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RDC Resident Expert Panel |
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Monday, 04 March 2013 16:04 |
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Resident Expert Panel
The Regional Development Centre have engaged a panel of “Resident Experts” who will assist us in providing free one-to-one advice and guidance to our clients. Coupled with a selection of seasoned technology entrepreneurs this includes professional services such as intellectual property, finance, legal, sales and marketing, employment law and human resource management.
http://www.rdc.ie/index.php/resident-expert-panel |
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Job Vacancies - Vital Project |
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Friday, 01 March 2013 11:14 |
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The VITAL Project - new venture creation through the matching of validated knowledge based ideas
and technologies with experienced/seasoned entrepreneurs and SMEs (small-medium sized
enterprises) and fast tracking the route to market.
The project therefore aims, through this unique and innovative approach, to promote regional economic
growth and development by building the indigenous SME base within the knowledge based sectors in
Northern Ireland and the six southern border counties of Ireland and thus creating and safeguarding
sustainable jobs.
For the purposes of this proposal, a new venture is defined as a new knowledge based business startups, new business ideas implemented within existing businesses or new license or technology transfer opportunities exploited.
The approach of successfully matching a validated knowledge based idea with a seasoned
entrepreneur or well established SME provides the most efficient and effective way of commercialising
a business proposition and fast tracking the route to market. This approach to new business creation
makes the VITAL initiative a novel and innovative project aimed directly at meeting the economic
challenges and needs of the eligible areas in terms of knowledge based start-ups, providing new
commercial opportunities for existing SMEs and creating employment opportunities as well as reducing
the risk associated with new venture start-ups.
To deliver the programme two vacancies have now arisen for the role of Project Director based in DkIT and Project Manager based in Invent, DCU.
Further details can be found by clicking the following link....
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Student Enterprise Launches Enterprise Week |
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Wednesday, 13 February 2013 14:42 |
Next Monday the 18th of February will see the launch of DkIT Student Enterprise’s annual Enterprise Week. The aim of the week is to help students find out more about enterprise, the resources DkIT Student Enterprise provides students and to encourage participation in enterprise activities. DkIT Student Enterprise have organised a variety of activities including the renowned Rookie Challenge in order to achieve these goals.
Feargal Quinn, the most admired entrepreneur among Irish SMEs will kick off this year’s Enterprise Week at DkIT. Feargal set up Superquinn, the hugely successful Irish supermarket chain. In 2005 when Superquinn had 21 shops employing over 5,000 people, Feargals’ family sold their share of the company. In 2011 DkIT awarded Feargal a distinguished fellowship for making an exceptional contribution to Irish life. Feargal who is a keen advocate of entrepreneurship will share his experiences with the students at 1 p.m. on Monday 18th in the Whitaker Theatre. It is an event not to be missed and all students are encouraged to attend.
Deirdre MacCormack, CMO of local company Mcor Technologies will be on campus on Tuesday 19th to enlighten the students as to how Mcor Technologies was set up and brought to where it is today. The company which specialises in 3D printing aims to provide accessibility to this once niche technology. This guest speaking event will take place in the Engineering Theatre C106 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday 19th and will be a must see for any student in the School of Engineering and the School of Informatics and Creative Arts.
The first Health and Science guest speaker of the week is Paul McCoy, owner and manager of Castleross Nursing Home. Paul is a qualified Intellectual Disability nurse and has over 20 years’ experience in both nursing and private business. Paul has overseen the growth of Castleross Nursing Home from its inception in 2002 from a 46 bed facility to a 98 bed facility along with 31 assisted living houses. Paul will be speaking about his entrepreneurial experiences in N124 of the Nursing Building at 12 p.m. on Tuesday 19th.
Next up is John Teeling, one of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs. He has listed more companies on the Irish stock exchange than any other Irishman and recently sold Cooley Distillery for around €73 million. John holds an interest in a number of industrial ventures and will be in S142 at 11 a.m. on Wednesday 20th to give the students an insight into the life of a serial entrepreneur.
To finish off the week in style J.J. Fay, joint owner of Bluebird Care will share his entrepreneurial journey with the students of the School of Health and Science on Thursday 21st in N124 at 10 a.m. The company has tapped into the upsurge in interest in the alternative area of home care for the older person due to government cutbacks in nursing home funding. Bluebird Care has a growing network of offices throughout Ireland and currently employs 721 people who are highly trained specialists in the field of healthcare.
It is sure to be a great week. |
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North East Competitive Feasibility Fund |
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Monday, 11 February 2013 16:32 |
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€200k fund to stimulate new start-up activity in North East Region
Competitive Feasibility Fund for counties Louth, Cavan & Monaghan.
Enterprise Ireland is launching a new Competitive Feasibility Fund to help entrepreneurs research their business ideas. Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 26th February 2013.
Funding of up to €25,000 per project will be considered on a competitive basis (up to 50% of eligible expenditure). The objective of the Competitive Feasibility Fund for the North East Region is to assist a new manufacturing or internationally traded service start-up company or individual entrepreneur, to investigate the viability of a new significant growth orientated business or proposition to be located in the North East Region. The aim of the grant is to provide the necessary information to enable the promoter (and Enterprise Ireland) to reach firm conclusions regarding the project's viability and set out investor ready plans and financials associated with developing and commercialising the innovative product or service on international markets
This fund is open to applications from the ICT, Industrial and Food sectors including the following sub-sectors: Internet, Games SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Telecoms, Lifesciences, Cleantech and Industrial Products.
