ISSUE SIXTEEN SUMMER 2015

WHERE RESEARCH & INNOVATION MEETS ENTERPRISE

the linkR E G I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T C E N T R E

I O N A D F O R B A R T H A R É I G I Ú N A C H

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As we move into the holiday period, the Regional Development

Centre reflects on its work over the past year. Recently we

published the results of the socio-economic impact study on

DkIT which highlighted the positive impact that the Institute

and the Regional Development Centre is having in the region.

An important part of the work of the RDC is to pilot new and

innovative programmes to support new and existing enterprises.

In this edition we examine the initial results and impacts of two

such pilot programmes, the VITAL programme and the Honeycomb

programme, as they draw to a conclusion this summer.

We also look at some new pre-incubation initiatives that the RDC

is bringing on stream to support its enterprise and incubation

centre clientele and announce the recent certification of two staff

members in the WKI Methodology, a first for any incubation centre

in the UK or Ireland.

This edition also provides some valuable advice to those starting

out on their entrepreneurial journey and for those more established

organisations that may have a technical challenge that the Institute

could help solve.

The RDC at DkIT is having positive commercial impacts on the

companies it works with and I would encourage organisations to

seek out our support at all stages of its development. This may be

by attending some of the many information events, workshops or

clinics hosted throughout the year or through a deeper relationship

through instruments such as innovation vouchers and research

projects. We are always open for business.

Irene McCausland

External Services Manager, RDC.

We hope you enjoy this edition of The Link. If you have any

comment or suggestions regarding content, or would like to

be included on the mailing list, please e-mail

anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie

Agus am saoire an tsamhraidh ag druidim linn, machnaimis ar

shaothar an Ionaid Forbartha Réigiúnaigh (IFR) ar feadh na bliana

seo a chuaigh thart. Cuireadh torthaí staidéir socheacnamaíochta

ar Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Dhún Dealgan i gcló ar na mallaibh

a thaispeáin feidhm dhearfach na hInstitiúde agus an IFR sa

réigiún. Cuireann an IFR i ngníomh scéimeanna píolótacha úra

agus nuálacha chun tacaíocht a thabhairt d’fhiontair nua agus

d’fhiontair atá ann le fada agus san eagrán seo, amharcaimid

ar thorthaí agus ar thonchar de dhá chlár an IFR - VITAL agus

Honeycomb, agus iad ag críochnú an samhradh seo.

Amharcaimid fosta ar chláir réamhghorlanna atá ag tosú san IFR

chun tacú le cliantacht an Ionaid agus fógraimid chomh maith

beirt den fhoireann IFR atá nuacháilithe sa mhodheolaíocht WKI,

rud nár tharla go dtí seo in Ionad Forbartha ar bith sa Ríocht

Aontaithe nó in Éirinn.

Tugann an eagrán seo comhairle luachmhar dóibh siúd atá

ag tosú ar an aistear fiontraíoch agus do na heagraíochtaí a

gcuideodh an Institiúid leo dá mbeadh dúshlán teicniúil acu.

Tá an IFR san Institiúid ag dul i bhfeidhm go mór ar na

heagraíochtaí a bhfuil muid ag obair leo agus mholfainn an

tacaíocht seo d’eagraíocht ar bith ag gach céim in a aistear

forbartha.

Is féidir seo a dhéanamh tríd na hócáidí eolais, nó ag na

ceardlanna agus na clinicí i rith na bliana, le Dearbháin

Nuálaíochta nó le tionscadail taighde.

Irene McCausland

Bainisteoir Seirbhísí Seachtracha, IFR

Tá muid i gcónai réidh le dul i mbun gnó. Tá súil againn go

mbainfidh tú sult as eagrán seo The Link. Má tá tuarimí nó

moltaí agat maidir le hábhar, nó más mian leat bheith ar an liosta

postála, cuir r-phost le do thoil chuig anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie

Réamhrá / Foreword

Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co LouthT +353 42 9370400 F +353 42 9370499W www.rdc.ie E info@rdc.ie

Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate, but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not accept responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found to be misleading.

