Link 15 Winter 2014

Regional Development Centre

the link Ionad Forbartha Réigiúnach

Issue FIFTEEN WINTER 2014

Where Research & Innovation Meets Enterprise

Réamhrá / Foreword Agus deireadh na bliana 2014 ag druidim linn, is oth linn

As 2014 draws to a close it is with a certain melancholy that

chomh maith go mbeidh deireadh le hiubhaile cúig bliana

it brings with it the end of our 25th Anniversary celebrations.

fichead an IFR. Le linn na bliana seo caite, bhí deis againn ár

Over the past 12 months we’ve reflected on the achievements

machnamh a dhéanamh ar bhuanna an Ionaid, na gnó-eagraithe,

of the Centre and of the many entrepreneurs, programme

rannpháirtithe na gclár, na gnóthaí agus na mball foirne a

participants, businesses and staff members that have gone

chuaigh trí dhoirse an Ionaid agus atá go fóill ina seanchairde

through its doors, many of whom have remained dear friends.

againn.

We’ve relived the successes and the failures, both sources of Rinne muid ár machnamh fosta ar bhuanna agus ar theipeanna

great pride and learning. We’ve experienced again the highs

an Ionaid, a bhí mar údar bróid agus foghlama dúinn. Arís eile bhí

and the lows when we welcomed new friends or said our

idir áthas agus aiféala orainn agus muid ag fáiltiú roimh chairde

goodbyes to others. We’ve also learned of the impacts the

nua agus ag fágáil slán le seanchairde. D’fhoghlaim muid fosta

Centre has had in the region and are grateful for the support

faoi thionchair an Ionaid sa réigiún agus tá muid buíoch de gach

received from all of our Partners.

uile chomhpháirtí atá againn as an tacaíocht a thug siad dúinn.

Our recent awards event was to recognise this support and D’aithin an bronnadh duaiseanna a bhí againn ar na mallaibh an

also the achievements of a very small number of all those

tacaíocht seo, chomh maith leis an ghnóthachtáil a bhí ag cuid

we’ve been privileged to support along their journey. It’s always

acu siúd a raibh sé de phribhléid againn cuidiú leo. Is doiligh

a difficult task to identify individuals for specific recognition

daoine ar leith a roghnú do shainaitheantas nó do mholadh ach

or mention but we are confident that you’ll agree with our

tá muid lánchinnte de go n-aontóidh sibh go léir lenár rogha.

selection.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom, thar ceann foireann uile an IFR,

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the

Nollaig shona shíochánta agus athbhliain faoi shéan agus faoi

staff of the RDC to wish you a merry and peaceful Christmas

mhaise a ghuí oraibh.

and a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Irene McCausland Bainisteoir Seirbhísí Seachtracha, IFR.

Irene McCausland External Services Manager, RDC.

Tá súil againn go mbainfidh tú taitneamh as eagrán seo The Link.

Má tá tuairimí nó moltaí agat maidir le hábhar, nó más mian leat

We hope you enjoy this edition of The Link. If you have any

bheith ar an liosta póstála, cuir r-phost le do thoil chuig.

comment or suggestions regarding content, or would like to

anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie

be included on the mailing list, please e-mail anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie

Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate, but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not accept responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found to be misleading.

Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co Louth T +353 42 9370400

F +353 42 9370499 W www.rdc.ie E info@rdc.ie

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Edited by Garrett Duffy T + 353 42 9370400

INCUBATION

The advantages associated with conventional business incubation have long been recognised as a powerful tool for building knowledge and networks amongst entrepreneurs and start-ups.

However the physical space offered by an incubator may, in some circumstances, not meet the needs of some startup enterprises. Recognising this, the Regional Development Centre offers a virtual business incubation programme to provide support to businesses that do not require full residency in the RDC. Virtual incubation provides select services and supports normally offered by a traditional brick-and-mortar incubator without the need to lease a dedicated

office. These supports include business advice and mentoring delivered face to face or remotely, as well as drop-in access to the centre’s state-of-art facilities and shared equipment while also providing a credible business address. These supports are now more in tune with the needs and mobile nature of many early stage businesses.

Take up for this approach has been very positive over the past 18 months attracting clients from a wide range of business sectors. Recently an upsurge has been seen from the digital content sector which can be attributed to the Honeycomb-Creative Works programme delivered by the RDC. Recent Virtual

Incubation clients include Gathering Heritage, Filmmaker Cara Holmes and Mega Future Games.

