IT security company Espion is to create 25 new jobs in Ireland and an additional 10 in the Benelux region. It is also establishing a new office in New York with support from Enterprise Ireland. The increased headcount underpins Espion’s efforts to become a global ICT player and a key facet of this strategy is to enable US multinationals to do business across the EU.
IT security companyEspion is to create 25 new jobs in Ireland and an additional 10 in the Benelux region. It is also establishing a new office in New York with support from Enterprise Ireland. The increased headcount underpins Espion’s efforts to become a global ICT player and a key facet of this strategy is to enable US multinationals to do business across the EU.
Espion has an established track-record working with some of the biggest organisations in Europe providing expertise on the identification, protection, compliance and management of their information. The firm plans to carve a niche, offering specialist consultancy to US multinationals navigating the European data protection, information security and multijurisdictional eDiscovery landscape.
Commenting on the US move, Espion managing director, Colman Morrissey, says: “There are unprecedented levels of complexity facing global businesses that need to manage and secure sensitive data in multiple regions across Europe. We will offer our existing capabilities, with additional expertise around bridging gaps between US and EU data protection requirements.
In the past 18 months we have built a significant US multinational client base advising on navigating the EU regulatory and compliance landscape. Based on these engagements we believe there are ample opportunities to grow this business. Our new stake in the US will greatly elevate our global expansion plans.”
Espion recently ranked on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for a ninth consecutive year, with 2014 revenues growing by more than 35 per cent over the previous year. The firm currently employs 85 specialist consultants and expects staff numbers to hit the 120 mark by the end of 2015 to support expansion.
Rory Griffith, Enterprise Ireland - New York, Senior VP Financial Software & Services, Information Security & Government Solutions says: “Indigenous firms like Espion have much to offer US multinationals and the US market. Ireland’s ecosystem for information security is among the best and most innovative in the world. This is due to the excellent interaction of technology firms (such as Espion) with research institutes, colleges and universities, industry associations as well as deep participation with in-market Enterprise Ireland advisers and contacts. This level of collaboration is key to ensure continuous innovation and help Ireland remain a smart exporter of information security solutions and services.”
Enterprise Ireland hosted a successful client-buyer evening at The Royal Horse Show in Toronto on Friday November 14th.
Irish international riders Conor Swail and Darragh Kenny with Tom Barrett of TRM Ireland at the Irish Fan Zone
Enterprise Ireland hosted a successful client-buyer evening at The Royal Horse Show in Toronto on Friday November 14th.
The Royal Horse Show is a world renowned equestrian event which lasts 10 days and this year celebrated its 92nd year. The show is rated the #1 indoor horse show in North America and boasts a huge variety of equestrian based competitions alongside a large trade fair. As a result of introductions made at the Dublin Horse Show 2013 a number of Irish client companies now have distributors in Canada. The Royal is a good opportunity for Irish equine clients to see their wares on display and to strengthen relationships with distributors.
TRM Ireland joined up with the Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) for the afternoon to help them out with an Irish Fan Zone. Irish international riders Conor Swail and Darragh Kenny spent an hour signing TRM Ireland hats and merchandise for excited fans.
In the evening, Enterprise Ireland welcomed the Irish Ambassador to Canada, Dr. Ray Bassett and Orla Battersby, Enterprise Ireland Director for North America to the Weston Canadian Open. Gavan O Sullivan and Matt Walsh from Nortev , Tom Barrett from TRM Ireland, Douglas Venn from Bucas and Terry McLaughlin from Dubarry Canada also joined with their respective Canadian distributors (Greenhawk and System Fencing) and equine industry contacts (Horse Canada and the OEF) for the show.
Both the clients and buyers had an enjoyable evening. Existing relationships were strengthened and new contacts were made. Gavan O Sullivan, MD of Nortev stated that “We'll stay in touch [with Enterprise Ireland Canada]; the trip was a well worthwhile investment.” Another client company thanked Enterprise Ireland for facilitating the networking event, commenting that “2015 could be a breakthrough year in Canada”.
Irish equine genomics company Equinome plans to open an office in the US next year and has six new DNA-related tests in development which it intends to release over the next two years.
Pictured at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, is Dr Emmeline Hill, recipient of the 2014 NovaUCD Innovation Award.
Irish equine genomics company Equinome plans to open an office in the US next year and has six new DNA-related tests in development which it intends to release over the next two years.
This Enterprise Ireland supported client company is also hoping to double its workforce to 20 in the next 12 months.
These plans coincide with the increase in usage of Equinome's genetic tests by racehorse owners and breeders around the world.
The company made the announcement at an event held on Monday at University College Dublin, where Equinome's co-founder Dr Emmeline Hill was presented with the 2014 NovaUCF Innovation Award.
Hill co-founded Equinome in partnership with Jim Bolger in 2009.
