it@cork news

Make the Right Start to your Business - Develop with the Genesis Enterprise Programme

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:45:00 GMT

Make the Right Start to your Business - Develop with the Genesis Enterprise Programme

Now Recruiting New Business Entrepreneurs for the 2010/11 Genesis Enterprise Programme

Genesis is delighted to announce that it has now commenced recruitment for the 2010/11 Genesis Enterprise Programme which will start in May 2010. Genesis is a 12 month full time incubation programme that provides a comprehensive range of supports to innovative, knowledge-intensive start-ups to help them grow and develop into highly successful companies capable of competing in global markets.

When it comes to starting or expanding your business, it’s usually not the idea that fails but the execution that wins. To survive and win in today’s world, Irish start ups need to be expert not just in the idea or product but in designing, developing and executing the business around the idea. That’s where the highly successful Genesis Enterprise Programme comes in.

Now in its 12th year, Genesis has helped over 180 entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. Genesis has a proven track record of fostering the long term success of start ups. More that 70% of the start-up businesses emerging from the Genesis programme are in operation to-day. They employ over twelve hundred people in the South West region of Ireland. In excess of 50% of the businesses are trading internationally. 40 businesses have gone on to be designated 'High Potential Start Ups' by Enterprise Ireland.

Well known businesses that started life in Genesis include Abtran, Amocom, Crest Solutions, Cully & Sully, Enbio, Yougetitback.com, Selatra, and Pulse Learning. The emphasis of Genesis has always been to support high value, knowledge based Irish owned businesses in the region that are creating some intellectual property (whether product or service based) and have the potential to scale into export markets and create employment in the region. Genesis works with start ups across a diversity of sectors including energy, food, photonics, information technology, mechanical engineering, medical devices, biotechnology, machine vision and many others.

The Genesis business incubation programme equips participants with the practical skills, expertise, contact networks and tools necessary to develop an idea into a solid real business. Along the way, they learn how talk to the market, raise investment capital, and launch the product/service in the marketplace. Specific supports include:

• Free professional office facilities in an entrepreneurial incubation environment in the Rubicon Centre (www.rubiconcentre.ie)
• Information & access to sources of funding in pursuing your business
• Intensive Management Development Training & Workshops
• A personal mentor with significant sectoral knowledge, contacts and business experience
• 1:1 Expert Clinics in the areas of strategy, finance and marketing.
• Individual business coaching provided by experienced programme manager
• Networking with other entrepreneurs in Genesis and across its alumni network.
• Access the staff & product/business development facilities of the GEP Programme Partners which include Cork Institute of Technology, University College Cork, Enterprise Ireland, the Enterprise Boards, Údarás Na Gaeltachta, and Cork BIC.

The Programme is funded by the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment under the National Development Plan 2007 – 2013.
Applications for the new 2010/11 Genesis Enterprise Programme, which commences in May 2010, can be made online at www.gep.ie. The closing date for applications is Friday 26th March 2010. For an informal and confidential discussion of your business idea and eligibility, please contact Denise Kennedy, Programme Manager, at 021.4928907 or dkennedy@gep.ie

Denise Kennedy
Programme Manager, Genesis Enterprise Programme
The Rubicon Centre, CIT Campus, Bishopstown, Cork
Direct: 353.21.4928907 Mobile: 353.87.2218562
dkennedy@gep.ie
www.gep.ie

PFH Appointed Professional Services Partner By HP

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:36:00 GMT

PFH, Ireland's leading privately owned IT Technology and Service provider, are pleased to announce that after a rigorous selection process we have succeeded in being one of the very few companies appointed as a HP Professional Services Partner (PSP).

The bid to become a HP PSP was led by our Professional Services Manager, Jason Boyle, who commented 'my team and I are delighted to have had the recognition by HP of our professional and consistent approach to delivering business critical and enterprise solutions based on HP server and storage infrastructure to our government, health and corporate sector customers across Ireland'.