Virtual incubation is worth considering as a way to access resources and a platform for launching a business while offering entrepreneurs increased flexibility and the credibility by association with the RDC that they may require.

For more info on Virtual Incubation supports contact Aidan Browne Incubation Centre Manager t +353 42 9370455 e aidan.browne@dkit.ie

Taking the Game to E-Health

Visual Storyteller Creating the Next Chapter

Gathering the Digital Asset Legacy

Mega Future Games founded by Hugh Thornton, a DkIT Computing graduate, is a multi-award winning start-up who are developing a suite of computer games to aid in the treatment of degenerative illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s and Arthritis.

Cara Holmes is an award-winning film and television editor. She is a creative editor who incorporates powerful visual images and the observations of people into intimate, multi-layered forms of storytelling. Cara has been working in post-production for over 10 years and has attended many film based courses including the Cinema, Human Rights and Advocacy at the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Envision Documentary Programme in New York.

Building on her vast skill-set the timing is perfect for Cara to realise her ambition to create a new film production company to concentrate on documentary and factual programme making, film shorts and international co-productions.

Gathering Heritage spotted an opportunity to exploit digital assets collected in 2013 for the Gathering.

Dundalk based duo, Jason McGee and Harry Lee, have combed through the mountain of audio recordings detailing real life experiences of Irish people as they reflect on life in Ireland. From their efforts a seed of an idea formed and a few short months later a professional series of animated shorts is in the pipeline. A teaser has recently been completed in conjunction with a local animation company Magic Hill Studios, and Gathering Heritage have identified appropriate material to create a series of 12 shorts for distribution on satellite, terrestrial, digital, internet or in-house platforms. Contributors and supporters of the project include John Moore (Hollywood Director), Tom Savage (RTE), Jim Corr (Musician) and Tommy Smyth (ESPN).

Mega Future Games use game mechanics to engage sufferers in their physiotherapy exercise regimes used in the treatment of these conditions.

The software also produces analytical data that medical personnel can use in the treatment of their patients and gives a detailed insight into the sufferer’s condition over time and also the rate of degeneration.

Some of the games are networked, allowing patients to interact with each other or their family and friends.

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Virtual Incubation Supports for 21st Century Start-ups

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New Frontiers Programme Participants Take the Stand For this issue of the link we take a look at some of our recent start-ups, specifically those who’ve completed Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme in DkIT over the past two years.

They may operate in different sectors and have different backgrounds but each of the following participants is striving to build a business and educate a market of their very existence, of their new products and services and finally about the new world that their product opens up to their clients.

The move from concentrating on product features to focusing on the benefits to the customer is crucial to future company growth and often poses a personal challenge for promoters with engineering or science backgrounds. To help overcome this challenge the New Frontiers Programme provides soft skills training in sales, marketing, presenting and negotiating, and encourages participants to engage in conversations with potential customers as early as possible. It is this customer engagement that really helps a promoter assess whether or not there is a real commercial opportunity.

 Jimmy Gargan, Pureheat (centre) at the Energy Show 2014

Pureheat Technology Founder Jimmy Gargan Incubating in the RDC, Pureheat design and manufacture efficient infrared electrically operated heat panels that provide a localised heating source. The heat panels are very economical to operate and easy to install. They can be inserted into suspended ceilings, or wall or ceiling mounted for domestic and commercial applications. They can also be customised with family photos or for advertising purposes and can be controlled remotely via internet.

www. pureheat.ie Social Arcade

Each year approximately 45 promoters participate on Phase 1 of New Frontiers investigating the commercial feasibility for their ideas. While some find at the end of the programme that they don’t have a viable business, for those that do the supports provided by the programme, is just the beginning.

“

We are currently recruiting for two New Frontiers Programme Phase 1 programmes which will run in the RDC and Invent DCU in the New Year.

“

ENTERPRISE

Garrett Duffy

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For further details and to apply contact Garrett Duffy Enterprise Development Manager t +353 42 9370427 e garrett.duffy@dkit.ie

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 Edward McElroy

Founder Edward McElroy Social Arcade is an online, drag and drop template service aimed at creative agencies and SME’s for launching branded APPs, Quizzes and Games and publishing them on Facebook. The user can pick from the ready-made library and customise their selection with their own branding and logos before launching a targeted marketing campaign.