Professor Andrew Deeks, president of University College Dublin, said: "The 2014 NovaUCD Innovation Award was presented to Dr Hill in recognition of the successes she has achieved to date through the quality and impact of her research and through the impact of Equinome in the thoroughbred industry in Ireland and internationally."
"Equinome, established to commercialise world-class UCD research outputs, is an excellent example of a UCD spin-out company with global reach and sales. While only established in 2010 Equinome has already significantly changed breeding techniques in the global Thoroughbred industry which had until then remained unchanged for hundreds of years."
The fund can provide up to €25,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study to help new entrepreneurs to validate their start-up ideas. The aim of the fund is to boost start-ups and stimulate growth and job creation in Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Mr Brendan Howlin T.D. announced a new €200,000 Enterprise Ireland fund to help entrepreneurs in the South East Region to explore the feasibility of their innovative start-up ideas.
The fund can provide up to €25,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study to help new entrepreneurs to validate their start-up ideas. The aim of the fund is to boost start-ups and stimulate growth and job creation in Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.
The deadline for applications is 3pm on Tuesday 20th January 2015.
Announcing the fund, Minister Howlin said: “This fund is to help entrepreneurs in the South East to start high growth indigenous businesses that will create the jobs of the future. As proven by local successes such as Sonru, Eishtec and FeedHenry, the South-East offers a rich environment in which new Irish businesses can start and grow to deliver strong job-creation potential.
"At the heart of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs is our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to start-up, grow, win markets and create jobs. I urge the next generation of South East entrepreneurs, with exciting business ideas, to come forward and compete for the funds available. Let us continue to drive the ongoing resurgence of the region”.
Enda McDonnell, Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Director for the South/South East added: “This fund is aimed at helping people who have a bright idea for an international business for the South East. We are looking for new business ideas that can grow and provide valuable jobs into the future. We encourage anyone who has even a germ of an idea to review details of the scheme …it might be just what you have been looking for to test the commercial potential of your business idea”.
The application process will be competitive and will focus on supporting innovative, growth-oriented businesses with the potential to move into export markets over time.
Full details of the fund including the online application form are available on the Enterprise Ireland website: www.enterprise-ireland.com/sef
Showcase is Ireland’s largest international trade event for fashion, jewellery, gift and interiors. It offers buyers the opportunity to meet with over 430 Irish companies from designers, crafts people and leading Irish brands...
Milliner Laura Kinsella pictured at the official launch of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) as part of the Action Plan for Jobs
Showcase is Ireland’s largest international trade event for fashion, jewellery, gift and interiors. It offers buyers the opportunity to meet with over 430 Irish companies from designers, crafts people and leading Irish brands. It is anticipated that 5,000 retail buyers will attend with almost 1,000 international buyers travelling from 26 countries. Buyers attend Showcase to source creative, innovative and unique products from leading Irish designers and manufacturers.
Showcase provides a platform for Irish companies to meet with international buyers across global markets. Enterprise Ireland’s network of overseas offices promotes Showcase to international buyers and it is looking forward to welcoming all international buyers who are looking to source exciting new innovative products.
Showcase is the first major trade event of ID2015, a Year of Irish Design, a government initiative to explore, promote and celebrate Irish design throughout Ireland and internationally. The ID2015 programme includes events across Ireland, as well as activities and showcases at design weeks, fashion weeks and architecture biennales in international design capitals such as London, New York, Tokyo and Paris. For more information please visit www.irishdesign2015.ie
28 year old Eamon Keane of Xpreso software has been named as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, winning a total €50,000 investment fund for his business. The young entrepreneur also took the ‘Best Start Up’ award at the competition, which attracted over 1,100 entries...
Pictured are: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, Sheelagh Daly, Local Enterprise Offices, and Tom Hayes, Enterprise Ireland, with the Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) finalists at a business bootcamp co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices today at the Wayra offices in Dublin.
28 year old Eamon Keane of Xpreso software in South Dublin has been named as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, winning a total €50,000 investment fund for his business. The Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton T.D. made the announcement in front of 350 guests at the first-ever national final, held at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin on December 7.
Keane, from Templeogue, co-founded the parcel tracking software company in 2013 after dropping out of his PhD studies and has already signed up Ireland’s biggest independent courier company. The young entrepreneur also took the ‘Best Start Up’ award at the competition, which attracted over 1,100 entries when it was launched earlier this year through the Local Enterprise Offices.
Supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the nationwide competition forms part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 with an overall investment fund of €2 million awarded to county winners and national winners.
The ‘Best New Idea’ award and €20,000 investment prize went to Philip Martin from Blanco Nino in Tipperary; the ‘Best Established Business with Add On’ award and €30,000 investment prize went to Dean Gammell from The Group System in Westmeath.
Each of the three finalists also wins a place at the Google ‘Adopt a Start Up’ programme next year. Meanwhile, the Google award for ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ went to Padraig O’ Scanaill, from Fund Recs in Waterford.