Edited by Garrett Duffy

E garrett.duffy@dkit.ie

T + 353 42 9370400

3ENTERPRISE

Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee.

Muhammad Ali summed up his boxing prowess with, what has now become a well-known phrase, “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”. It captured how he could glide around the boxing ring yet unleash a mighty punch when required. This phrase has stuck with me, and for many years it is something I purposefully remember every time a prospective entrepreneur walks into the office or sends in a programme application form. For me it forms a sort of yardstick that I always run over an application – will this business idea float, and does the promoter have a sting in the tail?

This yardstick is particularly useful during the phase 1 stage of the New Frontiers Programme. Often nobody knows,

neither the promoter nor programme management, whether an idea will float and the purpose of this first phase is to help determine whether it could. Is there a market? Will people buy? Can I sell to them? Can I make money? How much will it take to get something to a point where it can be sold? All these questions and a lot more must be answered during this first phase.

But that is only half of the equation; the second element is, is there a sting? Is the promoter determined to succeed? Does he or she have the necessary drive and commitment to make it happen? Does the promoter show real ambition? Phase 1 helps the entrepreneur answer those questions. Most know the answers already. Others need the experience and

focus of phase 1 to discover the answers themselves.

But be under no illusion, to succeed in business and to progress onto phase 2 of the New Frontiers Programme you will need to learn how to float and sting.

Garrett Duffy Enterprise Development ManagerDundalk Institute of Technology

The next Phase 1 will start in October 2015 and the application deadline is the 30th September. For an application form or further details of the programme please contact garrett.duffy@dkit.ie

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What a difference Pre-Incubation makes While definitions of the business incubator vary they do agree on what basic offerings are required to support early stage founders and businesses. But is it OK to be content with ‘basic’? The RDC’s Incubation Centre Manager, Aidan Browne believes not.

Providing basic services is not something we should aspire to. The road to becoming a leading business incubator is more complex and demands providing value add services to prospective clients before they are ready for full incubation supports

This perspective lead to the development of the RDC’s pre-incubation support programme.

According to the definitions, ‘pre-incubation’ relates to the overall activities needed to support potential entrepreneurs in developing business ideas, business models and business plans, to boost the chances of effective start-up creation. Pre-incubation is a relatively new innovation and one that many traditional incubators fail to provide to their clientele. Pre-incubation requires appropriate knowledge and skills and an effective framework for the assessment of the business idea. Providing this type of support for embryonic businesses during the formative planning stage is the key characteristic of a business-related pre-incubator.

“Following research into best practice from other pre-incubators, the Regional Development Centre recently reconfigured its client offerings and invested in a number of pre-incubation supports” continues Browne, “this culminated in the RDC being certified in March of this year in the WKI So What? Who cares? Why you?®Pre-incubation methodology”. The RDC is now the first business support organisation in the UK

and Ireland to receive this certification.Based on the popular methodology used by innovators and entrepreneurs in more than 17 countries, the WKI program uses a structured process, visual toolsets and a hands-on coach approach to help entrepreneurs discover and communicate the business value of their ideas. Utilisation of the WKI Program through one-to-one and group based support programmes is helping the RDC continue to achieve significant results unlocking the potential in would-be entrepreneurs and helping them test their concept.

Notably the European Space Agency has recognised how valuable WKI’s So what? Who cares? Why you?® methodology is and have adopted it to evaluate funding and business proposals it receives. Organizations and innovators from across Europe enter into dialogue with ESA by first completing the online toolkit using the So What? Who cares? Why you? methodology. This allows ESA technical officers to clearly understand the value proposition for the new idea and quickly engage with innovators in meaningful conversations about the commercial potential.

Using the WKI tools entrepreneurs are coached to gather together the knowledge and skills to scope and to implement what is required to take their new product or service to market successfully.

WKI tools: • inspire conversations and new

thinking about business value• prepare founders to speak the

“language of business”• explore different paths to bring new

ideas to commercial success• shape the value proposition at the

early stages – before investing time and money

Browne continues “Pre-incubation represents a new way to engage with entrepreneurs at the early ideation stage of their development. At this early stage, entrepreneurs are open to exploring the potential of their ideas and because it is the early stages anything is possible.”