Since completing the New Frontiers programme Social Arcade successfully received Competitive Start Fund support from Enterprise Ireland.

www.socialarcadeapp.com

ENTERPRISE

Founder Ben McCahill The mobile phone has now become the “remote control for our lives” and we all know the stress and anxiety we feel when we cannot access our favourite application while on the move or when a call is dropped. To help address this, Solovisor has developed software that lets you see your coverage for all networks. No more coverage lottery when you go for your next contract. Solovisor is creating a Trip Advisor for networks, with ratings and feedback delivered by your phone - automatically.

www.solovisor.com  Ben McCahill

 Nedyalka Petkova

The Gourmet Butter Company Founder Nedyalka Petkova The Gourmet Butter Company has developed a range of sweet and savoury flavoured artisan butter. Its products are aimed at the home chef, café and restaurant owner and are made using only natural ingredients and the best Irish butter to create unique flavoured butter combinations. Launching in December 2014 with both a sweet and a savoury offering the company hopes to take advantage of the current interest in home entertaining and premium products

 Gerard Kiely

 Clive Friary

Mentor Pitch

ePublish

Founder Gerard Kiely MentorPitch is a global mentoring platform for higher education and business and allows businesses and education providers to manage mentoring programmes online.

Built on real mentorship management experience in the corporate and education environments, MentorPitch provides interactive tools for mentoring, mentor/mentee matching, mentor training and skills development. Having recently completed the product development phase, the company has already secured a number of high profile customers in Ireland and is in discussions to quickly enter the UK and US markets.

Founder Clive Friary ePublish was set up in 2014 to provide an interactive digital publishing service to independent authors. Focusing initially on the education sector and in particular interactive exam solutions for both Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate, ePublish is making progress in establishing itself as a leading digital publisher for Independent authors. In November of this year, ePublish launched its interactive ebook chronicling the visit of President JF Kennedy to Ireland in 1963, in collaboration with the Lensman archive, in New York which was quickly followed by its interactive ebook covering the 2014 Giro D’Italia including the opening race stages in Ireland.

www.mentorpitch.com

www.epublish.ie

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Solovisor

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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

25 Years of Success

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The Regional Development Centre closed off its 25th Anniversary celebrations by hosting a Recognition Awards Ceremony and commemorative book launch on November 21st this year. The event brought together past and current tenants, programme participants, project partners and funders as well as staff, all of whom played key roles in the success of the Centre through the years. In fact it was a day of joyous celebration for the team at the Regional Development Centre (RDC).

Over the past 25 years, the RDC has incubated 130 companies, completed 238 applied research projects and supported 1162 entrepreneurs. 25 client companies were selected and profiled in the commemorative book which showcases the wide range of sectors supported and also to reflect the many first time, student and serial entrepreneurs to have engaged with the Centre.

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7 These early-stage and knowledge enterprises have led to the creation of thousands of high quality jobs in the region. Success stories emerging from the RDC since 1989 include Digiweb, Big Mountain Productions, Mcor Technology and many, many more.

section 3 company profiles

company profiles

y profiles

compan

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The event was jointly hosted by the Regional Development Centre and Dundalk Institute of Technology, and as explained by Irene McCausland, Manager of the Regional Development Centre “The achievements of the last 25 years have been made possible by the original vision of Head of Development Gerry Carroll and the backing and support of the DkiT Governing Body and successive Presidents.�

The Regional Development Centre, along with Dundalk Institute of Technology have indeed led the way in campus entrepreneurship, enterprise development and innovation.

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3 section profiles company s of tyfive year ent g twen developm of celebratin celebrating economictwentyfive years regional driving driving regional economic development

Some of the achievements include being the: • First Incubator Established on a Third Level Campus in the IoT sector • First to roll out a National Enterprise Programme • First to map the Digital Content Sector in Ireland • First to establish on-campus High Definition Post Production Facilities

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

• First to commence a Student Enterprise Internship Programme to support student enterprises

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• First Institute to embed entrepreneurship education across all its programmes • First to pilot and test a new venture creation model never before done in Ireland • First to work with companies in-house in adopting a learning by doing model of innovation capacity and capability building as part of a tri-regional network • First to work with family businesses in adopting a psychology based approach to succession planning • First to conduct an independent evaluation of its economic impacts.

