Industry bodies to back tech start-ups

TECHNOLOGY ideas will be nurtured into start-up businesses in two industry- led institutions launched yesterday by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.

The Irish Centre for Manufacturing Research (ICMR Ltd) will be based at Intel in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and will focus on new manufacturing research. DePuy J&J in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, will host the Innovation for Ireland’s Energy Efficiency (I2E2) research centre, focusing on reducing energy costs in manufacturing.

Boston Scientific, Seagate, EMC2, Pfizer and others are also partnering in the drive to turn R&D ideas into jobs. These new €10m centres follow last week’s unveiling of €55m commercialisation initiatives, including a €5m cloud computing technology centre.

Mr Bruton said: “These centres are advanced industry-led institutions which represent international best practice in partnering researchers with high-tech industry, allowing them to improve productivity, develop innovative practices and commercialise R&D ideas.”

Other partners in the centres include Analog Devices, Bombardier, Ceramicx, Aughinish, Crowley Carbon, Carbury and Boston Scientific. These centres will focus on making Irish manufacturing more competitive, notably in the energy, green technologies, life sciences and ICT sectors.

IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary said: “Bringing together companies with similar research needs and teaming them with highly-qualified researchers to produce marketable products and services is a highly efficient way of conducting industrial research. This collaborative approach benefit the companies involved and deliver a competitive advantage to Irish industry.”

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Frank Ryan said: “Industry-led technology centres are a model that works and can deliver real results — for the companies, for the research community and ultimately for Ireland. Their impact will be significant, supporting a more innovative, efficient and competitive Irish economy.”