Congratulating all the winning entrepreneurs Minister Bruton said: “In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs – we just don’t have enough of them. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and so we must encourage more young people to consider starting a business as a career choice – to become the job-creators of the future.”
All 31 Local Enterprise Offices ran the competition locally and organised regional bootcamps for over 400 participants. In all, 24 finalists from 17 counties competed for the overall title and 9 of them made a live pitch to the judging panel at the Foundry in Google. This year’s judging panel included two entrepreneurs: Sarah Doyle of Kinesense and Brian Crowley of the TTM Group, alongside Colin Goulding of Google, Mary Fitzpatrick of the Local Enterprise Offices and Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland.
Details for all the finalists are available at www.ibye.ie and by searching #ibye on social media and YouTube.
After more than 15 years conducting trade missions all over the globe, Enterprise Ireland organised a “Trade Mission in Ireland” covering Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway over a two day period 27-28th November 2014. Led by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton, more than 230 companies participated under the Global Sourcing initiative with the objectives of recognising the strong links that exist between multinationals and their Irish supplier base and increasing the level of activity and interactions between the two groups.
After more than 15 years conducting trade missions all over the globe, Enterprise Ireland organised a “Trade Mission in Ireland” covering Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway over a two day period 27-28th November 2014. Led by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton, more than 230 companies participated under the Global Sourcing initiative with the objectives of recognising the strong links that exist between multinationals and their Irish supplier base and increasing the level of activity and interactions between the two groups.
Organised by the Enterprise Ireland Global Sourcing team with support from colleagues in IDA Ireland, the mission covered a wide range of activities including sales pitches to multi-national corporations (MNCs) by Enterprise Ireland clients, networking breakfast and lunches and speed dating events in Dublin Cork and Galway.
The participants also heard from speakers and panellists from companies such as Creganna, Accenture, DataHug and Biotector Analytical who gave tips on dealing with the challenges and opportunities selling into MNCs in Ireland.
The mission covered market sectors such as Web 2.0, Pharma, Biotech, Medical Devices, Engineering and ICT taking full advantage of key global players in these sectors having their operations in Ireland. It was obvious to all that these MNCs were very impressed at the quality of products and services that Irish companies had to offer. In addition, it allowed many Irish companies an opportunity to introduce their innovative capabilities and solutions direct to MNC procurement teams for the first time.
Initial feedback from the mission suggests that this will become an annual event. However, Global Sourcing, which is an initiative under the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, are working year round to make introductions between Enterprise Ireland clients and MNCs in Ireland so feel free to contact the team here in Dublin anytime.
Hoxton Ventures, the leading European micro-cap venture capital firm, has announced the launch of a €5.875 million Irish early stage venture capital fund, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.
Hoxton Ventures, the leading European micro-cap venture capital firm, has announced the launch of a €5.875 million Irish early stage venture capital fund, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.
Hoxton Ventures is a $40M early stage venture capital fund designed to bridge the gap between Europe and Silicon Valley. The new €5.875m fund will focus exclusively on Irish investments. The firm was founded by Accel and Fidelity Ventures alums, Hussein Kanji and Rob Kniaz, and invests primarily in software-driven companies and services.
The fund also announced two new members to its team, Dylan Collins and Vijay Pandurangan. Collins is the Irish technology entrepreneur behind SuperAwesome, Jolt Online (acquired by Gamestop) and DemonWare (acquired by Activision). Pandurangan was formerly a senior engineer at Google and founder of Mitra (acquired by Twitter).
The announcement forms part of the €700million Seed and Venture Capital Scheme, supported by the Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland. “We are excited to open up an Irish presence. Ireland has become a leading place for large technology companies entering the European market, and we think it has the seeds of innovation to build exceptional companies,” said Hoxton founder Rob Kniaz.
Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland, commented: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to commit €2.5m to the first closing of Hoxton’s Irish Sub Fund. This fund will build on the success of the 2007-2012 Seed & Venture Capital Programme and the addition of a new fund manager to the Irish market represents a great opportunity for our clients. The Hoxton team clearly has a deep understanding of what is required to accelerate web companies to market; investee companies will not only get access to capital but will be immediately connected into networks that provide expertise and rapid access to customers”.
Hoxton has been quietly meeting with Irish entrepreneurs for the last few months and has reviewed a large number of investment opportunities. The fund expects to make several investments in Irish startups over the coming three years.
It has made eight investments to date, including Deliveroo, Campanja and Immun.io.
To get in touch with Hoxton, please visit hoxton.vc or get referred to one of the partners.
UCD spin-out start-up Equilume has secured €550,000 in seed funding from Enterprise Ireland and a number of angel investors based in Ireland, the UK and the USA.
Pictured at NovaUCD is Dr Barbara Murphy, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and founder of the UCD spin-out company Equilume.
UCD spin-out start-up Equilume has secured €550,000 in seed funding from Enterprise Ireland and a number of angel investors based in Ireland, the UK and the USA.