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Founder of Digiweb Colm Piercy was honoured with a special Recognition Award for Outstanding Economic Contribution to the region.

Other award recipients included Peter Smyth of Spectra 7, formerly Redmere, Sean O’Connor of STATSports, Peter Carroll of Mara, Jim O’Callaghan of TSM Control Systems, Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern of Big Mountain Productions.

The School of Informatics and Creative Arts at DkIT, represented by Dr Gerard McKiernan, also received a recognition award for their outstanding work in Industry engagement. Each award recipient was interviewed by the event MC Terry Prone after receiving their award.

A beautiful book commemorating 25 years of the RDC was launched by Minister Damien English.

Concluding her inspiring speech, McCausland explained “We are supporting entrepreneurs now in industries that didn’t exist when the Regional Development Centre was formed 25 years ago. In the next 25 years there will be new industries and sectors we have not yet heard of. To succeed, the next generation must do as this generation has done. They must build on the foundation laid down by our predecessors. So today as we celebrate 25 years of the Regional Development Centre we are not at a journeys end but at the start of another adventure.”

So what are the secrets of the RDC’s success? There are 4 core ingredients.

1 Vision The Governing Authority in the chairs of Clifford Kelly, Joanne Gardiner and Andrew Griffith, the Leadership and Management of Dundalk Institute of Technology and of the Regional Development Centre have always set the vision to make a difference to the region.

Dr Sean McDonagh embarked on a journey which changed the College to embrace an economic remit as well as a teaching and learning remit.

Tom Collins changed the very landscape of the Institute and laid the foundations for the future programmes, research and businesses supported in new technologies such as digital content, renewable energy and the ageing agenda.

Denis Cummins through the acquisition of the Sports Complex and the strategic alliance with DCU. All these visionaries have laid the strong foundation for the future development of the Institute, the Regional Development Centre and for the region it serves.

2 Partnership Business is all about relationships, the rest is about technology. The RDC values partnership and proactively seeks partners to jointly spearhead and deliver new and innovative programmes which has placed it at the forefront of economic development in the region.

3 Staff

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

The success of the RDC has been down to its highly competent RDC Staff, both past and present. At Manager Level, all come from an industry background and it is this understanding of how industry works that makes the RDC a businessfacing centre in which it excels.

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4 Client companies The RDC is more than bricks and mortar.

People and companies live out their dreams within its four walls. Their success is the success of the RDC. They are the people who create the jobs, the wealth and opportunities. The role of the RDC is to support, challenge and help them succeed.

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Honeycomb - Creative Works supporting the future of Film and Broadcast Now in its second year of programme activity, Honeycomb continues to grow and spread its influence within the digital content sector across the INTERREG IVA region. At the heart of this activity is the Honeycomb web portal which now has a total of 1546 registered users, 515 of whom are from the Republic of Ireland. These users consist of SMEs, freelancers, students and other stakeholders from industry and academia, with approximately 300 of these being digital content creators.

Film and broadcast is one of the main sub sectors within Honeycomb and the project has been working with filmmakers and broadcasters to help support them in the ever-changing world of digital broadcasting.

Recently Honeycomb hosted an International Film Forum in Virginia Co Cavan, where documentary film makers from across the north and south gathered to learn about the latest trends in film distribution and how the non-traditional methods of getting films made, such as crowd funding, are becoming mainstreamed.

Following are just some of the digital content creators involved in film and broadcast who have become part of the Honeycomb community.

For further information on Honeycomb please contact Kevin Fearon Honeycomb - Creative Works Project Manager t +353 42 9370419 e kevin.fearon@dkit.ie

Fiona Ashe, Filmmaker Fiona Ashe is an award-winning Drogheda-based filmmaker who has a twenty-year track record in the film and television industries. She won a Best Screenplay Award for a feature film script and a Best Film Noir Award for a short film she made in New York City and has completed six short films, one of which has become a viral success on YouTube.

Fiona’s other achievements include receiving a commission from the Irish Film Board and having a film picked up by RTE. Her work is endorsed by many renowned directors, including

Los Angeles based Mark W. Travis and Irish Director Jim Sheridan. Fiona also directs corporate videos.