Full details of the fund including the application form can be found at
www.enterprise-ireland.com/nef. |
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New Frontiers Programme Recruiting |
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Monday, 11 February 2013 00:00 |
New Frontiers Programme Phase 1's start in February and March 2013
The New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme (NFP) is an Enterprise Ireland funded national programme that offers a menu of support for entrepreneurs with an innovative business idea in the Knowledge Based, High Tech & IT sectors.
The overarching aim of the National Programme is to accelerate the development of sustainable new businesses across the regions which have strong employment and high growth potential. Based on technology / innovative business applications from high-quality promoters, the intensive entrepreneurship development aims to deliver a steady stream of regionally significant sustainable enterprises, the majority of which are expected to become Enterprise Ireland or County Enterprise Board clients.
The programme consists of 3 Phases
Phase 1 – Testing. Delivered part time in evenings and/or weekends this phase focuses on testing the business idea and selecting participants for Phase 2. The output of this stage is a feasibility study “The Case for Phase 2 Inclusion” which will be presented to a selection panel.
Phase 2 - Planning. This phase aimed at entrepreneurs with a viable business concept, is 6 months in duration, is intensive and requires full time commitment by the promoter. As well as comprehensive training and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs and business experts the successful participants will receive hotdesking in either Invent DCU or RDC, DkIT for the duration of this phase. The output of this phase is an investor ready business plan, with implementation plan and milestones.
Phase 3. Commercialisation. During this phase of between 3 and 6 months, participants will continue to develop in an incubation environment with further tailored supports to build the team, raise the necessary finances and achieve their first sales.
We are now recruiting for Phase 1 of the programme which will be delivered in two centres: the Regional Development Centre, DkIT and Invent DCU. During this 6 week first phase, participants are developing the business case behind their idea and preparing a plausible case for continuation onto Phase 2 of the NFP.
Up to 15 participants will be selected to join each Phase 1 of the programme, the first of which will commence in February 2013.
Applications forms are available from
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or to download here.
Closing date for the next Phase 1 programme is Friday 8th March 5pm
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The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition |
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Friday, 25 January 2013 12:26 |
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Calling on Post Grad students and recent graduates.
As part of the Promising Ireland Campaign,
The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition aims to nurture creativity and hone entrepreneurial skills amongst recent graduates and post-graduate students – the early stage entrepreneurs who will play a crucial role in getting us back on our feet. Candidates will have an opportunity to develop their business ideas and compete for a chance to win €16,000 in cash prizes and other supports.
For further info go to: www.theirelandfunds.org/grantees/id.200?_rewrite_sticky=bpc
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Innovation Voucher Scheme |
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Friday, 25 January 2013 12:23 |
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INNOVATION VOUCHERS
Innovation Voucher Scheme from Enterprise Ireland is open for applications from 21st Jan to 3rd Feb 2013.
Log on to https://innovationvouchers.ie/ or through www.enterprise-ireland.com to obtain the Application Form.
If you require assistance in completing the Application Form please contact Neil McLoughlin or Aidan Browne at the RDC.
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Most Enterprising Student of the Year in 2012 |
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Thursday, 24 January 2013 09:24 |
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Congratulations to Jessica Moneley for achieving the award of ‘Most Enterprising Student of the Year’ in 2012. This prize in its first year is annually awarded at the Graduation ceremony by the president of DkIT Denis Cummins and includes a cash prize of €1,000. Jessica was nominated by DkIT Student Enterprise for her involvement in the student enterprise programme over the last number of years. |
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Monday, 21 January 2013 13:18 |
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Wednesday 19th December seen the Whitaker Theatre transformed into Dragons’ Den as DkIT Student Enterprise hosted their own version of the popular reality television show.
The Student Enterprise Interns teamed up with the lecturers who currently have a business plan/entrepreneurship module to get students to think beyond their continuous assessments and realise that their business ideas can be turned into viable businesses. Each team had five minutes in the den to “pitch” their ideas to the Dragons’. Dragons’ included Annmarie McHugh, Lecturer in the School of Business and Humanities, Amanda Kirk, DkIT Careers Officer and John McDaid, local entrepreneur and businessman. Teams were scored on the execution of their pitch, the innovativeness of their idea, the feasibility of the business and whether or not they would invest in the business.
The finalists included:
Cycling Safety Device – Marc Smyth, Ingrida Kanaseviciene, Peter Lynch, Kevin Healy
Braille Labeling – Irina Matvejeva, Kristina Cabule
Fitness Tracker – Rachel Mulligan, Shauna Whearty, Cíara Brennan
The Pit Master – Nuala Markey, Darren Brennan
Eire Jewels – Chloe Monaghan, Denise Duffy, Lucy Watters, Jessica Coburn
Nature’s Way Funeral Service – Mark Crawley, Yiru Liu, Grace Woods, Eoin McCormick
A tough task for the Dragons but there could only be one winner and one runner up with prizes for both including Beats by Dr. Dre and Tablet Computers.
Overall winner: Fitness Tracker idea developed by Rachel Mulligan, Shauna Whearty and Cíara Brennan.
Runner up: The Pit Master idea developed by Nuala Markey and Darren Brennan.
DkIT Student Enterprise would like to thank all the teams that got involved in the competition; we hope you enjoyed the experience of pitching and once again congratulations on being nominated for the competition. A big thank you goes to the Dragons’ who took the time to judge the competition. We’d also like to thank the lecturers that nominated teams for the competition without your continued support this competition would not have been possible.
For more information on what DkIT Student Enterprise can offer you find us on Facebook. |
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