L-R: Cllr Emmett O’Halloran, Cork City Deputy Lord Mayor; and Professor Anita Maguire, Vice President for Research and Innovation, UCC, presenting a certificate of participation to Padraig O’Sullivan of ParadeRing.ie, at the IGNITE 2012 Programme Awards (Image by Neil Danton Photography).
In partnership with Cork City and County Councils, local city and county enterprise boards and Bank of Ireland, the IGNITE programme has proved to be a hugely beneficial environment for entrepreneurial graduates to launch their own businesses.
Now in its second year, IGNITE provides start-up companies with a nine month business incubation programme and also facilitates professional mentoring and training, as well as access to UCC’s academic, research and commercialisation expertise.
Addressing the attendees, Vice President for Research and Innovation Professor Anita Maguire acknowledged the successes of the current programme and thanked all contributors, mentors and advisers for their invaluable inputs: “In particular, IGNITE benefits from significant linkages with and support from local industry.”
The keynote speaker, Seamus Gilroy, Managing Director, 1Spatial Ireland, an accomplished entrepreneur, congratulated recipients and stressed the importance of having an appropriate environment to foster young entrepreneurs in the current economic climate.
The awards were presented by Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Emmet O’Halloran and Councillor Derry Canty, representing the County Mayor.
Receiving the award on behalf of Portable Medical Technology, Eoin O’Carroll and Kevin Bambury said: “We are honoured to win this IGNITE award. It has proven to be an excellent programme for our start-up company, providing access to an extensive network of mentors and advisors who have helped us develop our business.”
Awards were also presented to:
The ceremony took place in the Western Gateway Building, UCC in the presence of staff, students and members of the business community.
Applications for next year’s programme will open in January 2013. Enquiries can be made to Eamon Curtin, Director, IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme, UCC at: e.curtin@ucc.ie