Enterprise Ireland – Best Connected -

This week the CEOs of 11 Irish software companies are converging at Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus. They’re here on an Enterprise Ireland-supported visit to learn how to broaden their business opportunities in the US by leveraging their relationship with Microsoft.

They represent the best of Irish software innovation, offering solutions for a range of applications that include telecommunications/mobile, social media/networking, e-learning/education, energy efficiency, financial services and information security.

Participant companies are already part of Microsoft’s BizSpark™ program or the Microsoft Partner Network and are interested in growing their business through export and expansion.

The pilot program is the second of its kind and an important initiative between Microsoft and Enterprise Ireland (EI) – part of EI’s overall strategy to grow the country’s software industry. A similar program aimed at the UK market generated some valuable connections and lucrative leads for participating companies.

This targeted approach, geared to accelerate the growth of high-potential software start-ups and early stage ISVs, aims to foster connections with potential partners, customers and investors.

For some of the innovators, the route to market is direct; for others, going global means navigating an indirect or electronic channel. But for all of them, success depends on identifying suitable strategic partners, negotiating effective partnership arrangements and managing third-party relationships – as quickly as possible.

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A CAP on the number of students entering third level may be necessary as colleges struggle with a deepening funding crisis, according to the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland in his opinion piece in today’s Irish Times (30.11.09) Read opinon piece

Cauwill Technologies, an Enterprise Ireland supported spin-out from University of Limerick, has won one of two top prizes in the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition 2009.  The prize is worth €100,000 and was presented at an award ceremony last night in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin 2.
Cauwill provides software and services to enrich and empower the mobile, web and personal navigation experience. The company was founded in 2009 by Ian Rice and Ronan Skehill and is in the Limerick Enterprise Acceleration Centre, one of a network of 21 Enterprise Ireland supported campus incubation centres.The main product, PinPoints, solves the problem of describing a location. It has wide application but initially is being targeted at the travel sector, specifically hotel booking engines. In this sector it helps people navigate to the location of their hotel using their mobile phone. www.yourpinpoints.com

New Life Sciences Alliance to drive potential in the sector
The Life Sciences sector has contributed significantly to Ireland’s economic development and has real prospects for future growth, according to a report published by Forfás on 17th November 2009.  Health Life Sciences in Ireland – An Enterprise Outlook asserts that by enhancing the collaboration of the key stakeholders including industry, research institutes, the hospital system, government departments and agencies, and regulatory bodies, Ireland can emerge as a global leader in high value-added products and services based on technology, scientific expertise and clinical research excellence. Read more and access full report

Irish mobile communications companies, Altobridge and Sentry Wireless, won the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, Asia Pacific Tournament at the Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong this week.  Altobridge and Sentry Wireless are Enterprise Ireland high potential start ups. Read more 

The third Enterprise Ireland survey of researchers on their views and experiences of research commercialisation has closed and we are in the process of collating the results. Check back soon for some snippets from the findings.