Well done to Dr Daniel Boyd of the Medical Engineering Design Innovation Centre (Medic) in Cork Institute of Technology who collaborated with Dr Mark Towler of the Materials and Surface Science Institute in University of Limerick to develop a new kind of bone replacement.
The story was picked up in the Irish Times Science Today page on 23rd July ’09: “Enterprise Ireland has invested over €400,000 in funding for the Promex project to deliver this innovative product,” says Boyd. “Typically bone is taken from an area in the body where it does not serve a critical function, such as the pelvis, and transplanted to another, where it is needed to add strength and help with healing. This is traditionally known as a bone graft.”
Read the full article from The Irish Times
Applied medical research in CIT gets national exposure
Posted by on 24 July, 2009 in Uncategorized - (Be the first to comment)
Online retail business Future LED was set up in 2005 by Allan McAdam from Westport, County Mayo. The company sells various lighting and LED products over the internet and through an online storefront on eBay.ie. The business is run solely by McAdam, who also works as a photographer and web developer.
McAdam got the idea for the business when a friend in the lighting industry asked him if he could help sell some excess stock. After agreeing to help, McAdam quickly found that online retail site eBay was the most efficient way to reach a wide audience with these products, and he subsequently decided to source and sell his own stock. McAdam also developed a website for Future LED and he currently has a turnover of between EUR3,000 and EUR5,000 a month. (more…)
Web analytics: getting to know your customers
Posted by on in eMarketing - (Be the first to comment)How do you know if your website is reaching the right audience? What tools are out there to let you know more about visitors? How can you use this data to keep them coming back? Web analytics tools offer a way for you to learn more about the kind of visitors checking out your online shop or website.
At the simplest level, these applications offer businesses the opportunity to monitor levels of traffic to their website. The potential for analysis goes much deeper, however, as these applications can be exploited to learn a great deal more. (more…)
Netbooks – also known as mini-notebooks, ultra-portable notebooks or mini-laptops – are lightweight, portable computers primarily designed for web browsing and email. Smaller and cheaper than standard laptops, netbooks offer a cheap way to do computer work, but don’t provide the same level of memory or processing power. Nearly all netbooks offer several USB ports, a webcam option, LED backlit screens and integrated speakers.
As the recession continues to bite, more and more companies are realising the benefits of netbooks as low-cost second machines or as travel-friendly workstations. Market analyst firm Gartner estimates that global netbook shipments will grow 50 percent to 7.8 million units this year, while overall PC sales are set to decline. (more…)
Forum reviewed in Irish Times Innovation magazine
Posted by on 16 July, 2009 in Uncategorized - (Be the first to comment)Read the article in the July issue of the Irish Times Innovation magazine on theApplied Research Forum and its aims by Dick Ahlstrom:
“OPINION: The Applied Research Forum made it clear the ingredients for success are in place – so what is holding Ireland back?
HAVING COME through a number of months where the glass has definitely been half-empty, is it now safe to think that maybe, just maybe, it might start looking half-full?
Anyone who attended Enterprise Ireland’s recent Applied Research Forum 2009 in the Guinness Storehouse would probably tend towards the half-full view. The place on the day was coming down with would-be academic entrepreneurs, technology transfer officers and investors, all discussing how to get more Irish research discoveries turned into products and moved onto the market” Read article…
Tánaiste Launches Enterprise Ireland's Strategy for the Irish Software Industry
Posted by on 10 July, 2009 in Finance | Public | Uncategorized - (Be the first to comment)The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan T.D. today (10/07/09) announced that Dublin software company Accuris is to invest €1.5m in research and development with support from Enterprise Ireland. The investment will create 27 new high value jobs over the next three years. Accuris currently employs 51 staff in its Dublin headquarters and its offices in Malaysia and the US.
The Tánaiste made the announcement at the launch of Enterprise Ireland’s 4-year strategy 2009-2013 for the Irish software industry. The strategy aims to drive the sector’s revenues to over €2.5bn by 2013 by capitalising on changes in the global software market.