Paul Hourican, PFH MD also commented 'The Professional Service Partner authorisation strengthens our position as trusted technology partner to global vendors and end-users in Ireland. Companies depend on reliable, flexible and cost effective technology to run their businesses and as advisors to our customers, this certification recognizes our ability and commitment to offering them the right technology to effectively meet their business objectives'.

The PSP programme will deliver a number of key benefits to PFH and our customers including Service delivery underwritten by HP expertise and Direct access to priority HP technical support.

Implementations meet HP worldwide specified design, documentation, testing & quality standards.

In addition to this new certification, PFH were re-appointed as an HP Gold Partner and Service Partner for 2010 in January.

Help us to reduce your training costs by 50%

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:58:00 GMT

Help us to reduce your training costs by 50% Have your company's training needs included in our Skillnet application

Send in your letter of intent as soon as possible!

it@cork and the Irish Software Association in partnership with SoftTest Ireland are making an application to the Skillnet programme for subsidised training for their member companies. The application must be submitted to Skillnet by the end February.

Although we will use the existing brand of the Software Skillnet (originally the Skillnet of the ISA) this is a joint application between it@cork and the ISA in partnership with SoftTest Ireland.

This funding will provide grant aid to companies (up to 50% subsidies) to address training needs associated with software functions over the period 2010-2011.

To prepare this application and to ensure that your company is included we would ask you to:

1. Come to a briefing meeting to be held in

CORK Cork International Airport Hotel at 8.30am on Wednesday 17th February and

DUBLIN IBEC Offices at 8.30am on Friday 19th February

2. Complete a form on your company’s training requirements. The form must be returned by 19th February for your needs to be included. Please click the link to access the online version – this will take about 10 minutes to complete. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/softwareskillnets-2010survey

3. Send us a letter of intent. A letter of intent is used to show that a company is willing to access subsidised training and that the company will pay its share of the costs per course which are not subsidised by the Skillnet (ie the reduced course fee). It does not oblige the company to take part in any training during the life time of the application. Download a copy of the letter of intent which should be printed on your company letterhead. Please scan and email it back to us as soon as possible. [attached below].

Many thanks for your co-operation in this. We hope that it will be well worth the time taken to reduce the cost of your training over the next 2 years.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Alison Reilly in it@cork at 021 2307076 alison@itcork.ie or Susan Kelly at 086 8067200 susan@isa-skillnet.com

Abtran and UCC's Cork Constraint Computation Centre create research partnership for advanced new systems

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:09:00 GMT

Abtran and UCC's Cork Constraint Computation Centre create research partnership for advanced new systems

Move will help to establish Cork as a centre of excellence for shared services

Abtran, Ireland’s largest provider of business process services and the Cork Constraint Computation Centre (4C) at UCC are forming a research partnership to develop next-generation systems for use in business process outsourcing. Addressing Cork Chamber of Commerce this morning, Abtran’s Managing Director, Michael Fitzgerald said the Abtran and 4C collaboration will help to position Ireland as a centre of excellence in the €300 billion global business processes industry.

The project is being funded through the Innovation Partnership programme which involves financial investment by Abtran and funding from Enterprise Ireland. It forms part of Abtran’s ongoing €6 million investment in its new Learning & Innovation Centre at the Irish company’s Cork headquarters, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland and where 800 staff are currently employed.

Abtran’s Learning & Innovation Centre has a team of highly innovative and creative individuals drawn from both the business and higher education sectors. The centre researches, develops and tests new technologies and services in a low risk environment using established R&D techniques and practices. The strategic aim of the Abtran 4C partnership is to combine expertise around the development of next generation technologies to dramatically improve and innovate in the delivery of business services.

The research link-up will seek to reduce or remove operational constraints and limitations experienced by business process providers and their clients. The project will involve research into advanced technologies and processes for the contact centre industry including data mining and artificial intelligence.

