8th December 2015
Minister English will launch Directory of State-funded supports for the sector
12 innovative Start Ups competing for investment with their “Big Ideas”
Today (Tuesday): More than 2000 people from the world of business, science and research are expected to attend the second annual Innovation Showcase which connects industry with State supports, science and technology communities.
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD will officially open the Showcase and will also launch the Directory of Research Centres and Technology Centres which is an information source of all the State-funded supports available to industry.
A key feature of the event is the Enterprise Ireland “Big Ideas” Session where 12 promoters from investor-ready start-ups take to the centre stage to give a 2 minute pitch to investors. Previous participants have secured significant investments following their “Big Ideas” presentations and have gone on to achieve global success.
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD said: “Collaboration is the catalyst for successful innovation. We want to connect business with publicly funded researchers and the supports available to help entrepreneurs to grow their business and create jobs in Ireland. We want those who are new to research collaboration to explore all the options available to them and we want those who have existing connections within the research system to engage further and take advantage of all the supports available”.
Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “The Big Ideas Session is an exciting illustration of the world-class research taking place in universities and institutes of technology in Ireland. The quality of new companies is very high, all of whom I am sure will be keen to secure investment and replicate the success of previous years’ participants including nearForm, OxyMem and SilverCloud Health who have gone on to achieve success internationally”.
3 keynote industry speakers from Ceramicx, Accenture and IBM will discuss how their companies have benefited from the use of innovation supports in growing their businesses.
Innovation Showcase 2015 is organised by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and supported by IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. Also central to the Showcase is Knowledge Transfer Ireland who will be on hand to demonstrate the range of resources that make it simple for industry to do business with Ireland’s research base.
Follow @InnovateIE for more information or go to www.innovationshowcase.ie
Photos will be syndicated and are also available on request
For further information contact:
Brigid Burke, Press Office, Enterprise Ireland, Tel: +353 1 7272434 Email:brigid.burke@enterprise-ireland.com
Notes to editors
The Innovation Showcase will be streamed live at innovationshowcase.ie/Live-Streaming/
Big Ideas – the 12 “Big Ideas” pitching for investment are:
- Speech recognition software to assess children’s reading
- Wearable system to mitigate the effects of hypothermia
- Helping public organisations discover, govern & share data
- Device for improving access for keyhole surgery
- Technology for better healing in colorectal treatments
- Easier treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Painless screening device for urinary reflux in children
- Cybersecurity for Medical Device Software
- Safer urinary catheterization
- Getting the measure of teeth grinding
- Increasing revenue for renewable energy providers
- Software to financially model renewable energy projects
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