The company, which is based in Co. Kildare, intends to use the investment to accelerate sales of its innovative Equilume Light Mask technology within the global Thoroughbred industry to assist breeders to maximise the reproductive efficiency and performance in their horses.
The Equilume Light Mask, which is manufactured entirely in Ireland, is a novel automated mobile lighting device that fits comfortably under a horse’s head collar. The Light Mask has been scientifically proven to provide the optimum level of blue light to a single eye of a mare to successfully advance her breeding season, prevent long gestations and ensure reproductive activity in early foaling mares.
Dr Barbara Murphy, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and the founder of Equilume said, “The Equilume Light Mask has already gained considerable traction within the global thoroughbred market and this summer we doubled our sales in the key Australian market. This seed funding will help us accelerate our marketing efforts, expand our reach into new market segments and continue to break new boundaries in advancing equine reproductive health technologies with our ongoing new product development.”
She added, “Equilume currently employs 7 people and we plan to increase staff numbers to 11 by end of 2016.”
The Equilume Light Mask has been developed as a result of ground breaking research carried out by Dr Barbara Murphy from UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science, in collaboration with Professor John Sheridan, an optoelectronics researcher in UCD’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering.
Equilume has already won a number awards including Enterprise Ireland’s 'One to Watch' Award (2012); overall winner Newbridge 200 Business Start-Up Competition (2012) and a NovaUCD Start-Up Award (2011).
Boxever, an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-up company, has partnered with Ryanair on implementing a travel-centric customer intelligence and personalized marketing platform within Ryanair’s Digital Experience team. Following the introduction of Ryanair’s tailored business and family products and as part of its “Always Getting Better” program, Ryanair is now providing its customers with messaging that is more suited to their travel needs, using Boxever’s platform.
Boxever, an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-up company, has partnered with Ryanair on implementing a travel-centric customer intelligence and personalized marketing platform within Ryanair’s Digital Experience team. Following the introduction of Ryanair’s tailored business and family products and as part of its “Always Getting Better” program, Ryanair is now providing its customers with messaging that is more suited to their travel needs, using Boxever’s platform.
“We have rolled out a series of customer experience improvements over the past year as part of our ‘Always Getting Better’ program and we have particularly focused on how we communicate with our 89 million customers,” said Dara Brady, Ryanair’s Head of Digital Experience. “Boxever’s platform helps us learn more about our customers, ensuring we can tailor our offering to better suit their requirements.”
Boxever enables Ryanair to create a rich, 360-degree view of each customer, using information from across the organization, allowing it to accurately segment its customer base into distinct groups and offer specific products to these various groupings.
“We are seeing passengers demand more than just low fares from their airlines – they want to feel like the airline understands them individually,” said Dave O’Flanagan, CEO, Boxever. “By evolving the way they identify and communicate with customers – and making these interactions more relevant, contextual, and personal – Ryanair is responding to customer expectations, which should help improve customer loyalty and drive even more repeat business. We’re pleased to be a partner in helping them achieve this goal.”
Lately, Air New Zealand airlines has also selected Boxever to power its real-time personalization initiative. Boxever’s CRM, customer intelligence, and recommendation engine will power customized offers and engagement with Air New Zealand customers via multiple channels, including web, email, mobile, and in the call center.
Boxever’s platform provides the following capabilities:
360-degree profile of each of an airline’s passengers
Sophisticated identity resolution algorithms to tie together data across channels
Machine learning and predictive analytics to help marketing, sales, and call center employees determine the next best offer, message, and channel through which to engage with a customer
Companies using Boxever’s solutions report improvements in customer loyalty, increased conversion, and additional revenue.
Irish medical devices start-up Neuromod Devices Ltd. launched an innovative new product this week known as the mutebutton system. The product offers a revolutionary new treatment for tinnitus sufferers...
Irish medical devices start-up Neuromod Devices Ltd. launched an innovative new product this week known as the mutebutton system. The product offers a revolutionary new treatment for tinnitus sufferers.
Neuromod also plans to create 50 new jobs over the next 5 years at its newly opened clinic in Dublin. These highly specialized roles will be key in supporting their global growth targets to become a leading global provider of non-surgical neuromodulation treatments for chronic conditions.
From 15 December, Irish Tinnitus sufferers will be the first members of the public to be able to access the mutebutton treatment through the Irish website (www.mutebutton.ie).
Once purchased the device will be delivered to the Neuromod Clinic in Dublin where patients will be given an appointment to have the device configured to their needs by a qualified audiologist.
A clinically proven, self-administered treatment, Mutebutton is the culmination of over four years of research and development since the company was founded in 2010 by Dr Ross O’Neill.