Areas to be studied include ‘intelligent call checking’, ‘early warning systems’ and systems for ‘predictive behaviour’ in managing contact centre performance and customer interactions. The project will test complex sets of mathematical algorithms developed by 4C against data based on real business scenarios collected from Abtran’s operations.

Michael Fitzgerald, Managing Director, Abtran commented, 'This innovation partnership with UCC will establish Cork as a centre of excellence for shared services through R&D and innovation. It will help to create a value-added network between business, universities and the public sector to deliver smart solutions with strong market potential.'

We expect the findings of our research to be converted into new business development, jobs creation and even better service delivery by Abtran in shared service partnerships with our clients. We intend that this innovation will contribute strongly to Ireland’s growing reputation as a world class destination for internationally traded services.”

'This project is very much a product of our Learning & Innovation Centre. We intend to create innovative, sustainable and scalable efficiencies which will transform the way our clients do business, improving quality of delivery, increasing overall competitiveness and contributing further to Ireland’s overall economic growth.'

Professor Eugene Freuder, Director of Cork Constraint Computation Centre said, 'The work of 4C involves the creation of intelligent computer systems which support better decision making and help to solve problems more rapidly. As well as discovering new techniques and processes, it is very important for research to be of benefit to industry and the economy. In Abtran, we see a commercially focused company capable of translating research into business growth and new market opportunities. They are committed to business innovation based on technological advancement, knowledge creation and the removal of barriers and practices which constrain progress. We look forward to the development of competitive new business processes in partnership with Abtran.'

Congratulating Abtran and 4C, Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said:
'Abtran is a client of Enterprise Ireland’s scaling programme which supports companies that have the potential for rapid and steady growth to quickly achieve international scale and become significant employers and global leaders in their fields. Investment in research and knowledge development has made the company deeply competitive and has been a critical success factor in its progress towards becoming a fully-scaled international leader in business process outsourcing. This collaboration with the academic community through 4C is an innovation partnership that will further stimulate innovation in Business Process Outsourcing, generating value for all sides of the partnership and driving Ireland’s reputation as a global centre of excellence for this sector.'

Interested in cross-border business opportunities in the Civil Security market?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:35:00 GMT

Think your business is ready to make its mark?

InterTradeIreland has identified exciting cross-border business opportunities in the Civil Security market.

Innovation Connections Programme

New ideas drive innovation — especially those that meet a customer's unmet need. lnterTradelreland, INNOVATOR and the Centre for Irish and European Security have investigated the unmet needs of the civil security sector across the island.

The result? We have uncovered 15 new business ideas and opportunities that could help SMEs break into this exciting and growing market.

The programme will make this highly complex sector accessible to the island’s SMEs by guiding them through these new business opportunities and helping them to develop their capabilities to drive innovation within their business.

How does it work?

SMEs will participate in 2-day workshops where they will be introduced to a systematic approach to develop ideas for products, processes and services for the sector. They will also be given the opportunity to test innovation tools and techniques and apply them to their own business model.

Applying for the programme

We are currently taking applications from companies in the business areas below:

Intelligent lighting and signage systems
Digital media management
Communications
Dangerous substances
Sensor detection/surveillance technology
Access control and security systems
Architectural design
Intelligent software

Ideally, applicants should have:

A demonstrable ability & willingness to apply resources to develop, implement and commercialise newly proposed business opportunities

Please Note: As part of the programme, companies will be exposed to sensitive information. To maintain confidentiality attendees will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to workshops.

Where and When:

Newry - March 23rd & 30th
Dungannon - April 15th & 22nd
Cork - April 20th & 27th
Galway - May 6th & 13th

Programme costs: €250/£216 per company.

It is recommended two participants attend per company.

Numbers are strictly limited to 15 companies per workshop so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

For further information and to apply for the programme, contact:

Sean McNulty INNOVATOR
E: smcnulty@innovator.ie
T: +353 (0)1 8794010
www.innovator.ie/workshops
InterTradeIreland, The Trade and Business Development Body, The Old Gasworks Business Park, Kilmorey St, Newry, Co Down, BT34 2DE.