In 2008, Fiona graduated from the New Media Factory at the Dundalk Institute of Technology and she is once again engaging with the Regional Development Centre through Honeycomb – Creative Works. Recently Fiona was awarded funding through the Honeypot seed fund to develop her latest feature screenplay and was also part of the Honeycomb delegation that attended the Web Summit in Dublin.

Speaking after the event Fiona remarked “Attending the Web Summit was incredibly valuable! It was inspiring to hear the founders of successful global companies sharing their expertise. Sincere thanks to Honeycomb for the opportunity to connect with potential investors, collaborators and like-minded entrepreneurs”.

SlackPress Media Production SlackPress is a media production company with a difference based in Newry, County Down. As they put it themselves, “SlackPress is a social enterprise, dedicated to building our community and telling our clients stories”.

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ENTERPRISE

They also support charities and social enterprises by producing professional media content, as well as providing support training and development within these organisations.

Services provided by SlackPress include: • Community Interest Video Production • Event Video Production • Corporate Video Production • Media Training and Workshop Programmes • Training Development Plans and Materials SlackPress has recently become part of the Honeycomb Network and has availed of a number of supports including the Micro Sales Programme.

They are also part of the Honeycomb Virtual Incubation Programme, based in the RDC, which is providing them with the opportunity to expand into the ROI market. SlankPress believe these supports will help them build a significant presence in the region.

www.slackpress.co.uk

An Lár TV An Lár TV is an internet Television company, streaming six channels of Irish content to audiences in more than 120 countries. An Lár TV is available on computers, connected devices and across a range of media streaming players. With its own infrastructure, An Lár TV also streams events and conferences for corporate clients and produces a range of documentaries and short films.

An Lár TV is a member of the Honeycomb Network and has availed of a range of developmental training, particularly in the areas of social media and marketing. Following attendance at this year’s web summit with Honeycomb, An Lár TV has formed alliances with industry leaders and has secured a further distribution agreement, increasing audience reach by more than one million viewers. An Lár TV is also working with Honeycomb to develop new streaming products which will increase its product offering to industry in 2015.

www.anlar.tv

Making a VITAL difference by challenging assumptions The VITAL project, led by the Regional Development Centre, was launched in 2013. It is an adventurous pilot project designed to create new ventures and grow existing SMEs using a unique open innovation model. VITAL is identifying and commercialising good ideas by evaluating them and matching them with SMEs and seasoned track record entrepreneurs operating within the border region of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

How did the need for such a project arise you might ask?

For 25 years the Regional Development Centre has been running business support and incubation programmes. Within those programmes there has always been an assumption that the individual who generates a good business idea should also be the implementer of that idea.

This model has been very successful and there are lots of fine examples of ideas that have scaled into large successful businesses. It has to be acknowledged however that this model hasn’t always worked. The RDC identified the need to challenge assumptions, or to at least look at alternative mechanisms for the many idea owners who don’t have the time, resources, knowledge or commercial expertise to make an idea happen.

VITAL was designed by the Regional Development Centre with this in mind. As Einstein once remarked ‘If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got’. VITAL is a new support mechanism for the many idea owners who feel they are not best placed to take an idea forward, either because they have tried and been unsuccessful previously, or because they are in a job and don’t want to leave it. Not everyone wants or has the capacity to be an entrepreneur.

VITAL therefore represents an innovative alternate to the ‘traditional’ way of forming and supporting high potential businesses. It is identifying the ideas from many varied sources evaluating them and matching those with potential, with the most suitable SMEs and entrepreneurs within our region.

This new offering mirrors a growing need within the SME and experienced entrepreneurial community. RDC research highlighted the five most significant barriers that SME/

entrepreneurs have in identifying new ideas and new opportunities in recent times i.e. lack of time, knowledge, networks as well as expertise and funding. VITAL addresses each of these shortcomings and provides an end to end solution which is now working.

To date VITAL has identified over 300 ideas and is engaging with nearly 150 SMEs and Entrepreneurs. The project is providing a customised range of supports including implementation advancement assistance and access to a large priming capital pot of funding to financially assist and fast track the project to market.

While quite a number of projects have gone through the matching process they have yet to be commercialised so cannot be discussed in the public domain at this time.

There are many more ideas that have yet to be matched a sample of which can be viewed on the project website. www.vitalforideas.com/showcase One example is an innovative new Hurling training product, well designed, branded with national plus diaspora potential. It can be created for junior, intermediate and pro levels with good margins and recurring revenue potential.