At the launch of the product Dr. O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of Neuromod Devices Ltd said “I am delighted to announce the launch of a revolutionary new treatment for tinnitus sufferers, a condition which has lacked sufficient treatment to date despite affecting 1 in 10 of us. After four years of research and development, today Neuromod Devices is positioned to meet the unmet needs of tinnitus patients’ globally, with the launch of the mutebutton device. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as a small Irish SME, in just 4 years and this is in no small part thanks to the state support we have received from Enterprise Ireland and the NDRC.”
Neuromod Devices is headquartered in NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin (UCD). The mutebutton device comes on sale from 15th December in Ireland ahead of a wider European launch commencing January 2015.
In December, all eyes were very much on China, during the State Visit of President Michael D. Higgins - the first State Visit to China since 2003. The Irish presence in China is growing, as more and more companies realise that having boots on the ground is critical to winning and sustaining business in this market...
In December, all eyes were very much on China, during the State Visit of President Michael D. Higgins - the first State Visit to China since 2003. During the visit the President attended a number of trade related events hosted by Enterprise Ireland. This was a tremendous opportunity to highlight the success of Irish companies already doing business in China, as well as the opportunities for more Irish firms to enter this huge and growing market.
The Irish presence in China is growing, as more and more companies realise that having boots on the ground is critical to winning and sustaining business in this market. There are currently over 240 Irish owned companies exporting to China with approximately 90 having a direct sales presence in the market, ranging from a single person sales office to manufacturing operations with thousands of employees. Irish companies employ an estimated 10,000 across China in a range of sectors including aerospace, travel, food, ICT, education, financial services, industrial, life sciences and more.
A number of Enterprise Ireland client companies announced new business deals and partnerships during the State Visit. Cork-based Wilson Architecture has been awarded a major design contract by QiLu Pharmaceutical Company, one of China’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Luxcel Biosciences, together with their US/China partners MOCON (Shanghai) Trading Co, Ltd., a NASDAQ listed US company, have developed a ‘dairy industry game-changing’ platform suite of rapid microbiology testing products, under the GreenLight® brand, that will transform global quality and hygiene programs in milk and dairy production. And MicroGen Biotech has announced a Joint Venture in China with Shengli Oilfield Jindao Industrial Cooperation and Shandong Academy of Sciences. The estimated investment for the JV from Shengli Jindao will be €10m. The venture aims to clean up 12million acres of Chinese oilfield contaminated land.
Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies to do business in China through its three offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, and through client events such as trade missions, trade fairs, market study visits and inward buyer visits (where Enterprise Ireland brings Chinese buyers from a particular sector to Ireland to meet with potential Irish suppliers). All this is helping to ensure the upwards trend in growing Irish exports to China continues. Exports to Greater China increased by 23% in 2013 – Hong Kong recorded an increase of 13% to €98.7m, whilst Mainland China saw exports by Irish companies increase by 34% to €349m – and all the indications are that the figures will have increased again for 2014.
Gartan Technologies, based in Letterkenny, has been awarded a major contract by Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW), one of the largest Fire & Rescue operations in the world. The company opened an office in Sydney on 3rd November.
Gartan Technologies, based in Letterkenny, has been awarded a major contract by Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW), one of the largest Fire & Rescue operations in the world. The company develops specialised software which monitors the availability of personnel and manages their time. Gartan already has a strong customer base in the UK and Ireland and this new development heralds their expansion around the globe to Australia. The company opened an office in Sydney on 3rd November.
Speaking about Gartan Technologies’ entry into the Australian market, Managing Director, Malachi Eastwood, said, “Securing the contract with the FRNSW represents a significant step forward for us. There are great opportunities in Australia but you do need to have a product which offers something more and has a strong reputation. ”
New South Wales is a region larger than France and in 2012/13 FRNSW responded to over 134,000 incidents. FRNSW was looking for a system that would help ensure they had sufficient personnel available to respond to emergency callouts from 338 stations. Because of the scale of the New South Wales operation, they wanted a proven solution that matched their specific requirements. Upon undertaking a rigorous evaluation of the global market, they chose Gartan because of their track record and reputation in Ireland and the UK.
Gartan Technologies participated on the recent Enterprise Ireland Trade and Investment Mission to Australia. Welcoming the announcement, Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “I am particularly delighted to welcome the announcement of their significant new contract with FRNSW. This contract demonstrates the calibre of Gartan’s innovation and technology, and provides a great example of the type of innovative Irish company we are working with in Enterprise Ireland. I congratulate them on their expansion into the Australian market which opens up significant opportunities for the Letterkenny-based company.
Malachi added: “We work with organisations in many sectors including Health, Finance, Manufacturing and Emergency Services, that put an emphasis on ensuring their employees’ time is always properly utilised and valued. Our products do more than simply manage staff availability, they are strategic tools which enhance performance and efficiency.”
“Organisations want reliable, flexible partners that consistently deliver to help them manage their employee time. It’s a proposition that we took to Australia which has been very well received. We’re especially proud to have clients in Ireland and UK who have been with us for 14, 16 and even 18 years. That’s a track record we intend to keep in Australia.”