It should also inspire collaboration between entrepreneurs and in this case it has been found that utilising an interactive coach approach as opposed to mere training classes can maximise that collaboration.

We’ve found that entrepreneurs are motivated to help one another using the common platform of the visual tools provided by the WKI methodology

The term ‘value-added’ when applied to incubation refers to the ways in which incubation programmes support, promote and empower businesses to survive and grow. Pre-incubation is an essential phase of that journey. With many pseudo start-up supports in the mix, the RDC has positioned itself in the start-up ecosystem as the go-to support organisation and a major enabler for knowledge based entrepreneurs in the North East. The adopted ‘coach approach’ engages innovators to use the tools collaboratively and feeds a powerful dynamic for challenging conversations, honest feedback and discovery.

Pre-incubation is the starting point in the development for any new business and it is vital that an entrepreneur receives one-to-one support. In reaching out and embracing new ideas the client centric incubator that is the RDC demonstrates yet again incubation is not just about providing space.

For more on pre-incubation or the WKI Methodology, or to discuss testing your ideas and business skills in a supported environment contact:

Aidan BrowneIncubation Centre ManagerRegional Development Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology& Millmount Development Centre, DroghedaIreland t +353 42 9370455m +353 87 9908309e aidan.browne@dkit.ie

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The RDC became the first centre in either the UK or Ireland to achieve WKI So What? Who Cares? Why You? Certification in March this year joining a growing list of centres across North America and Europe. Two staff members, Aidan Browne Incubation Centre Manager and Garrett Duffy Enterprise Development Manager also became certified coaches in the methodology which was developed by entrepreneurial professor Wendy Kennedy from Canada. WKI has been used by start-ups and established companies to identify the value in their business idea and also by agencies, such as the ESA, to evaluate proposals.

Within two months of achieving this landmark certification their first clients to have been brought through the process, Fluid Language Assessment, successfully raised €15,000 to support the development of their software solution. Unlike some other methodologies, So What? Who Cares? Why You? Adopts a coach approach to assist founders to discover and communicate the business value of their idea for a new product or service. It provides a framework to explore from many angles and forces the promoter to make critical decisions early on in the process about the value of their idea, if any.

WKI Certification for the RDC – a first in UK and Ireland

Founders who are coachable benefit the most. By the time they finish they are really clear about the business opportunity for the idea and have polished their ability to communicate that opportunity to investors, customers, suppliers or support organisations. It is anticipated that they can then take full advantage of other programmes such as Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme that goes deep into business planning or any other business modelling programme.

Speaking about their experiences of having gone through the coach approach Aideen McDermott, Co-Founder of Fluid Language Assessment said,

We were all quite emphatic that WKI was very beneficial and such a great learning experience. We now have a significantly better vision of the product, our customers and the business.

Since certification Browne and Duffy developed the Ideas Foundry Programme which is based on both the WKI methodology and the coach approach and brought their first group of participants, DkIT student entrepreneurs and non-students, through an intensive 4 weeks in June. They plan to run the Ideas Foundry programme in a number of different formats again over the coming months allowing entrepreneurs to join at various stages rather than having to follow a strict order. Another benefit of the coach approach the WKI promotes.

For further information please contact

aidan.browne@dkit.ie or garrett.duffy@dkit.ie

Aideen McDermott Co-Founder Fluid Language Assessment

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VITAL hosted a gala dissemination event in June this year to showcase the activities of the 2 year project ahead of its wind down at the end of the month. The event was hosted by Conall Ó Móráin from Today FM’s Sunday Business Show.