Another example is a vital signs wearable monitor which can be worn by infants and vulnerable older people. This product is billed as a consumer product as opposed to a medical device so it should not need complex testing before it is market ready.

For more information on VITAL or any of the opportunities presented, please contact the Project Director Kieran Fegan via email kieran.fegan@dkit.ie VITAL is a €2.56 million project supported by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. The project is a partnership between Dublin City University, Queen’s University Belfast and is led by Dundalk Institute of Technology.

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SlackPress provides work experience and training for students, graduates and the unemployed by producing digital media for small companies and community groups.

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On average Dundalk Institute of Technology supports 20 companies a year through the Innovation Voucher programme. This programme is managed by the Technology Transfer Office [TTO] located in the Regional Development Centre at DkIT. An Innovation voucher is worth €5k and can be redeemed at any 3rd Level Institute within the 32 counties of Ireland.

A Good Use of an Innovation Voucher !

The TTO is available to advise on the suitability and benefits of the Innovation Voucher scheme. We welcome the opportunity to discuss a company’s challenges and to determine how best the Institute can help resolve or overcome such challenges.

For further information on technology transfer or to book an appointment please contact

Safe Hitch – Safety First Launched at Tullamore Show 2014 Safehitch, a patented safety device has been developed by a new Monaghan business to address the critical issue of safely and quickly attaching an implement to a tractor on the lower 3 point linkage. This has always been a dangerous interface between man and machine and also a source of frustration which leads to shortcuts and accidents.

In March 2014 GetHitched applied for and obtained an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher to facilitate collaboration on their project with Dundalk Institute of Technology. Paul Durcan, from the School of Engineering – Mechanical, worked with the company to optimise the initial design, develop a detailed engineering specification for the device and to produce a working unit.

This unit was unveiled at the Tullamore Show in August 2014 and was included in the National Inventions Competition and was also featured in the Irish Independent on the 20th August 2014.

Neil McLoughlin Technology Transfer Manager t +353 42 9370453 e neil.mcloughlin@dkit.ie

Speaking after the show Pat McKenna, co-founder GetHitched said, “Working with DkIT on this development project gave us the assurance of the sound engineering principles underpinning our product and as such the confidence to enter the unit to the National Inventions Competition at the Tullamore Show.”

Get Hitched, the company that developed the Safehitch, was founded

by Jim Cassidy, an engineer, and Pat Mc Kenna a businessman and part time farmer, and has received support from Monaghan Local Enterprise Office.

For further information visit www.gethitched.ie.

iOTA Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Business The iOTA Programme hosted an Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Business event recently in the Ballymascalon House Hotel in Dundalk to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The focus of the event was on developing awareness around Early Business Funding and Innovation within a Business and was one of a series of Master classes the iOTA programme offers participants on the programme. Also on offer is the development of an Innovation Feasibility Action Plan to participants.

The Action Plan is developed in conjunction with a Business Mentor

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and helps the business identify areas which need further development or support. In addition the iOTA Programme can signpost businesses to other support agencies who may be in a position to offer further ongoing support.

The programme is focused on assisting Micro-Enterprises to develop their businesses through Innovation activities. It is delivered by a consortium of partners from nine council areas both north and south of the border. Places on this programme are still available.

For further information or to participate in the programme log onto www.iotaprogramme.com or contact Neil McLoughlin Technology Transfer Manager t +353 42 9370453 e neil.mcloughlin@dkit.ie The iOTA Programme is part financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IV Cross border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

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 CEEN HEI Partners at the Launch of CEEN in June 2014

CEEN Gets Off to a Flying Start In the last issue of LINK we reported on the launch in June 2014 of CEEN (Campus Entrepreneurship Enterprise Network), a new national network set up to promote entrepreneurship education at higher level. CEEN is the successor network to the DkIT led ACE (Accelerated Campus Entrepreneurship) initiative, previously reported on through LINK, which delivered an extensive programme of entrepreneurship education programmes for Irish HEIs. DkIT’s RDC hosts CEEN and since the launch has been working to establish the network, raise the profile and develop CEEN’s work plan.

In October 2014, CEEN was pleased to secure network funding from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. This establishes CEEN alongside other HEA funded networks as the national network for enhancing the entrepreneurship education across the Irish HEI sector.