As a follow-up to the 2014 Dublin Web-summit, “10 out of 10 - A Focus on Ireland” on December 11 brought four Irish based IT companies to Moscow to demonstrate why and how Ireland has come to be recognised as an International Hub of IT Excellence. The companies shared their insights into how the Irish IT eco-system functions, highlighting why Ireland has become home to “10 out of 10” of the largest internet companies in the world and hundreds of internationally successful start-ups.
As a follow-up to the 2014 Dublin Web-summit, “10 out of 10 - A Focus on Ireland” on December 11 brought four Irish based IT companies to Moscow to demonstrate why and how Ireland has come to be recognised as an International Hub of IT Excellence. The companies shared their insights into how the Irish IT eco-system functions, highlighting why Ireland has become home to “10 out of 10” of the largest internet companies in the world and hundreds of internationally successful start-ups.
Ireland is the 6th largest source of FDI for Russia, with Russia being the 10th most important international, and 3rd most important non-EU export market, for Irish companies. According to the recent CSO figures, Irish exports to Russia increased by 19% in the first 10 months of 2014, breaking the previous high with a 10 month result of €649m.
Held under the banner of ‘Think Ireland’, organised by Enterprise Ireland’s Russia/CIS office and the Embassy of Ireland in Moscow, the event was funded by the Ireland-Russia Joint Economic Commission and featured presentations from Enterprise Ireland clients Standard Access and Afilias, IDA, Enterprise Ireland supported New Relic, and local enterprise board supported Sonarsim. Presentations were followed by an interactive workshop in the form of a “mock” pitching session for pre-selected Russian start-ups to allow them to try out their ideas in front of the panel of speakers, all of whom have a wealth of experience in raising funding and investing, and have participated in similar sessions at some of the leading industry events in the world.
50 local Russian investors, serial entrepreneurs, and start-up experts attended the four hour session which was held in Moscow’s most prominent IT networking venue, Digital October, home to TechCrunch in Russia.
The 10 out of 10 event was a sector specific drill-down from the recent ‘Team Ireland Showcase’ in Moscow – the first ever multi agency presentation of ‘Why Ireland’ in Russia given by SFI, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and Irish law firm Flynn O’Driscoll which was organised by Enterprise Ireland Russia/CIS and the Embassy of Ireland also as part of the Ireland-Russia Joint Economic Commission (JEC).
Over 1,700 people attended the first and very successful Innovation Showcase on Tuesday 2nd December 2014 in the Convention Centre, Dublin...
A birds’ eye view of the set-up inside the Innovation Showcase
The National Innovation Showcase is part of a drive by the Irish Government to open up the innovation, research and development infrastructure to business.
The event is the brainchild of Enterprise Ireland and is being held in close cooperation with IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland.
Over 1,700 people attended the Innovation Showcase on Tuesday 2nd December 2014 in the Convention Centre, Dublin.
The aim of the event was to give companies in Ireland an introduction to State supports to increase the level of collaboration between industry and State-supported entities.
The key attraction of the event was that it made it as easy as possible for the intended target audiences to find all the information they need, in one location, on one day, to engage in some form of collaborative research.
Every support from a €5,000 innovation voucher right up to engaging in a pan-European, multi million euro collaboration in Horizon 2020 was on show with the relevant programme managers of each support available to provide expert advice to attendees.
Members of the venture capital and investment community also had the opportunity to see the work going on in the wider research and technology system, something which is vital to ensure that early-stage start-ups with their roots in State-funded research continue to attract investment.
Highlights of the innovation showcase
65 State supported entities promoting innovation in one location on one day
38 Research Centres, Technology Centres, national institutes and facilities of scale on display together for the first time
First directory of all Research Centres and Technology centres of scale
Trending 2nd on Twitter in Ireland, just behind Christmas!
National media coverage – Morning Ireland, Six One News and Irish Times
Unprecedented web traffic for a set-piece event
Horizon 2020 participation was highly successful with many relevant meetings producing good leads for future applications
Big Ideas 2014 was THE most successful one to date
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive
The Big Ideas – investor ready start-ups event Enterprise Ireland has run the Big Ideas event since 2009 and it was agreed that incorporating it into the Innovation Showcase would be an opportunity to open the event up to a wider audience of potential business partners, industry advisors and potential investors. In a shift from previous years, the 2014 Big Ideas focussed on spin-out companies from State-funded research only. 13 participants were selected from the spin-out pipeline by Enterprise Ireland commercialisation specialists.
More than 50 formal one-to-one meetings were arranged with investors at the Big Ideas Investor Hub/Meeting zone.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened €5m Governance, Risk and Compliance Technology Centre (GRCTC) hosted by University College Cork (UCC) and funded by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.
The new multi-million-euro centre is aimed at helping small and medium enterprises create jobs through the commercialisation of the centre’s cutting-edge technology.
