Monday 17 October 2016

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An opportunity for developing businesses in the engineering, ICT and software and biosciences sectors has opened at Institute of Technology Carlow with the formal opening of the new Design+ gateway. Based at Institute of Technology Carlow’s Dargan Centre, the gateway aims to give companies based in the southeast, midlands and beyond an opportunity to develop their business through innovative collaborative research and development while networking with industry across the regions. Design+ forms part of a 15-strong Enterprise Ireland funded technology gateway network across the country. The gateways are located in 11 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) with a proven record in working with Irish industry. The network leverages the industry focused expertise within IoTs, acting as open access points to deliver near-to-market solutions for Irish industry. Since their inception in 2013, the gateways have delivered more than 1,500 projects to industry with a value of over €15 million. The Design+ Gateway at Institute of Technology Carlow is led by Ailish Delaney, a business development graduate with over ten years’ experience in enterprise support and mentoring. Design+ is receiving almost €250,000 over a two-year period from Enterprise Ireland, by which time it anticipates it will have supported 55 companies. Businesses assisted to date include Magnetar Medical Devices, providers of an electrical drug delivery patch, Hamstring Solo, a fitness and testing apparatus for professional sports teams and The Wholesome Irish Biltong Company, providers of high protein health snacks. Speaking at the launch, Dr Patricia Mulcahy, president of Institute of Technology Carlow, said the new gateway “reflects the Institute’s pedigree and expertise in design and represents a milestone in delivering near-to-market innovative solutions to companies in the engineering, ICT and software and bioscience sectors throughout the southeast and further afield. It will be an engine of growth for the region and provide further job opportunities for graduates”. The launch event was also attended by the other technology gateways, including Applied Polymer Technologies (APT, Athlone), Engineering Material Technologies (SEAM, Waterford), Coating Innovations (CREST, Waterford) and Precision Engineering and Manufacturing (PEM, Sligo).