Transition Year students do IT for real at Computer Science Department, UCC!

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:34:00 GMT

Transition Year students do IT for real at Computer Science Department, UCC!

The Computer Science Department’s week-long IT Experience Programme for Transition Year students was launched on Monday, 1st February, by Professor James Bowen, head of the Department of Computer Science.

The programme took place in the newly-opened Western Gateway Building where the students enjoyed the hi-tech facilities including state-of-the-art labs, which have been fitted out with the most up-to-date hardware and software and superb audio-visual equipment.

Twenty six Transition Year students, from different schools, attended the programme. The students were drawn from schools in Cork City and County, including Castletownbere and Kanturk, and some students travelled from Waterford and Tipperary to participate.

The aim of the course was to give interested students work experience and the knowledge needed to make an informed decision on a career in Computer Science. It was designed to dispel the general uncertainty amongst post-primary school students about Computer Science. The students learned what Computer Science is about, the content of the BSc course, and the various career options available to potential graduates.

The students were introduced to the following skills during the week: System Administration, Web page design, Hardware Architecture, programming skills, research and Multimedia 3-D modelling. Students also benefitted from presentations by the UCC Admissions Office and the UCC Careers Service.

The IT Experience programme is one of a range of services that the department has introduced to give post-primary school students greater exposure to Computer Science and Information Technology, and the opportunities on offer.

This was the third IT Experience programme run by the Department of Computer Science. The previous programmes were run in February and November 2009. Overall, 65 students have benefitted from the programme.

Any enquiries about the department’s Transition Year IT Experience Programme, school visits or Munster Programming Training should be emailed to DoIT4Real@cs.ucc.ie or by phoning the Computer Science Departmental Office at 021-4205892.

Prepare for the Upturn with CIT UpSkill

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:22:00 GMT

Prepare for the Upturn with CIT UpSkill

Kieran O’Sullivan, a CIT graduate and who was previously unemployed attended the first CIT UpSkill and as a result is now working for a reputable international software company in Dublin.

As a result of the success of the first CIT UpSkill the CIT Alumni Association has organised a 2nd UpSkill event for 26th February 2010. CIT UpSkill is an information clinic for anyone who wants to update their qualifications, add new qualifications or change career direction.

Kieran attended the first CIT UpSkill in August 2009 and found the event very informative and encouraging. 'We received excellent advice about seeking employment, how to draw up a good C.V and how to increase our chances of succeeding at an interview, he said.'

In addition to information on specific topics there will also be series of short talks on recognition of prior learning (a process by which learning that has already taken place is given a value), practical tips when considering Entrepreneurship as a career and the impact of image in business.

Kieran said, 'I would encourage anyone who is seeking employment or is feeling despondent about finding a job to attend the next CIT Upskill and speak with the various presenters. There are jobs out there and it is just a matter of staying positive. The CIT UpSkill event certainly gave me the opportunity'.

Register for the FREE CIT Upskill event which will take place on Friday 26th February from 2.30pm – 5.00pm at CIT by completing the booking form at www.cit.ie/alumni

CIT UpSkill is free of charge to all CIT graduates and CIT final year students.

Discovery Zone

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:14:00 GMT

Want to start a business but don’t have a business idea? Announcing the launch of the Discovery Zone

The Discovery Zone is designed to assist experienced professionals who now find themselves at a time in their careers where they want to develop new ideas, start a business or alternatively want to explore ways of using their skills in exploiting other commercial opportunities through partnership with other entrepreneurs or academic institutions.

Immersed in this twelve-week programme, participants will explore a number of key topics from idea generation to routes to commercialisation. They will not only see the ‘big picture’ of the potential of their idea but they will also acquire an understanding of what they need to do if they want to commercialise their idea or alternatively develop partnership arrangements with suitable parties.