The €2.56m VITAL initiative was funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme is a partnership between Dublin City University, Queens University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology and the dissemination event highlighted the activities of the project in terms of the ideas identified, the number of strong innovations and technology business cases which have been assessed by the VITAL team and the technology and commercial teams contracted by VITAL. Most importantly, the event showcased a number of the matches that have been created between technology owners and SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Kieran Fegan, Director of the VITAL project based in Dundalk Institute of Technology, commented “the dissemination event provided an opportunity to celebrate the work

Ideas Bank: Vital Project Gala Dissemination Event

and achievements of the project and for other agencies to learn from this unique pilot initiative as a model and see how it can deliver seismic economic development impacts”

The VITAL initiative was launched in October 2013 and in the 20 months or so since has built up a sizeable database of 420 ideas and technologies. Each idea was screened and those with commercial prospects were worked up into business cases. Through that work 189 ideas progressed to further evaluation and business case.

At the time of writing VITAL is on course to exceed its target of 30 matches through technology transfer and licensing. Obviously there are commercial sensitivities around quite a number of the matches given that most are still in development and pre-launch.

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» Conall ó Móráin, event MC.

Conall Ó Móráin introduced speakers from the project team and from some of the projects who provided an insight into the journey they undertook through the VITAL project and provided insights into their vision going forward.

Dermot Short, MD of new company, EazyICE Ltd, a speaker at the event, commented,

Initially when I registered with VITAL, I told the project manager that I was looking for a new business opportunity. VITAL and I discussed a few potential business ideas and one which caught my interest was a very innovative product for the fishing industry. A meeting was arranged with the inventor and it has all taken off from there

Shortt has now set up a new company and with further assistance from VITAL has carryed out a feasibility study and market research and is now preparing ambitious plans to commercialise the technology. Shortt is currently seeking assistance from VITAL for prototyping through its priming capital fund. VITAL facilitated the matching process and then provide assistance with fast-tracking the product idea or technology to market.

To see other opportunities assessed through VITAL please go to www.vitalforideas.com/business-opportunities or email vital@dkit.ie

Some of the matches created by the VITAL programme are listed as follows:

• Off Grid, non mechanical standalone biomass burner/boiler and patio heater technology to a Tyrone based manufacturing company

• Novel marine and industrial ice technology to a Louth based start up company

• Portable innovative nappy changing station product to a Down based baby products company

• Revolutionary new high efficiency power generation technology to a Louth based start up company

• Insulated electrical socket new and retrofit solution to a Down based manufacturing company

• Slurry storage spill safety device technology to an Armagh based Manufacturing company

• A patented rope grip tie device designed with ease of tightening in mind to a Louth based engineering design company

• An innovative smart design water life saving device to an Antrim based start up company

• A super efficient bicycle pedal technology to a Down based manufacturing company

• An innovative data analytics technology solution with application in the poultry industry to a Cavan based manufacturing company

• Electric Retro e-Roadster Sportscar to a Louth based manufacturing company

• Vital signs monitoring technology for infants to a Down based company

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Honeycomb – Creative Works has been creating a real buzz over the past two years by supporting digital content creators across the border counties of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the west of Scotland.

It’s been an extremely exciting and busy time for the programme team and we’ve been making a real difference to digital businesses large and not so large!

However, like all good things, Honeycomb must come to an end. However to celebrate what we have achieved, the Honeycomb partners came together recently at Dundalk Institute of Technology for the Honeycomb Expo.

The Expo was a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the successes from Honeycomb. 400 companies and freelancers involved in digital content, along with creative media students and lecturers from north and south of the border came through the doors to see what we’ve been up to and to hear first-hand what our great big digital hive has achieved.

Industry leaders such as BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, Sony Playstation’s Anita Stokes and Henry Bull from Oscar Winning Visual Effects company Double Negative mingled with the current and the next generation of filmmakers, game developers, musicians, animators and interactive media professionals.

A mix of panel discussions, workshops, meet the industry speed networking sessions, keynotes and screenings enabled delegates to get a real feel for the variety of activities Honeycomb has been involved in over the past two years. There was even a demonstration session on filming with drones facilitated by Honeypot winner Jim Kerr from SkyTask.