Explaining the need for this centre, Peter Cowap, Director of the GRCTC said “the move towards ‘smart regulation’ in financial services demands greater global harmonisation and a consistent approach to the production and interpretation of regulations. However, in this rapidly changing environment, Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) departments in regulated financial services companies are struggling to keep up using increasingly outmoded manual and semi-automated approaches”.
Speaking on behalf of the industry partners at the launch, Richard Pike, Vice President EMEA at Wolters Kluwer said that the GRCTC “is creating building blocks in the form of software, databases and process models that will be consumable by the industry partners to accelerate our development of new products and applications”.
The centre is active seeking new industry members and is aiming to grow its membership significantly through outreach and promotion activities over the next 3-6 months.
Welcoming the launch Gearoid Mooney, Research & Innovation Manager, Enterprise Ireland, said: "Market-focused technology centres are an effective model for ensuring that the application of State-funded research in Ireland is closely coupled to industry needs. Experience to date has established that it can deliver real results for the companies, the research community and ultimately accomplish the state's objective of investing in the commercialisation of research in sectors of strategic and economic importance to Ireland."
Over 130 people attended Ireland’s inaugural Knowlege Transfer Community Forum in Malahide in October, the first in a series of events designed to unpack key issues in knowledge transfer and commercialisation of research.
Mike Ryan, Irrus Investments; Dan Crowley, ARCH Ventrure Partners and Dr Ena Prosser, Fountain Healthcare Partners
Over 130 people attended Ireland’s inaugural Knowlege Transfer Community Forum in Malahide in October, the first in a series of events designed to cover key issues in knowledge transfer and commercialisation of research.
The event looked at how to create successful spin-out companies and negotiate the right investment. The audience included technology transfer professionals from Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology as well as investors, entrepreneurs and academics.
Alison Campbell, director of Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) said: “We’ll look together as a community of knowledge transfer professionals, industry and investors at what’s working well as best practice. And we will work together as an ecosystem with the aim of making Ireland the best place in Europe for knowledge transfer.”
A discussion on What Investors Want and Why was followed by a case study on Stokes Bio, founded by Mark Davies and Tara Dalton whilst conducting research at the University of Limerick.
Investors were clear that they are looking for strong management teams, considered key to creating successful spin-out companies. They also seek spin-outs that are delivering disruptive technologies. These technologies need to be protected with good IP and address real needs in the market. Investors acknowledged that Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) should be recognised as an integral part of the value creation process.
Davies and Dalton at Stokes Bio were approached in 2005 by Kernel Capital, which targets intelligence rather than experience when backing early-stage companies. Kernel was willing to take a risk on Stokes Bio despite several setbacks in the first two years. Developing the company’s board structure was one of the most important things Kernel did. University of Limerick for its part was supportive throughout and the deal highlighted the value of the university’s IP due diligence. Stokes was successfully acquired by Life Technologies in 2010 for $44 million.
During the discussion on What HEIs Want and Why, the panel of technology transfer directors agreed that a key issue for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is protecting the institution’s reputation. All agreed they were keen to see high quality spin-outs. Promoters need to be incentivised to encourage entrepreneurial initiative and the IP policy at HEIs should be clear about equity positions. Adding performance milestones to a licence can encourage academics to involve management partners early in the spin-out process.
Many technology transfer directors see it as critical that the academic, whether tenured or not, travels with the technology and lends value to the company. Given the sectoral differences between ICT and life sciences, it was suggested that there may be a case for setting aside traditional university policy where academics want to spin out an ICT company.
In the case study on SureWash, Gerard Lacey said patenting and engaging early with the market to allow start-ups to build nascent demand were vital. When he realised he had a patentable research idea, he immediately contacted the technology transfer office at Trinity College Dublin. A high degree of trust between Lacey and Trinity’s TTO meant that things happened quickly and the product was patented almost immediately.
Keynote speaker, Tony Hickson shared his insights from Imperial Innovations, an unusual hybrid of venture capitalist and technology transfer office focused on IP and spin-out formation. He challenged the audience to think more from an investor perspective when developing commercial propositions and acknowledged that TTOs, wherever they may be, often made deal making too complex.
Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition has opened its extended infant formula production line in Wexford. Around €26m was invested in the Wexford facility, which will create 50 new jobs in the region.
Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition has opened its extended infant formula production line in Wexford. The expansion forms part of the company's €180m investment programme in its Irish operations in Macroom and Wexford.
Around €26m was invested in the Wexford facility, which will create 50 new jobs in the region.
Opening the Wexford facility, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. said: “Three years ago my Department put in place the South East Plan to deal with the historic unemployment problems in this region – today’s announcement is the latest in a string of announcements, from Irish companies in particular, that have contributed to jobs growth of over 14,000 in the region in the past three years. These high quality manufacturing jobs will have a major knock-on impact on the local economy in particular in the dairy industry”.