Upon completion of the Programme participants will have a better understanding and appreciation of a wide range of issues including the following:

How commercial ideas are generated.
Testing the commercial viability of new ideas – what are the key assumptions about the idea that need to be tested and verified.
Routes to commercialisation – new start-up, licensing or joint venture.
Practical guidance from individuals on how they successfully change from manager to entrepreneur.
Going from a good idea to developing a worthwhile business opportunity.

In addition, they will be expected to do a feasibility study on their business idea generated during the programme.

Delivery of the Programme
The Programme will be delivered over a 12 week period commencing in March 2010. Places on the Programme will be offered to 10 suitable participants and selection will be by means of an interview process. The participants will be based in the Rubicon Centre www.rubiconcentre.ie, in Cork Institute of Technology, for the duration of the programme. Each participant will be expected to attend the Rubicon Centre for 5 days per week where they will receive guidance individually and in groups to assist in progressing their ideas.

The Programme Manager will act as a resource for the participants in helping them make progress. In addition, participants will have access to the expertise of Rubicon staff, CIT researchers and the CIT Technology Transfer Office.

During the course of the Programme it is expected that each project will be allocated the services of an Enterprise Ireland Mentor who will provide specific guidance to participants in developing an idea.

The Discovery Zone is part funded by Enterprise Ireland.

To apply for your place on the programme please click here. Closing date for receipt of application is 5pm on Friday 26th February 2010.

Further details on the Programme can be obtained by contacting Paul Healy, Rubicon Centre Manger - 021 4928901 or email paul.healy@rubiconcentre.ie

Urgent: More letters of intent needed for Skillnet Application!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:38:00 GMT

We need more letters of intent for our application for Skillnet funding

Letters of intent are used by the Skillnet to judge the strength of an application for funding - the more letters the stronger the network, the stronger the application.

it@cork the ISA and SoftTest Ireland are applying for funding together through the Skillnet programme so that we can offer the training identified by our members, to our members, at around 50% of the commercial rate.

A letter of intent is used to show that a company is willing to access subsidised training and that the company will pay its share of the costs per course which are not subsidised by the Skillnet (ie the reduced course fee). It does not oblige the company to take part in any training during the life time of the application.

We need more letters of intent from companies to strengthen our application.

If you think that your company may want to access subsidised training over the next 21 months please download the letter, print it onto your company letter head, scan it and email it to either alison@itcork.ie or susan@isa-skillnet.com

For more information click here

Interested in speaking at Dev Days II?

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:54:00 GMT

Would you like to present at DevDays II?

DevDays II is a day long event for mobile apps developers and will take place in 3 locations this year: Belfast, Cork and Dublin. This year the focus is on technical challenges for developers. The afternoon workshops are planned to be OS neutral with case studies in the morning that may be OS specific. It is hoped to showcase the potential of multiple operating systems eg Android, Symbian, Maemo etc

If you are interested in presenting a case study or a workshop we're looking for speakers on the following topics:

• UI

- Design challenges of small screens, fingertip interaction
- Potential Workshop: UI teardown of an existing app from willing developer

• UX
- Performance, Designing apps for 15 second usage patterns

• Resource Constraints
- Small screens, weak processors, limited battery life
- Potential Workshop: overcoming the limitations of the VM in Android/Games

• Resilience
- Designing data-centric apps for mobile/cloud when service is not constant.

• Unique Features
- Location awareness, persistent internet, augmented reality

• Verticals
- Connected Health, Public Service Value, Enterprise/Cloud

If you have other suggestions - get in touch!

Have a look at these links to get a flavour of what DevDays II will be like: DevDays or iPhone App event

If you wish to speak at the event please contact Matt Johnston: matt.johnston@momentumni.org of Digital Circle who is coordinating the speaker suggestions.

DevDays II is being organised by Momentum NI, Digital Circle and it@cork.