Tánaiste opens CoLab incubation centre at Letterkenny IT (LyIT)
New medical devices company is one of 12 new client companies
An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan T.D today (Monday 21st September 2009) officially opened the CoLab centre at Letterkenny IT. CoLab, part of the Campus Incubation Centre programme provides dedicated office space, business mentoring, access to specialist equipment and research teams for client companies including the 12 start-up companies that have already moved into CoLab which employ a total of 28 people.
Speaking at the opening Tánaiste said;
“CoLab is a superb asset to the local economy in Donegal and the North West region. I am delighted to see that the companies based in CoLab are already developing innovative products and services including computer games, flight navigation, currency trading, medical devices, digital publishing, web applications and direct marketing solutions”.
She continued; “Just like the other 20 incubation centres in Ireland which between them house 230 companies and employ over 1,000 people, we look forward to seeing these technology-intensive firms grow and graduate out of the incubation centre and into the local economy, to provide well paid employment for the people of the North West region”.
Paul Hannigan, President of Letterkenny IT thanked the Tanaiste for opening CoLab and said that CoLab will “provide a home, and support, to knowledge-based companies so they can grow in a supportive innovative learning environment and provide a hub where local businesses can come together to draw on each others resources and the educational resources of LYIT”.
Of the 12 companies in CoLab, 11 have developed high-tech software and web technology services. Entrepreneur Gerry Burke from Letterkenny, is CEO of the 12th company - Synergy Flow - and is in the process of establishing this medical devices company in Letterkenny with support through the Enterprise Ireland business partners programme.
Mr Burke said “CoLab has been a great help at this very early stage in my company formation by providing a first class modern facility with access to entrepreneurally-orientated professionals in CoLab itself, LYIT and the wider community.”
Aernav, another of the CoLab companies, is developing an electronic flight bag for pilots, a lightweight hand held device that will replace the cumbersome suitcase of flight manuals, maps and navigational material that pilots currently have to carry from flight to flight. The company plans to launch its product to the US and European markets in 2010.
Frank Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland said “Supporting regional enterprise is one of Enterprise Ireland’s key priorities, now more than ever before. CoLab, as one of Enterprise Ireland’s campus incubators is one of our main instruments for supporting entrepreneurs to start up new companies and create high-value jobs. According to a recent independent evaluation of Enterprise Ireland’s Campus Incubation Programme, 91% of clients in incubators intend to remain in their region after moving on from the centre which is good news for Donegal. After all, incubation is more than a building, it’s a dynamic process”.
CoLab brings to 21 the number campus incubation centres funded by the Tánaiste’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This integrated research and incubation facility received ¤2.5 million in funding from Enterprise Ireland and a further ¤1 million from the Department of Education and Science. It expands on the existing footprint of the Institute’s existing Business Development Centre (BDC) enterprise facility.
The CoLab incubation facility was co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, and the European Union Regional Development Fund respectively.
ENDS/ETE2110
Notes for Editors:
Profile of CoLab Clients
There are currently 12 companies in CoLab employing a total of 28 people.
Five of the companies are clients of Enterprise Ireland.
Nvolve Ltd. - software services and solutions, an Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up client.
Nvolve’s customers are companies of all sizes ranging from startups to large enterprises who need a professional software solution in place quickly and efficiently and do not have the time or available resources to recruit locally.
Trinity Innovations Ltd. - Software development & solutions for publishers of digital magazines
Trinity Innovations is a software development company that specialising in document delivery software solutions. Their primary product 3D Issue allows publishers to convert their print publications into online interactive page turning digital editions. This allows their readers to view their publications online in an intuitive manner that reflects the real world experience. Their software allows publishers to track each action of a reader and record this valuable marketing information in a free stats database. Publishers can also make their publications more engaging by adding video, audio, hyperlinks or animations to the pages.
Trinity Innovations develop their product for both windows and the Mac Operating systems. Over 98% of their business is overseas and is been used in every market from publishing to manufacturing. Customers include Google, McGraw Hill, BP, Sky Broadcasting, Celtic Football Club, CBS, MACY’s NYC.
Contact:
Paul Mc Nulty
Total Database: This pre-HPSU company has developed a technology called UMON which is designed to make it easy for fuel distribution companies to manage their costs through efficient delivery logistics, allowing customers to increase their competitiveness.
