportunities to really contribute, have your voice heard and your ideas implemented. To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw: “we dream things that never were and ask why not?’
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD this week named the 30 successful companies that have recently been awarded funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund. He also announced a new call for applicants to the fund.
Pictured (l-r) are: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, Tom Cusack, Enterprise Ireland Manager, High Potential Start Ups with Andrew O’Connor and Andrea Magnorsky of Batcat Games.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD this week named the 30 successful companies that have recently been awarded funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund. He also announced a new call for applicants to the fund.
The Competitive Start Fund provides young companies in the ICT & Industrial sectors with the critical early stage funding to test the market for their products and services and progress their business plans for the global marketplace.
15 companies are expected to benefit under this round of funding, under which a total of €750,000 is available. This will bring to 60 the number of early stage projects approved in 2012 under the Competitive Start Fund. The closing date for applicants is Wednesday 10th October and this call is open to start-ups from both ICT and Industrial sectors including sub-sectors such as Internet, Games, Apps, Mobile, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Cleantech and Industrial Products.
Under the terms of the Competitive Start Fund, start-ups will receive an equity investment of up to €50,000 for a 10% ordinary equity stake. In addition to funding, each start-up will be provided with an experienced business mentor to support them. The application process has been designed and improved to be fast and efficient to allow the new start ups to concentrate on validating their business concept and getting to market entry stage as quickly as possible. Visit www.enterprise-ireland.com/csf
Save this date in your calendar, you don’t want to miss it! Ireland’s latest technologies will be pitching to the investor community on the 28th of November at The Big Ideas Showcase organised and sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.
Save this date in your calendar, you don’t want to miss it! Ireland’s latest technologies will be pitching to the investor community on the 28th of November at the Big Ideas Showcase organised and sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.
“Big Ideas” has become the key event in the Irish technology commercialisation calendar since its successful debut in 2009. The Big Ideas Showcase is the largest gathering of inventors in the country. The event will showcase the latest collection of twenty investment opportunities, each with its own merits and business potential. These ideas are the culmination of years of research by some of Ireland’s finest researchers. Their research is solving real problems and creating real opportunities. These twenty ‘big ideas’ will be vying for the attention of over 200 potential investors attending the event.
Among the ‘Big Ideas’ to be pitched to potential investors at this year’s event are technologies that can:
Help to improve your IQ
Treat cardiovascular disease
Reduce the cost of thoroughbred horse breeding
Improve hygiene in our hospitals
Reduce hot water bills by up to 50%
Another interesting aspect to the event is a talk given later in the day by three futurist speakers who discuss emerging trends for industry in the areas of ICT, Lifesciences & Food, and Manufacturing, Engineering & Energy.
There will also be an award presented to a previous “Big Idea” from each of these areas that has successfully commercialised their research.
Enterprise Ireland's eleven Technology Transfer Offices will be exhibiting on the day, illustrating what their college can offer to industry and why their college should be the first choice for research.
This year’s event will take place in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4 on the 28th of November from 10.00am-5.00pm.
Pictured at the launch of CompetitivJoe Kelly, Manager of CAIRN International Trade Centre, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Barry Egan, Director West Region Enterprise Ireland.
Mayo Ideas Week is an annual event consisting of a series of idea generation, entrepreneurship and business events hosted by the development and enterprise support agencies in County Mayo. Mayo Ideas Week events consist of seminars and workshops to suit those already in business as well as those thinking of taking the plunge.
Pictured at the announcement of 20 new jobs at CMS Peripherals, Kiltimagh is Frank Salmon, Founder and Group Managing Director CMS Peripherals, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, Barry Egan, Director, West Region, EnterpriseIreland and Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock
Mayo Ideas Week is an annual event consisting of a series of idea generation, entrepreneurship and business events hosted by the development and enterprise support agencies in County Mayo. Mayo Ideas Week events consist of seminars and workshops to suit those already in business as well as those thinking of taking the plunge.
