Irish Businesses Encouraged to Collaborate in Research & Development Funding Opportunities |
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Intel Shannon opens its doors for R&D seminar in association with Shannon Chamber. Shannon Chamber has teamed up with Supply Network Shannon and Enterprise Ireland to deliver a half-day seminar on the practical benefits of accessing and utilising national and EU research and development (R&D) funding for product, process and/or technology development. The seminar, which takes place at Intel Shannon on Wednesday, 23 March from 8.30am to 12.15pm, includes an impressive line-up of national and international contributors. Enterprise Ireland’s Liam Brown, who chairs Supply Network Shannon's R&D group, adds: “R&D, particularly collaborative R&D, is key to Ireland’s future. There are multiple opportunities, both nationally and internationally, to avail of funding for good projects. Businesses gain particular benefits from an association with higher-level research, including access to external expertise and complementary skills, and an ability to zone in on new target technologies. They gain additional in-company competencies, have access to a pool of new talent, can more easily identity innovative Intellectual Property opportunities, plus they can pool resources to participate in larger infrastructural projects, which could not be funded within any single country.” To demonstrate the benefits accruing from R&D funding, Shannon Chamber and Supply Network Shannon have assembled a panel of speakers, including: Professor Umit Bititci, Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde, whose expertise is recognised internationally in the manufacturing management area and who is the coordinator of the FP7 project, FutureSME; Gerry Reynolds, managing director, Takumi Medical, a company that has availed of national R&D funding; and Pat Donoghue, general manager, Eirebloc, which has developed new innovation recycling processes using EU funding. Enterprise Ireland’s Tom Bannon, Research and Innovation and Liam Brown, Framework Programme 7 (FP7) will outline the various funding mechanisms available and the types of projects that can be accommodated. A practical example of FP7 in action will be demonstrated by Willie Cahill, project manager of FutureSME, which is developing a practical and sustainable manufacturing and business model for Small & Medium Enterprises. FutureSME is an €8m project, supported by the EU and driven by industrial companies and networks throughout Europe. The project is developing strategic and operational tools to enable small companies survive and thrive in an uncertain competitive environment. FutureSME has 26 partners across 8 countries. It has 7 partners in Ireland, including Supply Network Shannon. The project will run until the end of 2012. Some of the pilot SME tools developed by the project will be available for demonstration during the seminar. The event is hosted by Intel Shannon, The Shannon organisation, which employs over 200 people, is well recognised within Intel for its innovative approach and high quality cutting edge designs. The embedded Lab facility, which was founded in 2000, provides a single integrated point of focus for Intel activity in embedded market segments in the European region. Participants will be invited to take part in a conducted tour of Intel Labs on site. Booking for this intensely informative seminar is essential as space is strictly limited. Shannon Chamber regrets that company representation may have to be restricted to one person per company. Early booking is therefore advisable. For further information and to reserve a place, contact Shannon Chamber at 061 708341 or email Aine Sheehan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Release issued by: Dympna O'Callaghan, molly d marketing Shannon Chamber - PR T: 061 369898; Mbl: 086 2371508 |
Explaining the rationale for the seminar, Shannon Chamber chief executive Helen Downes says: “Since hosting an EU Innovation Supports conference in May 2010, the Chamber has witnessed an increase in interest in the topic among its membership. The initial seminar focused on the ‘whys and wherefores’ of research funding; this seminar takes this a step further and addresses the sourcing and outcomes of such funding.”