Research undertaken by Enterprise Ireland, in association with international industry analysts IDC, identified a New Software Economy, driven by the growth of the Internet and changes in end-user demands. The New Software Economy is characterised by demand for greater flexibility, global delivery and cost-effective solutions*. The unique profile of Ireland’s software sector with its strong base of small flexible companies is particularly suited to these emerging trends. The strategy aims to position the Irish software industry to maximise its potential in this new market environment.
Launching the strategy, the Tánaiste said:
“Building Ireland’s Smart Economy is about establishing Ireland as an innovation hub. It involves building the innovation or ‘ideas’ component of the Irish economy and developing a high-value, research-intensive, multinational community alongside thriving innovative Irish companies.
“Enterprise Ireland’s new Software Strategy, reflecting the Government’s Smart Economy blueprint, sets out to achieve that precise model for the software sector. I am confident that this strategy will ensure Ireland’s software industry meets these new market opportunities delivering more highly skilled, sustainable and well paid jobs in our economy.”
Congratulating Accuris on its R&D investment, the Tánaiste said:
“Accuris is a leading example of those Irish companies that are ready to capitalise on the New Software Economy. I congratulate Accuris on this R&D investment which will drive their next phase of export-led growth and help strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a software centre of excellence.”
CEO of Accuris Aidan Dillon said:
“Accuris Networks is investing in developing innovative solutions to maximise our growth in the new and emerging global economy. Our advantage is that we have proven and flexible solutions that allow mobile operators to extend service to their customers across the variety of many different existing and new wireless communications technologies. With this new investment we aim to build on the existing Accuris Networks strengths and be in position to be the market leader as communications providers converge these technologies”
Outlining the key points of Enterprise Ireland’s software strategy, Jennifer Condon, Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s Software Division explained:
“The key to Ireland’s competitive advantage in this new environment will be its networks. The global software value chain is becoming increasingly networked; partnerships and collaboration dominate. The Irish industry is already well connected with the multinationals, the third level sector and the international diaspora. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy will build on these existing networks and foster new connections between all elements of the industry. Our vision is that by 2013, Ireland will be internationally recognised as having a ‘Best Connected’ software industry, delivering innovative solutions on a global scale.”
Enterprise Ireland is working closely with its industry partners, in particular the Irish Software Association and the Irish Internet Association, as well as deploying the full range of business supports to bring about sustainable change and growth in the sector.
Welcoming the Software Strategy for Ireland, Kathryn D’Arcy, Director of the Irish Software Association (ISA) said:
“This is a significant piece of work by Enterprise Ireland that will provide us with the direction and models needed to ensure that Ireland is a serious contender in terms of generating and supporting global software companies.
“Ireland has a unique advantage in having a strong ecosystem of innovative indigenous software companies as well as the leading names in European, American and Asian global software companies. We must capitalise on this ecosystem and continue to be a global leader in software innovation.”
CEO of the Irish Internet Association (IIA) Fergal O’Byrne added:
“Enterprise Ireland’s new Software Strategy will help stimulate the emergence of internet based companies in Ireland. The recognition of internet based companies as part of Ireland’s software ecosystem is an important step. We’re delighted to be part of the development of this strategy and look forward to supporting its implementation.”
* The Internet is providing opportunities for new business models and new delivery channels such as Software as a Service (rather than software through license). This shift is enabled by new technologies such as Open Source, Services Oriented Architecture (SOA), Cloud Computing, Semantic Web and Web 2.0.
The full text of the Strategy can be downloaded here in Adobe Acrobat:
Enterprise Ireland’s Software Strategy
More about Enterprise Ireland’s Software Strategy
Enterprise Ireland’s Software Strategy was drawn up in consultation with industry and other Government agencies following a comprehensive market analysis carried out by international industry analysts IDC and Enterprise Ireland.
There are three key concepts in the strategy:
1. New Software Economy
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This term describes the Internet environment within which companies are operating.
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This new economy was identified in research conducted on behalf of Enterprise Ireland by international industry analysts IDC.
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The New Software Economy is driven by the growth of the Internet and changes in the software value chain.
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It is characterised by demand for greater flexibility, global delivery and cost effective solutions.
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The Internet is providing opportunities for new business models as seen in internet based start-ups and new delivery channels such as Software as a Service (rather than software through license).