This year the series of events took place from the 17th to the 21st of September and Enterprise Ireland collaborated with a number of organisations supporting the week’s activities.
The week took off to a great start when An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD, launched the new Enterprise Ireland €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for the West Region. This fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per project, is aimed at boosting start ups and creating jobs and growth in the West. It is now open for applications from Entrepreneurs in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, and will remain open until Wednesday the 17th of October 2012. Its particular focus is on growth-oriented businesses with the potential to move into export markets over time. Full details on the Fund are available at www.enterprise-ireland.com/cffwest.
Also during the action-packed week, An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D., officially announced the creation of 20 new jobs at CMS Peripherals as intake to their Graduate Academy. CMS Peripherals is the largest independent value added distributor of business and consumer data storage products and solutions in the UK and Ireland. The Graduate Academy fast-tracks graduates to careers in the data storage industry. "Investment in specialised training is critical for the economy. Companies like CMS have reached a level of excellence in their industry and I support their Graduate Academy to drive further employment and exports. It is initiatives like this that will contribute greatly to the economic recovery that we are all working towards." said an Taoiseach.
Mayo Ideas Week featured many attractions such as the Spirit of Entrepreneurship event which featured one-to-one mentoring, showcase of GMIT Innovation Centre client companies, talks from experienced entrepreneurs and three early stage companies pitching their business to a panel for a prize of €1,500 sponsored by AIB. Enterprise Ireland client, Alan Dowling from Visual Brand Communication (www.vbc.ie) was the overall winner.
Another highlight of the week was the MedTech IdeaGen Workshop event which was held on Tuesday evening in Castlebar. The workshop brought together over 30 professionals from across the Medical Technologies sector in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The event included a briefing from a Medical Technologies expert, as well as facilitated brainstorming and information-sharing sessions and discussions around emerging opportunities in this fast moving sector, and insights into successful commercialisation strategies. Enterprise Ireland is now following up to support participants take their ideas to the next stage of development.
Irish companies are making waves on the international scene. Two Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Ups, Sonru and B-Smark, have just recently been recognised in global competitions for their innovative thinking.
Irish companies are making waves on the international scene. Two Enterprises Ireland Ireland High Potential Start-Ups, Sonru and B-Smark, have just recently been recognised in global competitions for their innovative thinking.
Wexford company Sonru won of 'Best Innovation' at the Asia Pacific Global Recruiter Industry Awards 2012 on the 6th of September. Sonru is a global leader in the field of video interviews and video screening. Their game changing technology has made recruitment processes much faster by reduced interviewing costs, convenience and the elimination of scheduling and conducting phone interviews. Sonru was founded by Edward Hendrick and was listed as one of world’s top 100 technology start-ups in 2010.
Pictured at the Asia Pacific Global Recruiter Industry Awards 2012 are (l-r): Gary King, Sales & Marketing Director, Global Recruiter, Luke Falvey, CEO Sonru Asia Pacific region and Graham Palfery-Smith, CEO gjps.net.
Commenting on the company’s success, Luke Falvey, CEO Sonru Asia Pacific, said: "The Asia Pacific 'Best Innovation' award is a testament from our talent acquisition peers, that Sonru's innovative asynchronous online video interviewing technology is changing the early stage recruitment process and is the enabler for unlocking significant time and cost efficiencies. We have invested heavily in product design, user experience and best in class technology to fit our clients' needs and it is a great honour to have won this award."
MySmark, product launched by Dublin start-up B-Smark has been chosen as a Global Hot 100 innovation by The World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (THEWSIE). The MySmark team has been selected from 100 companies from around the world.
“We are proud to announce the inclusion of MySmark team as one of the World Summit’s Global Hot Enterprises transforming the future of marketing, contributing to the advancement of the consumer experience in the global markets.” said Sam Hamdan, CEO of Tranzishen, and the Chairman and Chief Architect of The World Summit.
