26th February 2018
A new industry-led group was launched in the South East today to drive development and growth within the ICT sector in the Region. Crystal Valley Tech (CVT) aim to promote the South East Region as a location of choice for leaders in technology development. The group will work to achieve national and international recognition for the Region as a Centre of Innovation and Excellence in ICT. It plans to collaborate with other industry partners to drive awareness and influence regional and national policy that will affect members.
Representatives of some 85 tech companies from throughout the South East attended today’s launch which took place in the Medieval Museum in Waterford city.
Speaking at today’s launch CVT Board member Elaine Fennelly, Managing Director of Bluefin said: “Crystal Valley Tech is a major milestone in the emergence of the South East Region as a Digital Hub. With over 100 leading edge ICT companies employing nearly 2,000 people, the transformation from a low tech economy has been striking. The software research community at TSSG and Arclabs in Waterford Institute of Technology have acted as a catalyst for this transformation. CVT’s ambition is to make the South East one of the most open innovative Digital Regions in Europe.”
Minister of State John Halligan, who attended the launch, said: “I am delighted to be here today to see the launch of this key initiative in Waterford. The South-East has developed a truly vibrant technology ecosystem through the outstanding work of the community of innovative companies that have grown here. The ambition of Crystal Valley Tech to further promote the development of a world-class ICT hub in this region should be congratulated and I wish them every success in growing their vision into the future.”
The event was also attended by Minister of State Michael D’Arcy, who commended CVT on the initiative, saying: “I am delighted to join the 85 companies representing Crystal Valley Tech today in Waterford to celebrate its launch. Crystal Valley Tech is an excellent example of how a community of innovative, like-minded companies can work together to promote the development and growth of a sector and a region. Crystal Valley Tech’s strategy of promoting Ireland and the regions as a world-class location of choice for high value jobs is aligned with the key priority in the Government’s IFS2020 Action Plan for 2018. The launch of Crystal Valley Tech is a very welcome development for the South East Region and I wish them every success in their endeavours.”
IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “Crystal Valley Tech is to be congratulated on this proactive initiative to promote and help develop the Technology ecosystem in the South East. I note that some 85 companies, including a number of IDA client companies, are represented here today. That shows the scale of the Technology cluster in the South East. Collaborating in this way, harnessing the synergies that exist to promote, educate and influence can only benefit the sector. I wish CVT every success.”
Niall O’Donnellan, Head of ICT and International Services, Enterprise Ireland said: “Great credit goes to the board of Crystal Valley Tech whose ambition is to promote, support and grow the technology sector in the South East. The number of companies now engaged with the cluster is testament to the appetite for this initiative. Enterprise Ireland has over the last decade invested in a range of strategic initiatives that has fostered the growth of many of the technology companies in this region and we look forward to a working closely with Crystal Valley Tech into the future.”
Contact
Ellen Lynch, Regional Communications, Press & PR Executive
IDA Ireland 087 4112084 ellen.lynch@ida.ie
Back to Department News