iOTA programme looking to support local innovators

Do you have an innovative business idea or product you’d like to develop but don’t know where to start? iOTA can help.

Whether you have an established business, or you are in the ‘thinking about’ stage, iOTA can offer local support to help you develop ideas, improve products/services, explore new markets and ultimately help you to profit from innovation.

The iOTA Programme is funded through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme and managed by the SEUPB.

Dr Conor Patterson, Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency stated: “iOTA is open to SMEs and individuals; the support we offer is very much focussed on helping you or your company to be innovative to enable growth and expansion.

“We can help you develop innovative solutions, explore new markets, give you access to training and mentor expertise to support you in the journey to turn great ideas into viable business concepts.

“Whatever your idea, company status or previous background, we can provide a bespoke programme of support to address your needs.

“What’s more, all training and advice is delivered locally through a network of Enterprise Agencies, County Enterprise Boards, SRC, SERC and DKIT spanning counties Armagh, Down, Louth and Monaghan so you can tap into all these resources with ease.”

For further information or to participate on the iOTA Programme, please contact: Jane Magill, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency on Tel: 0044 (0) 2830267011 or Email: info@iotaprogramme.com

Date set for official launch of Digital Dundalk

The official launch of Digital Dundalk will take place on Wednesday February 5^th in The Spirit Store.

The event – which is being hosted by Jason McGee, Aidan Lawless, Aidan Browne and David McQuaid, will run from 7pm to 10pm and is free to attend.

Those planning on going to the launch are asked to register, however, which they can do so here.

The idea behind Digital Dundalk is to pull people interested and working in the digital community together for collaboration, innovation and inspiration.

The goal is create a Silicon Valley in Dundalk and to raise awareness among community members of skills and projects that are currently going on in pocketed projects.

The evening will feature an introduction on Digital Dundalk, showcases, speed pitches, networking, beer and pizza.

Dundalk IT project named as one of the best in Europe

Joan Martin of Louth County Council receives the three-star reference site award from EU vice-president Neelie Kroes

An initiative spearheaded in Louth by two Dundalk Institute of Technology research centres has been named as one of the top projects in Europe at an EU awards ceremony for active and healthy ageing practices.

The DKIT-based Netwell and Casala research centres are working alongside University College Cork and others in what is called the Collaboration on Ageing (Collage).

Collage was among 32 initiatives to be named as a ‘reference site’ by the European Commission – but one of only 13 to receive the top three-star status.

EU Commission vice-president Neelie Kroes described the awards as the “Oscars of innovation for ageing” and stressed that Collage and the other recipient projects were paving the way for a healthier and age-friendly society.

“Our regional activities in Louth have established a global reputation for leading new ways in service delivery and collaborations on the ground providing innovative services for older people,” said Rodd Bond, director of the Netwell Centre.

“Working alongside our partners in Collage, we aim to play our part in the EU’s aims to increase the average healthy lifespan of Europeans by two years by 2020.

“The emphasis now is on scaling up the projects and applying them throughout Europe. This will mean providing professional advice to EU member states and regions for the design of their innovation strategies for smart specialisation and enhancing local ability to access Horizon 2020, Europe’s €70bn flagship research and development programme for 2014–2020.”