Docklands Innovation Park Enterprise Awards
A key focus of Enterprise Irelands strategy is to help and support the development of a seed bed of new vibrant indigenous enterprises built on successfully harnessing the creativity and innovation of home grown entrepreneurs. Developing knowledge intensive industries and innovative products are critical to Ireland's future as we strive to build export sales
The Dublin Institute of Technology’s Hothouse Programme is an excellent example of the various State Agencies and Government departments working together to foster and help entrepreneurs working in a campus environment to research, develop and refine their ideas and bring them to market.
Hothouse has a long track record in providing a pipeline of new indigenous enterprises to Enterprise Ireland. Last year circa. 18% of EI's pipeline of High Potential Start UP companies originated from a campus environment.
The approach of achieving the aims of the programme is a dual one, comprising the provision of formal education and training in Enterprise/Product Development on the one hand, strongly reinforced by enterprise /specific advice and counselling through a network of industry/business mentors on the other.
The Docklands Innovation Park Enterprise Awards are designed to showcase innovative young technology businesses to the investment community. The Awards are organised by the Bolton Trust, who support indigenous industry through their work here in Docklands Innovation Park and PDC, who champion innovative entrepreneurial support through their Hothouse programme.
In 2005 Enterprise Ireland approved €2m towards supporting Enterprise Platform Programme participants throughout the various regions.
E I Overseas offices identifies people in the Ex-Pat community who may be examining the possibility of a business start up and encourages them to return to Ireland to pursue their ideas.
In 2005 Enterprise Ireland supported a total of 75 new start-up companies - the highest number in any year to date. Total financial assistance approved to these projects was in excess of €17m which should result in the creation of 1460 new jobs and €183m in additional exports over the next two years. Twelve of these new high growth companies were started by people that had participated in Enterprise Platform Programmes such as the Hothouse Programme.
All of this evening’s candidates are participants on the Hothouse programme and previous winners of the competition have gone on to achieve even greater success. Indeed Sigmoid Biotechnologies scooped first prize in the 2005 All-Island Seedcorn Competition.