Matchmaking Made in Software 

Enterprise Ireland & Irish Software Association Join Forces in €600k Scheme to Promote Industry & Academic Collaboration

The Irish Software Association has received funding of €200,000 per year to drive a matchmaking initiative to bring commercial money into the academic software research field in Ireland's universities and institutes of technology.

The project, Irish Software Innovation Network (ISIN), formally launched at an event yesterday morning, was attended by notable Irish software CEO's, Paddy Holohan (Newbay), Cyril McGuire (Trintech), Karl Flannery (Storm Technology) and Philip Sharpe (Danu), along with many researchers from the country's universities.

ISIN will act as a free matchmaking service, essentially to identify, align and connect software companies with world class expertise in 3rd level institutes in the republic of Ireland. ISIN manager, Michael  Martin, said:  "There  is  massive potential to boost innovation, enterprise and employment if we can get our software companies to work more closely  with  research institutes.  The network will be of interest to any business  that  wants to commercialise a specific technology, but which may not have the internal resources needed to conduct the research themselves."

ISIN is projecting that it will bring about 5 successful collaborations in its first year, rising to 27 in 2011 and 80 in 2012. Martin explains that a collaboration could take the form of a €5k Innovation Voucher upto Innovaton Partnerships which could see investment up to €500,000.

Martin told IrishDev.com that whilst working at his former employer, Trintech, they had explored the potential to collaborate with academic researchers, but unable to find the right fit, they eventually developed new technology in house. "This is happening up and down the country, and we believe that by making software developers aware of this option, our service will facilitate those who want to lead the world with their products."

Perhaps the best known example of commercial / academic collaboration is ChangingWorlds which was eventually sold to Amdocs for $60m cash (MORE). Co-founder Professor Barry Smyth (pictured above), who is now into his second start-up Heystaks, was on hand to explain how as a start-up, ChangingWorlds was able to leverage great scientific minds to build world leading technology.

He said, "I believe that the best way of evaluating products is to get them into the market, and this is exactly what we did when we began providing our personalisation technology to the Irish Times. Once we had a pilot site, more followed and we quickly began to learn much more than just working in the lab as people began using the technology globally."  

ChangingWorlds is a part of Ireland’s vibrant indigenous software industry which today comprises over 500 companies, employing  more  than 10,000 people with combined sales of €1.4bn, the vast majority of which is exported. Enterprise  Ireland  prepared  the initiative to resource existing industry groups  that wish to play a role in promoting the importance of innovation, and R&D in the growth of Irish industry.

Gearoid  Mooney,  Director  of  ICT  Research Commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland, the government agency which is funding ISIN over the next 3 years  said; “Enterprise  Ireland  recognises  that  the  Irish Software Association has established  trust  and  shared experiences with their members. We want the ISA  to  build  on  the  strong  relationships they already have with their member  companies to provide independent and experience-based advice on the innovation and R&D options open to software companies in Ireland”.

Commenting on the ISIN, Minister   for   Science,  Technology  &  Innovation  Conor  Lenihan said, “This  initiative  gives the ISA the resources to introduce  their  members  to  innovation  and  R&D. As they speak the same language,  the  ISA  is the best placed to deliver advice and support their member companies as they explore how R&D can transform their businesses”.

ISIN’s web site provides a comprehensive guide to funding, IP licensing, R&D tax credits, case studies, events and a search facility that companies/research   institutes  can  use  to  locate  matching  technology requirements.   

Michael  Martin encouraged software companies to get in touch saying, "If a company  is  interested  in participating, we will meet with you to discuss your  research  requirements.  We  will  then  identify  potential academic partners  and  match  the  appropriate  academic  expertise to support your company."

For more information visit www.isin.ie
 

People reading this article also read....

More ISA News on IrishDev.com

More Enterprise Ireland News on IrishDev.com

More Newbay News and Jobs on IrishDev.com

.

More Heystaks News and Jobs on IrishDev.com

.

See Is Ireland Failing Our Internet Startups Feature Friday Article on IrishDev.com

Get Instant Updates....

Join IrishDev.com on Facebook and Twitter