Contact:
Paul Curtin
GRRR Charge Games: Developing computer games for the global casual games market.
Contact:Mr Aidan O'Duibhir
AERNAV Ltd: aeronautical navigation software solutionsThe CEO, Alan Gillespie, has been working on the development of an electronic flight bag for pilots. His idea – to replace the cumbersome suitcase of flight manuals, maps and navigational material that we see pilots pulling around behind them in airports – with a lightweight, hand held device. AERNAV was introduced to researchers at LYIT through the Innovation Voucher initiative and are now ready to work with the research team at WiSAR.
AERNAV develops and provides innovative electronic products to the aviation community. Target markets encompass the general, business and commercial aviation sectors. The company has based in the CoLab (previously BDC) building since 2007, having successfully completed the CEIM platform programme.
Final product development is underway with product launch targeted for Q2'2010. Initial markets are Europe and the US.
Contact:
Alan Gillespie
www.aernav.aero (website under construction)
Synergy Flow
Gerry Burke is an Enterprise Ireland Business Partner who is currently engaged with Enterprise Ireland in establishing a medical devices company in Letterkenny using stent-technology developed by Irish academic researchers.
He is a graduate Microbiologist, with 30+ years operational experience in Healthcare Industries, mostly within the Medical Devices Sector.
Code Crunchers
CodeCrunchers is a small web development company located and operating from the CoLab at LYIT. We specialise in e-commerce, advanced Content Management Systems and customised Internet applications. Dealing primarily in a business-to-business environment CodeCrunchers provide the development services that allows your client to run their online business.
Contact:
Alan Ryan
Dynafex Limited
Dynafex Trading Technologies develops dynamic currency trading systems that deliver analytical tools to give currency traders the competitive advantage needed to make consistent returns -
- Track Key Currency Pair
- Accurately Identify Market Movements
- Determine Buy and Sell Signals
- Automatic Trading
- Develop Trade/Risk Options
- Currency Risk Hedging
- Currency Pairing Tools
- Profit/Risk Management.
Contact:
John Bradley
Marble Multimedia
Specialists in Web Design and Development, E-Commerce Solutions, Mobile Applications, Video Authoring, Graphic Design and 3D. We have an extensive portfolio of work from a wide variety of clients and sectors. Currently developing new ideas in mobile applications and technologies.
Contact:
Hugh Law
Sendmode.com
Sendmode.com provide the best direct marketing solution by SMS in Ireland and the UK. Features include Bulk Texting, Text Competitions, Text Polls and Surveys, Keywords on Irish and UK Short codes, Scheduled Birthday SMS, Text a Take Away, Text Scheduler and Auto-publish to Twitter, Facebook and Bebo.
Direct Marketing by SMS has increased ten fold since the beginning of the year with many companies seeing it as an invaluable sales and marketing tool.
Sendmode.com is permission-based marketing and is fully compliant with anti-spam laws in Ireland and the UK.
Contact:
John McNamara
Simplify Consulting Ltd
Simplify Consulting Ltd consists of Simplify Organising and Simplify Learning.
Simplify Organising specialise in business turnaround and professional organising for small and medium size companies. We equip businesses to maximise profit and output through organised processes and procedures.
Simplify Learning specialise in online educational technologies and tutoring services. The technologies equip learners with improved study techniques to manage high volumes of work with limited time. The tutoring services reach learners who need personal interaction in order to learn optimally.
Optimal business performance and education are our passions. Therefore we work with businesses and give back to our community through educational initiatives.
Contact:
Claire Burge
Backseat Tour Guides Ltd
Backseat Tour Guides Ltd specialises in GPS/Sat Nav tours of Ireland. The company was set up to promote Ireland as a great place to visit and explore. We have developed software that allows users to download audio tours which are triggered by the Sat Nav/GPS device as they pass a point of interest, making tourism easier and more enjoyable. The second biggest complaint made by tourists to Ireland is bad sign-posting. Our product eliminates such problems. Backseat Tour Guides Ltd is a one stop shop for all audio visual tour guides and produces all its own audio, video and text content.
Contact:
Aidan Haughey
Enterprise Ireland - Press Office, Tel: 01 7272000
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment – Press Office, Tel: 01- 6312200
Last modified: 21/09/2009
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