L-R: Brian Kolonick, Cleveland Clinic, Ruth McMahon, Enterprise Ireland and Mr. Cyrus Doctor, Clinical Innovation Award 2015 Winner

The winner, Mr. Cyrus Doctor, Trauma and Orthopaedic Registrar and participant in the BioInnovate programme in the National University of Ireland Galway, will work with Cleveland Clinic and Enterprise Ireland to investigate the commercial potential of a device for rapid postoperative closure for patients in a user friendly way.

Extending his congratulations to Mr. Cyrus Doctor, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: “I warmly congratulate Mr. Doctor on this award for his innovative device. At the heart of our overall jobs strategy is rebuilding a sustainable economy based on enterprise, exports and innovation. A key part of this is improving our performance in innovation. Ireland's 5 year strategy for Research and Innovation, Science and Technology was launched recently by my Department. This strategy sets out a range of ambitious actions for this sector. This award recognises the pivotal role that clinicians can play in identifying unmet clinical needs that can result in new products for Ireland’s Life sciences companies, resulting in business growth and new jobs. Congratulations to all the finalists for their innovative and forward thinking solutions.”

Current rapid closure methods, such as metal surgical staples can result in postoperative pain, wound infection and patient dissatisfaction from poor cosmetic results. Therefore many surgeons still choose a manual approach of suturing that can take a considerable time at the end of surgery. Mr. Doctor’s simple, inexpensive automated “seamless stitches” solution will provide an enhanced postoperative experience and reduced pain for the patient.

Announcing the winner, Brian Kolonick, General Manager of Cleveland Clinic’s Global Healthcare Innovation Alliance, said: “Once again we are impressed and inspired by the innovative ideas that Enterprise Ireland has presented to us. Mr. Doctor’s novel technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes and cosmetic results from rapid surgical closure, at a cost that is appealing to both patients and providers. Cleveland Clinic Innovations is looking forward to providing Mr. Doctor access to the appropriate clinical experts to assist in validating device design and providing guidance in how to secure adoption by the clinical community.’

The Clinical Innovation Award, now in its 5th year, recognises commercial potential in Ireland’s clinical community and encourages clinicians to engage in the development of new healthcare products and services that will improve patient care, benefiting both the health care system and Ireland’s medical technologies companies.

Mr. Cyrus Doctor will receive a grant of €15,000 and the opportunity to work with Cleveland Clinic and Enterprise Ireland to further develop the commercial potential of this innovative technology, with potential for follow on support through Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund.

The Knitwear Project exhibit 

Showcase offers buyers and journalists the opportunity to meet with over 450 Irish companies from designers, crafts people, manufacturers and leading Irish brands. It is anticipated that 5,000 retail buyers will attend with up to 1,000 international buyers travelling from 26 countries from Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and China. Buyers attend Showcase to source creative, innovative and unique products.

Showcase is a platform for Irish companies to meet with international buyers and journalists across global markets. Enterprise Ireland’s network of overseas offices promotes Showcase to international buyers. Enterprise Ireland is looking forward to welcoming all international buyers looking to source new and exciting Irish product.

According to Stephen Hughes, Consumer Retail Manager, Enterprise Ireland: "Showcase is a valuable route to international markets for Irish companies in the design and craft sectors, who have the ambition and capability to win export contracts. The calibre of international buyers attracted to Showcase by Enterprise Ireland is truly impressive and testament to the quality and strong design offer that Irish companies in the consumer craft sector have for international buyers. As always, we look forward to welcoming first-time international buyers to Showcase as well as to extending a warm welcome back to the many key international buyers who return year after year. The ambition is to showcase what is new and innovative in Irish design, craft and craftsmanship and, ultimately, to win export orders."

Showcase 2016 will see the introduction of The Knitwear Project, an exciting new presentation of innovative knitwear created by emerging and leading Irish designers and manufacturers. A panel of 3 fashion experts – Deirdre McQuillan, Angela O’Kelly and Catherine Condell - have been appointed to guide and curate this project, supported by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

In the rest of the show, specialist curators Alanna Gallagher (Home & Gift) and Natasha Sherling (Jewellery) have also been brought on board this year to help make viewing the best products easier for the discerning visitor. They will also select products for the Best Product Awards at the show.

