INSPIRE Launch, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland
Initiating Pathways for Innovators, Researchers and Entrepreneurs (INSPIRE), a part-financed INTERREG IVA project in partnership between Pembrokeshire County Council and IT Carlow, held their Irish launch in IT Carlow on Thursday 6th June 2013. The Pembrokeshire County Council INSPIRE project team and Welsh Steering Committee members also travelled to IT Carlow to attend the event.
The aim of the project is to create an environment to nurture and develop Idea Generation amongst innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and SMEs and to instil the skill sets to bring these ideas to commercialisation and establish viable and sustainable knowledge based enterprises in the South East.
In light of the current economic difficulties, this project will inject a much needed boost into the local economy through the establishment of new enterprises, jobs and assisting existing SMEs with developing new products and services.
Brian Ogilvie, the INSPIRE Project Manager Ireland began proceedings by giving a short overview of the project to date and spoke about the value of an innovation culture within an organisation.
Dr Patricia Mulcahy, President of IT Carlow, formally opened the launch and welcomed the members of the Welsh project team, Steering Committee members and invited guests. In this challenging economic environment she stressed the importance to the region of a programme such as INSPIRE.
Tony Streatfield, the INSPIRE Programme Director from Pembrokeshire County Council, spoke about the importance of innovation to allow businesses to adapt and develop.
The keynote speaker Dr Peter Robbins, former Global Director of Innovation Excellence with GlaxoSmithKlein gave an entertaining and thought-provoking speech on the need for innovation and creativity to be a core tenet of all organisations.
The second group of participants on the INSPIRE programme will commence in September 2013. If you would like to be involved in INSPIRE and explore ways of developing your innovative idea or product and bringing it to fruition please contact Ciara Reynolds, INSPIRE Project Administrator at inspire@itcarlow.ie or call 059 9175224. To find out more go to www.inspireirelandwales.eu.
INSPIRE is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013.
Picture From L to R
Back: Mr Declan Doyle, Head of Development IT Carlow (Steering Committee); Mr Peter Lord, INSPIRE Project Manager Wales; Mr Brian Ogilvie, INSPIRE Project Manager Ireland, Mr Lawrence Holt, Lightwork Ltd (Steering Committee); Mr Brian Fives, Regional Development Officer Enterprise Ireland (Steering Committee)
Front: Ms Siobhán Rudden, Development Officer Ireland Wales Programme; Mr Tony Streatfield, INSPIRE Project Director; Dr Peter Robbins, NUI Maynooth; Mr Paul Lloyd, Chief Executive of Pembroke Business Initiative (Steering Committee), Cllr David Pugh, Cabinet Member Pembrokeshire County Council with responsibility for Regeneration, Economy and Tourism (Steering Committee); Dr Patricia Mulcahy, President IT Carlow.