This article is from page 54 of the 2009-03-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 54 JPG
PLATO MidWest, Supply Network Shannon (SNS), Limerick Insti- tute of Technology (LIT) and the University of Limerick have joined forces to host a seminar for start up entrepreneurs and established SMEs to focus on the supports available to assist them to invest in R&D and in- novation.
The seminar, entitled “Knowl- edge Economy Research, Supports for Third Level and Companies to Facilitate Commercialisation and Collaboration” is to take place at Thomond Park on the April 2 from 2.30pm until 5.00pm.
Plato MidWest is a business sup- port forum for owner managers of SME’s. It is funded by the Enter- prise Boards of Limerick City and County and Clare. Through a unique partnership with large ‘parent’ com- panies, it provides its members with facilitated group learning, specialist expertise and advice and networking opportunities.
Commenting on the forthcoming seminar, Eoin Tynan-O’ Mahony, Re- gional Manager, Plato MidWest said, “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with LIT and SNS to bring this seminar to SMEs in the mid-west region. Both Plato and SNS members believe that there needs to be a greater awareness amongst companies in the SME sector of the supports available and easier access to funding opportunities open to them for R&D and innovation.
“The aim of this seminar is to pro- vide SMEs with the opportunity to see the value of and understand how research and technology transfer in the knowledge economy, can work for them and identify the routes to those supports. The starting point is to know who to contact in the third- level sector, Enterprise Ireland and other agencies and to learn about the success of other small companies in this field.”
Keynote speaker, Dr Siobhan Moane from LIT will provide an overview of Ireland’s drive to en- hance research linkages between enterprise and third-level education. Dr Moane, a native of Caherdavin, has worked as a science lecturer at LIT since 2000 and was recently appointed to the post of head of re- search and technology transfer to further develop links between re- search at LIT and industry.
SNS is an industry led, open, sec- toral network of manufacturing and service providers located in the Shannon region. Its aim is to rep- resent, promote, develop and inter- connect manufacturing and service companies in the region, regardless of size or activity.
Other speakers at the event will include Mr Liam Brown, National Contact Point NMP FP7, Enterprise Ireland (EI), Tom Bannon and Deir- dre Brougham, Enterprise Ireland
For further information and to reg- ister for this event contact Eoin Ty- nan-O’ Mahony, Regional Manager, Plato MidWest, mob: 086 303 5664 or email eoimn@platomidwest.ie. There is no charge for the event.