Creative Island remains at the heart of Showcase, presenting authentic Irish craft products designed and made in Ireland and featuring over 90 commercial designer-makers who were chosen by an independent jury for their creativity, innovation and craftsmanship.

Showcase also offers visitors an extensive retail seminar programme over the four days of the show which will feature top international industry speakers delivering thought provoking presentations, providing retailers with expertise, research and advice.

Showcase 2016 runs from Sunday 24^th to Wednesday 27^th January at RDS Dublin and is for trade attendance only. For further details on the event and to register to attend, please visit: www.showcaseireland.com. 

The opening of the Blueface office in the IFSC

With the new office based in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin, Blueface says that it will roll out the hiring process gradually over the next 24 months, doubling its office footprint to cater for this expansion, made possible by strong 40% year-on-year growth in the Irish market.

The new roles cover a wide range of areas and include engineering, software development, R&D, marketing, sales, customer care and finance.

Blueface says that it is aiming for continued growth in Ireland while also establishing its business communications offering across Europe.

At the launch of the new office, Blueface’s CEO, Alan Foy, described what the new office will bring to the company: “Blueface is driven by innovation and creativity and we are firmly committed to maintaining our IFSC hub as the epicentre of our European expansion. We have expanded our office in the IFSC to include a new network operations centre, customer experience area and R&D lab.”

Also at the launch was one of Blueface’s investors, Guinness family member Edward Guinness, who added: “Blueface represents one of Ireland’s great entrepreneurial success stories and I’m delighted to see that the team and the business are making a big impact on the hosted unified communications landscape in Ireland and across Europe.”

Source SiliconRepublic

Pictured (L-R): Niall Cummins, Chief Flight Examiner, Irish Aviation Authority, Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Marine and Defence, Jerry Moloney, Director South, South East and Midlands, Enterprise Ireland and Mark J Casey, CEO and Head of Training AFTA.

Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) announced a significant contract win with award-winning Turkish Airlines, to train its cadet pilots from AFTA’s base in Cork Airport. The Cadet Pilot Training agreement with Turkish Airlines, represents the first for an Irish company, which is regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority under the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA), an Enterprise Ireland supported company, will recruit 10 new highly skilled Instructor Pilots, and additional ground support staff, as a direct result of the new commercial agreement with Turkish Airlines. AFTA has been initially contracted to train 20 Cadet Pilots annually and the first group of Turkish trainee pilots have recently commenced training at AFTA’s base at Cork airport.

Mark Casey, CEO Atlantic Flight Training Academy and Head of Pilot Training, said: “Since our foundation in 1995, AFTA have trained over 1,800 high-calibre graduate pilots for global airlines, in our modern fleet of Cessna and Piper aircraft, as well as, investing in the latest flight training equipment, including state-of-the-art Boeing 737 NG and FNPT II fixed base simulators. We are delighted that our commitment to advanced cadet training and safety, has been recognised by Turkish airlines through signing this commercial agreement, and we look forward to helping these cadets progress and build their future careers with Turkish Airlines.

Murat Balandi, General Manager, Turkish Airlines Ireland, said: “Turkish Airlines will celebrate ten years in Ireland in 2016, and we are delighted that an Irish company has been chosen to train 20 of our new cadet pilots this year. Our pilots are trained to the highest standards available in the industry for our fleet of 299 passenger and cargo aircraft which fly to 280 destinations worldwide with 232 international and 48 domestic. It is really beneficial for us to see the cadets in their training ground at AFTA in Cork and we look forward to see them in the air as Turkish Airlines pilots over the years to come”.

Brian Drysdale, Chief Architect in iCabbi, Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Gavan Walsh, Founder and CEO of iCabbi. 

Howth-based taxi dispatch provider iCabbi announced that after doubling their workforce in 2015, they plan to create 20 new jobs in Research and Development, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing and Technical Support in 2016.

The jobs have been supported by the Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland.

iCabbi, founded in 2011 by three Irish entrepreneurs, provides taxi companies with the  tools they need to compete against peer to peer apps like Uber and Hailo. 

iCabbi was approached by a taxi company that wanted to create a direct link between their independent taxi drivers and their customers. In four years, the team has grown and focused on delivering projects for bigger taxi companies each time.

Gavan Walsh, Founder and CEO of iCabbi said: “2015 has been an incredible year for iCabbi. We are now the largest dispatch provider in Ireland, and throughout 2015, significantly grew our UK business, working closely with the largest and most successful taxi companies, and consolidators. We have also recently launched in the US, with 13 companies currently live, and many more scheduled for the New Year.’

