The Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen, has formally opened the new Design+ Gateway at the Institute of Technology, Carlow.
The Design+ Technology Gateway is funded by Enterprise Ireland and aims to give companies based in the southeast, midlands and beyond an opportunity to develop their business through innovative collaborative research and development while networking with industry across the regions.
Design+ forms part of a 15-strong Enterprise Ireland funded Technology Gateway Network across the country.
The gateways are located in 11 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) with a proven record in working with Irish industry. The gateway network leverages the industry focused expertise within IoTs, acting as open access points to deliver near-to-market solutions for Irish industry. Since their inception in 2013, the Gateways have delivered more than 1,500 projects to industry with a value of over €15million.
Design+ is receiving almost €250,000 over a two-year period from Enterprise Ireland, by which time it anticipates it will have supported 55 companies.
Businesses assisted to date include: Magnetar Medical Devices, providers of an electrical drug delivery patch; Hamstring Solo, a fitness and testing apparatus for professional sports teams; The Wholesome Irish Biltong Company, providers of high protein health snacks.
The Design+ Gateway at Institute of Technology Carlow is led by Ailish Delaney, a business development graduate with over ten years’ experience in enterprise support and mentoring. Several industry-focused academic researchers from Institute of Technology Carlow’s various faculties and Centres for Research and Enterprise (CORE) will work alongside Ailish Delaney, including: Mr Colin Deevy and Dr. PJ White from designCORE; Dr. David Dowling and Dr. Thomae Kakouli-Duarte from enviroCORE; Dr. Donnacha Lowney and Dr Dean Callaghan from engCORE; Mr Joseph Kehoe and Dr. Daire O’Broin from gameCORE.
Business leaders, government agencies, politicians and academics gathered at Institute of Technology Carlow’s Haughton Building for the launch of Design+, an interdisciplinary Technology Gateway which will apply industrial design capabilities to developing companies in the engineering, ICT & software and bioscience sectors.
Speaking at Friday’s official launch at Institute of Technology Carlow, Minister Breen said, "I know the Gateways have already proven valuable in providing access for companies and entrepreneurs to the expertise of over 300 researchers and to the specialised equipment and facilities available in our Institutes of Technology."
He added, "The Design+ Gateway will benefit not only companies based in the midlands and southeast, but will provide solutions for companies all over Ireland, increasing their competitiveness and facilitating the further development of new product ranges."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