This funding contributes towards central infrastructure costs, positioning CEEN on a firmer footing to explore partnerships and funding opportunities for activity based programmes.

A major area of CEEN’s work is to deliver the National Entrepreneurship Educators Programme. This Level 9 module is the first programme dedicated to supporting academic and non-academic staff in embedding entrepreneurship learning in their institutions. Following successful

completion and evaluation of the pilot phase under ACE in 2014, CEEN will be running the programme again in January 2015. The pilot programme attracted 20 participants from 17 Irish HEIs and we are expecting high levels of demand again this year.

A new area of collaboration is with HECA (Higher Education Colleges Association), the national network for private HEIs, on delivery of Enterprise Engagement in Entrepreneurship Education (EEE) Pathways & Supports Project. This initiative, which has also secured T&L Network funding, will focus on engaging enterprise in entrepreneurship education programmes and the objective is to produce a range of resources to help educators and employers work more closely together around the EEE curriculum.

CEEN HEI partners, working in collaboration with CEEN, were also pleased to secure funding through the T&L Forum’s national seminar series for HEIs. Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) delivered a seminar on “Engaging Students through Enterprise Societies” for teaching staff and students on 27th November and Dublin City University (DCU) delivered a seminar on “Embedding Entrepreneurship Principles in Your Teaching” for academic and non-academic staff in December. This T&L Forum’s national seminar series aims to support HEIs enhance teaching and learning practice in their HEIs.

CEEN has also been involved in a number of international collaborations and was recently invited by the OECD to write a case study around the work of ACE. The case study will be used as a resource aligned to the new ‘HEInnovate’ tool being developed by the OECD and the European Commission to promote entrepreneurial HEIs (www.heinnovat. eu). Through the RDC, DkIT is currently exploring how HEInnovate can support DkIT’s institute wide entrepreneurial objectives.

Finally, an important focus for CEEN has been to seek to influence national education and entrepreneurship policies, by highlighting the contribution and voicing the interests of the sector, and has maintained ongoing dialogue with policy makers. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Skills, recently published the ‘National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement for Ireland’ and more recently the QQI (Quality Qualifications Ireland) published ‘Education and Employers: A Strategic Approach to Employer Engagement’. Both policy documents cite the important contribution of CEEN to these areas and that CEEN will continue to make constructive contributions on behalf of the sector.

To find out more about CEEN, contact Bridget Kerrigan CEEN Project Manager t +353 42 9370450 e bridget.kerrigan@dkit.ie

www.ceen.ie

News in Brief Another Seedcorn Competition Winner EVB Sports won the Regional final of the InterTrade Ireland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition, Connacht and Leinster Region New Start category, held recently in Belfast. EVB Sports founder, Yvonne Brady, launched the business while a participant on the New Frontiers Programme in DkIT in 2012. The business has grown steadily since and has recently secured its first distributors in the UK for its sports short product aimed at women suffering from stress incontinence.

This was not Yvonne’s first award as she was recently runner up in the Europe category of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards held in Paris in October.

www.evbsport.com

 DkIT Student Interns; Jessica, Adam, Jennifer and David prepare for Global Entrepreneurship Week

Trade Marked Man Congratulations to the RDC’s Technology Transfer Manager, Neil McLoughlin who recently qualified with a Diploma in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. In addition to completing this Diploma Neil also successfully completed the exam to become a registered Trade Mark Agent with the Irish Patent Office.

Enterprise week StudentEnterprise@DkIT hosted events and competitions in the Schools of Engineering, Business, Health and Science and Informatics and Creative Arts recently to coincide with global enterprise week. The aim is to promote an ethos of enterprise across the Institute and to help make students aware of the many supports available to them should

they wish to pursue business ownership as a career option.

Very popular with students this year was guest speaker John Kavanagh who paid a visit to the campus for what became an inspirational talk attracting a huge crowd.

As well as owning several Straight Blast Gyms in Ireland, John is also a trainer for Ireland’s most notable Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor. McGregor is the former CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion making him the first professional Irish fighter to hold titles in two separate divisions.

Kavanagh was a huge hit with the students as he spoke passionately about motivation and the importance of never giving up on your dream - no matter how impossible it may seem.

The Management and staff of the Regional Development Centre would like to wish all our clients, colleagues and partners a very

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir element design

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