‘The announcement of 20 new jobs in Dublin HQ will allow us to support these markets, and continue our ambitious expansion. There is a strong pool of high calibre talent in Ireland, we have a fantastic existing workforce and we look forward to adding to it over the coming months.’

Pictured (L-R) are: Dr Edmond Harty, CEO of Dairymaster and Tom Kelly, Head of Manufacturing and Competitiveness Division at Enterprise Ireland 

Dairymaster, the Kerry based globally focused hi-tech dairy manufacturing company, was announced as the winner of the top technology award at the national Agribusiness Awards Tuesday night for its new ground breaking technology, the Swiftflo Commander, known as the “iPad for cows”.

The iPad for dairy cows (the Swiftflo Commander) is the latest innovation from the R&D focused Dairymaster. This device is the new brain of the milking parlour controlling everything to do with milking, feeding and animal health. Using the latest touchpad technology it allows the dairy farmer to control each milking unit and it ensures that the farmer has in one place all the information necessary to most effectively manage the herd. It saves the busy farmer time, money and effort.

Dairymaster CEO Dr Edmond Harty was announced as the inaugural winner of the Agribusiness Leader Award. This national award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to Ireland’s agribusiness industry. An independent panel of recognised and expert Judges representing Ireland's agribusiness industry chose Dr Harty as the winner of this prestigious award.

To top an already great night Dairymaster was also named the Equipment and Machinery Agribusiness of the Year winner and Dairy Agribusiness of the Year.

Speaking after the awards ceremony Dr Harty said:  “Winning these awards has topped a really superb year for Dairymaster. We continue to grow and add new customers in new markets around the world. We are proud to say that Dairymaster technologies are changing the way dairy farms are operating around the world."

Read more about the Agribusiness Awards here.  

Tom Hayes, Head of Enterprise Ireland's Micro Enterprise and Small Business Unit

The InBusiness Editor’s Choice Awards 2015 were presented on Wednesday 9th December at Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club. The winners were selected based on the broad criteria of growth, profile of business, range of services and customer care. With 28 categories the InBusiness Editor’s Choice Awards provide a rare opportunity to gather together representatives from a wide variety of business sectors.

We are delighted to announce that this year Enterprise Ireland was named ‘Best Semi State Agency 2015’.

Tom Hayes picking up the Award on behalf of Enterprise Ireland said:

“This award is a testament to the hard work of all of my colleagues at Enterprise Ireland and in particular, our 5,000 client companies who have faced a number of challenging years. Thankfully, the economy is improving and our client companies are now, in the main, growing, which is good news for them, for the economy and for job creation. Last year, Enterprise Ireland client firms created almost 20,000 jobs, which was an increase of 8,500 jobs on the previous year. There are now more Irish companies exporting around the world in the history of the state, and the quality of start-ups is better than ever. We are honoured to receive this award from Chambers Ireland, who are making a massive contribution to supporting the business community across Ireland.”

The ‘Company of the Year Award’ was presented to Kilkenny based Glanbia. Carolan Lennon of eir Ireland was named ‘Businesswoman of the Year’. It was a successful day for eir who also took the ‘Special Merit Award’ for their work with Special Olympics and the ‘Best ICT Service Provider’. Pat McCann CEO of the Dalata Group was named the ‘Businessman of the Year’.

Legal Firm Eversheds were named ‘Business Law Firm of the Year’ for the second year while KPMG took the award for ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year’. Dublin Business School took the award for ‘Best Business School’ while Cityjet was named ‘Business Airline of the Year’.

Dublin Port was named ‘Best in Logistics’ with Shannon Heritage and Shannon Group being presented with the awards for ‘Best in Tourism’ and ‘Best Brand’.

Newstalk’s Breakfast Show was named the ‘Best Business Show’. The Skoda Superb took the award for ‘Fleet Car of the Year’ while the BMW 7 Series was named ‘Best Executive Car’.

Editor of InBusiness Joseph O'Connor said: “The awards aim to honour both companies and individuals across Ireland who have made an outstanding contribution to the Irish business community in 2015. We were delighted to recognise people and businesses that are constantly innovating and improving their service and customer offering.”

InBUSINESS Editors Choice Awards