New Software Development Company to Join IQ360 in Newry

Softedge Systems to create a Centre of Excellence in Greenshoots
Irish software developer Softedge Systems has established a centre of excellence in the Greenshoots Incubation Centre in Newry in what amounts to a £700,000 investment.
Softedge’s Newry centre is using Microsoft technology to develop state of the art software products which enable streaming of high quality video, animation and interactive features online.
Invest NI has offered £140,000 towards the project. This includes £85,000, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, to support skills development activities.
Announcing the investment, Invest NI’s Managing Director of Business International, Jeremy Fitch, said: “Northern Ireland has a deep pool of graduate ICT talent and offers a competitive, high value option for international companies seeking to establish a software development centre in a near-market location.
“The decision by Softedge Systems to locate in Newry is testament to these qualities and will add to Northern Ireland’s already strong capability in the sector. The company’s centre of excellence will be at the leading edge of software development and will play a major role in helping Softedge deliver innovative solutions for its clients.”
Mr Fitch added: “Creating 15 new ICT posts that will generate total annual salaries of over £450,000 by 2012, the investment is indicative of Invest NI’s commitment to securing high value investment opportunities. Softedge will deliver salaries well above the Northern Ireland private sector median whilst the advanced nature of the work carried out in the Newry centre will further strengthen our local knowledge base.”
Vikas Sahni, CEO of Softedge Systems (NI) Ltd, said: “The centre of excellence in Northern Ireland is an integral part of the company’s overall growth plans. The availability of a talented workforce and the valuable support of Invest NI were major factors in the decision to invest here.
“By recruiting a mix of experienced and graduate software specialists and further developing their skills, we are putting in place a blend of talent that will underpin our capability in both service delivery and research well into the future.
“The Newry centre is focusing initially on developing software solutions using Microsoft’s innovative Silverlight technology. More and more organisations are incorporating the unique system into their websites and we believe the Greenshoots based Newry centre will strongly position us to take advantage of this demand.”

A New Take on Incubators

Today's incubators provide cutting-edge support for your startup
By Dennis Romero
Business incubators--organizations that help entrepreneurs get off the ground through mentoring, funding and facilities--have been around since the 1950s. At the turn of the millennium, for-profit incubators were a hot commodity until they deflated with the dotcom bubble. But this year, despite a down economy, the luster is returning to incubation. President Obama has pledged $250 million a year in federal funds to seed a regional network of such organizations--an effort aimed at growing jobs and innovation. So people are talking about incubators again.“This is the first time in the U.S. that a new administration has made this kind of commitment to innovation, entrepreneurs and technology,” says Dinah Adkins, president and CEO of the National Business Incubation Association. “This is the first time we’ve had a presidential administration that wants to invest in this.”
read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/may/201228.html

FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

THERE has been a widespread welcome for the launch of a specific €300m lending fund for small and medium-sized firms by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The fund will be distributed through a number of the commercial banks and is available at rates below current lending rates to business.

Also Invest Northern Ireland yesterday announced that a new suite of initiatives to support start-up and early stage businesses in Northern Ireland will be open for applications from 1 May. The support includes a £5 million venture fund element to focus on seed and early stage businesses, typically investing from £50,000 to £250,000. A £3 million proof of concept fund will provide funding to very early, non-university projects.

IQ360's Novation Enterprise Platform Programme 2009 Support for Start ups - Open for Applications

The Novation EPP is the Country's Leading Enterprise Development Programme for those setting up or developing a technology business.
Based in the Regional Development Centre in DkIT the programme offers a comprehensive range of supports for entrepreneurs starting Knowledge Based, ICT, Renewable Energy and High Tech businesses.
Applications are now open for the ninth programme starting in September 09. Visit http://www.rdc.ie/cms/publish/article_64.shtml for more information and to apply on-line.
Or send me a message if you have any questions
Thanks
Joanne

Are you thinking about starting an innovative technology focused business or re-locating your existing business?

Perhaps you are fed up with commuting long distances to and from work each day?

Would you like to locate your business in a particularly beautiful and accessible part of Ireland midway along the economic corridor between Belfast and Dublin?

IQ360 enterprise supports can accelerate the success of your business - explore and enjoy the IQ360 website, http://www.iq360.eu and contact us in Newry or Dundalk for more information.

Anyone Interested in setting up a knowledge based business?

Hi, my name is Joanne and I am the Project Co-Ordinator of new initiative called the IQ360 Programme. This programme aims to attract graduate expatriates, ‘would be’ entrepreneurs and daily commuters from Counties South Down, Armagh and Louth with innovative ‘knowledge’ based businesses or ideas in sectors such as Creative Media, Engineering, ICT, Renewable Energy, Software and Assistive Living.

Check out the website http://www.iq360.eu for more information on the support services available or you can send me a message if you have any questions.

Thanks