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This shift is enabled by new technologies such as Open Source, Services Oriented Architecture (SOA), Cloud Computing, Semantic Web and Web 2.0.
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These new business models favour flexible, innovative SMEs (of which Ireland has many) by giving them access to international markets via the Internet.
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But it also requires these companies to provide 24/7 support to customers in far-flung markets.
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Companies must therefore increasingly operate through partnerships, with local agents to service these customers.
2. Focus on clusters
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Ireland has developed strong software clusters where there is a critical mass of Irish companies.
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These include high growth areas such as financial software, telecommunications software and eLearning software.
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By helping the companies in a cluster to work together we can develop and brand the cluster to make a major impact in world markets.
3. Best Connected
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Ireland’s software environment provides a uniquely supportive ecosystem within which individual firms can thrive. A number of unique features differentiate Ireland from its competitors. These include:
- Our significant multinational sector comprising leading software global companies that have invested in an Irish base.
- Substantial government investment in R&D in the third level sector through Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and other agencies
- Specialist clusters
- Young, skilled workforce
- A well placed Diaspora with influential positions in industry and technology worldwide. -
The global software value chain is becoming increasingly networked. Partnerships and collaborations predominate.
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The Irish industry is already extremely well connected at home and abroad. By fostering further strong strategic links to channel development and marketing partners, to technology and platform providers, to multinationals and to research performers, Ireland’s software players can generate far greater scale and impact than their individual size would suggest.
Enterprise Ireland has developed a programme of action to deliver on the vision in collaboration with industry, academia and Government. The programme includes short term actions for early impact as well as medium term initiatives to bring about sustainable change and growth in the sector.
The Irish Software Industry – Some Facts
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The indigenous software industry today consists of over 700 companies employing almost 10,000 people .
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The sector grew over the past 20 years from minimal sales in 1986 to sales of €1.6bn and exports of €1.1bn in 2007 (Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact 2007: Forfas).
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Enterprise Ireland’s software client base consists of 500 companies of which 20+ are in the Scaling category.
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Exports representing 73% of sales (compared to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio average of 45%) are primarily to the UK and US
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The sector performs strongly in terms of start ups – averaging 28 per annum (2001-07).
For further information contact:
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Ciara O’mahony, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland
Tel: 01 7272284 or 087 2043435 |
Sysco Software is an IT services and support firm. Charlie Donnelly and Ron Greenlee founded the company in 1980 in Dublin, where 40 people are currently employed, and in 1995 they opened an office in Belfast, which now has 20 staff.
Sysco works with distribution, manufacturing and service firms and handles back-office tasks like resource management, distribution, order processing, invoicing and accounting. Its core products are Infor FMS SunSystems and Microsoft Dynamics NAV. (more…)
New online traders: marketing, payments and logistics
Posted by on in eMarketing - (Be the first to comment)Reaching an audience online requires clever use of internet marketing techniques. And keeping that audience satisfied means you must pay careful attention to factors like delivery, logistics and payment processing.
Previously we examined the basic steps required to set up an internet business. Here, we take a look at the planning that is required in order to make that enterprise succeed. (more…)
In the second of our two-part feature on the legal aspects of IT, we ask the experts to share more tips to help SMEs get the most from their tech providers’ contracts.
IT contracts: What goes up
IT vendors’ contracts will often contain ‘indexation clauses’ that allow them to increase prices based on the rate of inflation and consumer price index figures. It’s a way for tech providers to pass rising employee and infrastructure costs on to their customers. (more…)
Nice spin-out from NUI Maynooth in Irish Times
Posted by on 2 July, 2009 in Uncategorized - (1 Comments)There’s a nice story in the Irish Times today (2nd July) about BlueBox Sensors, a spin-out from NUI Maynooth that has developed a tiny sensor implant that measures levels of brain chemicals in real time. The device will be manufactured in Galway. The sensors will allow pharmaceutical companies to get a better handle on how drug candidates act in the brain, and will also help them to ditch compounds early in the testing process if they don’t have the appropriate effects, says Dr John Scanlan, director of commercialisation at NUI Maynooth.“It has the potential to create a huge number of jobs in Ireland and the technology and brains behind it will be based here.” Read the full article
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