Pictured is MySmark Team (l-r): Francesca Cumerlato, designer, Paolo Panizza, CTO, David Pocina, developer, Nicola Farronato, CEO, Agata Grzywacz, R&D
B-Smark is a consumer experience team helping brands and online retailers to generate more sales and customer engagement by means of innovative semantic technology. Their product - MySmark is a new way of tagging content emotionally on social media.
B-Smark was also invited to participate to the next THEWSIE summit in Boston, Massachusetts, America’s leading innovation city, taking place this week (26-28 Sept).
Ireland had five medalists at the London Games this summer and sixteen at the Paralympic Games. But the athletes were not the only winners in 2012. Irish construction firms also struck Olympic gold worth well over €250 Million in contracts related to the London Olympics 2012.
Catriona Gallagher and David McSweeney of Jones Engineering at the London Olympic site back in 2010
Ireland had five medalists at the London Games this summer and sixteen at the Paralympic Games. But the athletes were not the only winners in 2012. Irish construction firms also struck Olympic gold worth well over €250 Million in contracts related to the London Olympics 2012. The Olympic projects also helped these companies to secure work on other high profile projects and establish invaluable contacts. But how did it all begin? John Hunt of Enterprise London office reminiscences on this hard road to success…
Back in 2006, not many Irish companies were thinking about developing opportunities around the construction of venues at the London 2012 Olympics. At this time, a small team of individuals from Enterprise Ireland had already begun planning and validating the games' potential in respect to the Irish construction sector capability and the benefits to the broader economy.
The Enterprise Ireland ‘Towards 2012’ programme is a great example of what the overseas offices of Enterprise Ireland do and what they do best. That is, looking at market opportunities a year or two in advance of the industry and, in collaboration with our clients, buyers and market experts take forward a market plan that is appropriate to the scale of the market opportunity.
Over the period 2007-2008 for example, much activity involved the development of a network that would provide vital to creating access during the remainder of the construction period. A network that would facilitate the introduction of capability where opportunity exists over the coming years.
Today, as the 2012 games came to their conclusion, Ireland can be proud of their contribution across all of the Olympic Venues with calculations for the collective value of contract wins estimated between €200 and €250 Million. A figure that supports thousands of jobs in Ireland and a figure which is greater than any other non- UK nation for the build phase.
The execution of the “Towards 2012” strategy involved a great many stakeholders. Including central Government, our sister agencies, The Embassy of Ireland, the media, UK trade groups in addition to a great number of one to one engagements with our key clients and market buyers.
The legacy of the programme is still resonating as our clients have moved on from the Olympic venues to other iconic UK projects. Undoubtedly an engagement with the programme and a reference to the Olympic projects has helped to secure work on other high profile schemes such as Crossrail and The Shard. Client companies such as Platt & Reilly, Crean Mosaics, Shay Murtagh, Banagher Concrete, Donseed to name just a few are the new UK entrants that have built significant export businesses in this period.
Towards 2012 has evolved to Onwards from 2012 as the UK sees an increasing depth and breadth to the footprint of Irish expertise across the construction sector.
Some of the Irish winners were:
ABM Precast Secured work on and around the infrastructure development of the Olympic Park for precast concrete. They provided a 375 metre tunnel enclosure and a number of other civil precast structures.
Anord Control Systems One of the first of many significant Irish winners on the park, Anord secured the package for the supply of switchgear to the site as part of the infrastructural cabling works.
Aston Crean (Crean Mosiacs) Supply and Installation of floor coverings to the Athlete’s Village and the Media Broadcast Centre
Banagher Concrete Following success at stadia across Ireland including the Lansdowne Road development, Banagher Concrete secured the order for pre-cast concrete terracing for the Buckingham Group’s Hand Ball arena on the Olympic Park.
Clearpower Design, Supply and Installation of Biomass boilers to the Olympic Park Energy Centre.
