Cork innovates to turn region into an entrepreneurial hub for start-ups

A new level of cooperation is set to turn Cork into an entrepreneurial hub as public and private bodies work together to foster start-ups in the region.

Cork innovates was established to advance Cork’s position as a hub for entrepreneurship with collaboration from a number of support organisations to assist with supporting employment in the region.

Close to 800 start-ups have been established in Cork since the start of the year, according to a newly compiled figures from Vison-net.ie

“It is the first time that public and private bodies, along with educational bodies and government agencies have come together to support entrepreneurship and job creation,” says Siobhan Finn, Cork innovates co-ordinator.

“Cork innovates is geared at all types of individuals. Whether they are running a business already, are on redundancy or a professional looking for a new career.

“We are looking to show that supports exist out there for entrepreneurs — something that is a career and a job for life.”

The newly appointed chairman of Cork innovates is Anthony O’Mara, who is involved in the indigenous and multinational sector in the region in his role as chief operations officer with Voxpro and non-executive director of global cloud security software firm, Trend Micro.

The steering group of Cork innovates comprises Cork City Council and Cork County Council, the four Enterprise Boards in the region, Enterprise Ireland, UCC, CIT, Cork Chamber, Cork BIC and the South West Regional Authority, as well as a number of entrepreneurs in the region.