Donal Courtney, Managing Director, Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition Ireland said: “We have a significant track record of growth and investment in Ireland over the past four years. This reflects both a growing demand for our products in the European and Asian markets as well as the high regard in which the Irish operations are held amongst the Danone Groupe. Locating our state of the art new generation packaging line in Wexford reinforces the strategic nature of the Irish based operations. This investment would not have been possible without the support of Minister Bruton and his colleagues at Enterprise Ireland – we are very grateful for their continued support.”
Welcoming the announcement Michael Cantwell, Enterprise Ireland Manager Food Division, said: “Food is Ireland’s largest indigenous sector and critically important to our economic wellbeing. Today’s official opening of Danone’s state-of-the-art new generation production and packaging line is exciting and very timely - not just for Danone’s Irish operations, but also for the Irish dairy industry. Danone’s investment in its Irish operations further underpins Ireland’s world-wide reputation in food innovation and highlights our standing as a world leader in the food industry. Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support this significant strategic investment and looks forward to working with Danone as they continue to grow and develop their international sales – sustaining and creating jobs in Ireland”.
During the construction phase of the project, overseen by local Site Leader Liam Carmody, a total of 120 jobs were created. The 50 new roles are in areas such as quality, food science, operations, engineering as well as supply chain and logistics. Recruitment is currently underway and more information can be found at recruit.wexford@danone.com
Ireland’s leading independent specialist healthcare recruiter, TTM Healthcare Group is planning a major expansion of its Irish and international operations, creating 100 new jobs as part of a €5 million investment in its business.
Ireland’s leading independent specialist healthcare recruiter, TTM Healthcare Group is planning a major expansion of its Irish and international operations, creating 100 new jobs as part of a €5 million investment in its business. The majority of the jobs will be located in Ennis, Co. Clare but some will also support TTM’s offices in Cork, Dublin, London, Preston and Berlin.
TTM Healthcare was founded in Co. Clare in 2002 by CEO Brian Crowley. Based on continued growth both domestically and internationally, the company is now expanding its operations with an investment of €5 million supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.
The 100 new positions, which will be created over the next three years, will be a mix of compliance and recruitment consultants, as well as sales professionals based in Ennis, Cork, Dublin, London, Preston and Berlin and include a number of permanent healthcare professional roles being created in TTM’s healthcare services division. TTM Healthcare currently employs 190 permanent staff and 900 professional healthcare contractors.
TTM Healthcare is one of the largest recruitment agencies in the country and the expansion announced today will see TTM open a new office in Cork, adding to its existing network of Irish offices in Ennis and Dublin. The company is also developing a presence in the west and midlands.
In addition to expanding its operations in the UK and Germany, TTM will also establish a presence for the company in the Middle East in the coming months by opening an office in Abu Dhabi to service the rapidly expanding UAE market.
Recruitment for the new positions has started and interested candidates can visit Careers at TTM Healthcare for more details or can e-mail a cover letter and CV to the HR manager with details of type of position of interest to hr@ttmhealthcare.com or call 065 6896212 for more details or a confidential discussion.
DPS Engineering marks 40 years of success this year with the creation of 80 new jobs in 2015, having increased its turnover by 35% and its workforce by 50% in the past three years alone.
DPS Engineering marks 40 years of success this year with the creation of 80 new jobs in 2015, having increased its turnover by 35% and its workforce by 50% in the past three years alone.
DPS Engineering, a wholly owned Irish company, recently experienced further growth on a global scale, with the acquisition of two American firms: Biometics in Boston, Massachusetts and Project Planning and Delivery (PPD) in Durham, North Carolina, as well as the opening of an office in Mechelen, Belgium.
With turnover having increased from €55m in 2012 to a projected €75m in 2014, and the workforce going from 530 to 810 in the same time period, the company is set to expand further in the next number of years. Of the 80 jobs forecast for 2015, more than 50 will be in Cork and Dublin, with the remainder in mainland Europe.
DPS Engineering has been supported by the Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland.
Speaking about its 40 years of success, Managing Director of DPS Engineering Frank Keogh said: “DPS has seen phenomenal successes in the past few years, with the creation of 280 new jobs in three years and our expansion into the US. Based on significant recent wins in mainland Europe focused on advanced technology, we expect to be employing 900 people by the end of 2015.”
The company, which is headquartered in Ireland and has offices in Dublin and Cork as well as in Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Israel, Singapore, the US and now Belgium, is set to undergo a full rebrand to reflect the significant growth it has seen. The rebrand is aimed at increasing company profile in the market place, both nationally and internationally. DPS Engineering is an Enterprise Ireland client.
Formed in 1974, DPS (Design and Planning Services) serves a range of blue chip clients across a broad spectrum of industry, predominantly the pharmaceutical, life science, advanced technologies and oil and gas sectors. It offers a range of services, including project management, planning, engineering design, construction, professional outsourcing and consulting.