Coillte Panel Products Limited CPP supplied 30 trucks of material to the velodrome floor and roof. Shooting range has 3.5 miles of OSB, Press centres across the UK amount to around 20 trucks of material. OSB used to build temporary buildings. Internal fitments of Olympic stadium large amounts of product.
Designer Group Provision of electrical and fire protection services to the Media Broadcast Centre
Donseed Limited A technology company with an innovative offer to the construction sector that provides bio metric access control combined with a web based platform to record attendance and health and safety information. Their product was adopted on the Startford site.
Dortek Manufacture and supply of GRP doors to the 2012 Aquatic Centre
EDC Consulting Engineers Secured the engineering design services contract at the Eton Manor Complex.
Jones Engineering Secured the design and installation of mechanical and electrical services to the Eton Manor Complex
John Sisk & Son The largest Irish owned building contractor in the UK market won a significant contract award on The Athlete’s Village project from Bovis Lend Lease for Athlete’s Accommodation. As well as the construction of two single span pedestrian and cycleway bridges, H10 and H14 spanning the Lea Navigation River on the western boundary and the Shooting venue at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.
KCC Supplied architectural ironmongery to the Media Broadcast Centre
Leinster Reinforcements Contract for the manufacture and supply of reinforced steel cages for piles to the the Aquatic Centre and Handball arena
Platt & Reilly Limited Secured dry wall and ceiling contracts for the Athlete’s village and the new Media Broadcasting Centre.
Techcrete Limited To date the most successful Enterprise Ireland manufacturing company at the games with a series of successes at the Athlete’s village for their precast concrete external facades. A company that have made significant investments into technology and lean manufacturing demonstrating capability that is unparalleled elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.
Figures for the first half of this year prove optimistic, showing the number of Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-Up companies up 26% and jobs up 20% on same period last year. Every issue of our Newsletter profiles one of these new exciting start-ups. Today it's time for Connectedtrips.com
Pictured at the HPSUs mid-year announcment is Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, Alan Wyley(right) founder of Connectedtrips.com and Michael Moriarty, Enterprise Ireland.
Figures for the first half of this year prove optimistic, showing the number of Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-Up companies up 26% and jobs up 20% on same period last year. Every issue of our Newsletter profiles one of these new exciting start-ups. Today it's time for Connectedtrips.com
Dublin based Connectedtrips Limited is one of HPSUs supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2012. The company currently employs 5 people and has committed to creating an additional 17 jobs by the end of 2014.
Connectedtrips is a global travel website and online community aimed at anyone who is interested in holidays, retreats and courses in the area of personal growth i.e. yoga, meditation, nutrition, healing and self help.
The company has just launched its global website aimed at the wellness market. It promotes indoor and outdoor activities that will help people deepen the connection to themselves, spiritually, emotionally or physically.
Connectedtrips was founded in 2011 by serial entrepreneur Alan Wyley, co-founder of eWare and former CEO of EuroCommerce.
The company was formed in late 2011 and was initially was supported by Enterprise Ireland through a Feasibility Study Grant to complete the market research.
Having successfully raised €250,000 from private investors Connectedtrips received matching funds from Enterprise Ireland in June 2012.
“Today we have a quality stable product and over 1,000 centres listed in 18 countries around the world and over 3,000 pages of relevant content,” says Alan Wyley, Founder and CEO of Connectedtrips. “We believe we have proven that there is a need out there with the centres and our next challenge is to pull the users through to make enquiries and bookings with us over the coming months.”
The company is located at Dogpatch Labs, Barrow Street, Dublin, an organisation which located in Ireland for the first time in 2011 following an investment by the National Pensions Reserve Fund under Innovation Fund Ireland.
Dogpatch Labs Europe in Dublin is now home to 21 companies, each of which have hiring plans similar to Connected Trips and will be looking to scale their teams aggressively in the coming months and quarters.