The Expo also saw the launch of the Creative Me website developed by Honeycomb to help school students to find out more about working in the creative industries. The site contains

the CreativeMe Creative Careers Game, designed to let players experience some of the real world job opportunities available in the Creative Industries and to experience first-hand some of the challenges of a career in TV Production.

GREAT PANEL THIS MORNING AT #HCEXPO IN DKIT. THANKS FOR JOINING US SMALLTOWNAMERICA AND RAMSPOCKET RADIO

@GENERATOR NI

#HCEXPO GAME ON TALK – FEELING EXCITED. @RAYCCON

There is also a series of interviews with some of the industry leaders who took part in Honeycomb, such as renowned cinematographer Philip Bloom and illustrator Oliver Jeffers who talk about their work and what it takes to succeed. Why not try out one of the games or view the interviews at www.creativeme.com

HEARING ABOUT @SONORPLEX AT #HCEXPO. BRILLANT FOR A FULL DAY OF TALKS.

TROLL INC

Honeycomb – Creative Works

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Honeycomb Successes Over the past two years, Honeycomb has been supporting digital content companies with a mix of research reports, networking and business events, skills courses and the Honeypot seed fund. Here are just some of the successes of the programme:

19

RESEARCH REPORTS PRODUCED

2500

REGISTERED WEBSITE USERS

IN CONTRACT WORK SECURED THROUGH TENDER SUPPORT

£350,000

NETWORKING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT EVENTS HELD120

an average of one every 3 days

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS AND EXPOS ATTENDED 8

- 16 Pre-proof of concept awards through the Cog Award

- 15 Proof of concept awards through the Create Award

- 6 Trans-disciplinary awards through the Captivate Award

1800

PARTICIPANTS ON SKILLS COURSES

50

ELEARNING COURSES DEVELOPED

40

CPD COURSES DELIVERED TO 650 PARTICIPANTS

5 POSTGRADUATE MODULES DEVELOPED

IN SEED FUNDING AWARDED THROUGH THE HONEYPOT

£235,000#HCEXPO WAS A REAL EYE OPENER TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRE-SENTATION FROM HENRY BULL

@RYANHOLLINGER

Honeycomb – Creative Buzz Award In September 2014, the top 20 Creative Media graduates from across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland came together for a week-long boot camp to help participants to further develop their creative potential and find the best avenues for their talent. The Boot camp culminated in a pitching competition judged by industry experts and the overall winner was Ashling Grufferty, graduate of DkIT in Music and Audio Production.

Honeycomb Research ReportsA total of 19 reports have been produced by the Honeycomb Intelligence Gathering Team, ranging from sectoral development reports to foresight reports looking at the future of the digital content sector. To view the reports, please go to www.thehoneycomb.net/research

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On the 15th May 2015 DkIT signed a Licence agreement with Celtic Medtech Limited granting the company exclusive rights to exploit the Intellectual Property arising from the EI Commercialization Funded programme called ‘MediSPICE’. This progamme is one of the research programmes emanating from the Regulated Software Research Centre (RSRC) at Dundalk Institute of Technology led by Dr. Fergal McCaffery.

Celtic MedTech is a spin-out company co-founded by Dr Marion Lepmets (CEO), Dr Fergal McCaffrey, Dr Paul Clarke, Dr Peter Donnelly and Mr. Alec Dorling, all of whom have been involved in the MediSPICE programme over the last 6 years. The product developed is known as MDevSPICE® and is an internationally-recognised framework for medical device software process assessment. Through this product Celtic Medtech offers a robust solution for determining the capability level of medical device software development processes and facilitates software suppliers, to the medical device and healthcare industries, to strive for industry best practice and navigate the often complex standards /regulations required by centralising all of the software centric knowledge in a single one-stop-shop. MDevSPICE® also incorporates significant additional best practice as set forth by the FDA and related international standards.

Dundalk Institute of Technology licences Spin-out Company

Celtic Medtech Ltd. has taken up residence in the Regional Development Centre and initially will focus on the training and certification of Software Process Assessors in Europe the promotion of the MDevSPICE® brand at appropriate conferences.

Further information www.mdevspice.com/

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» L-R DkIT President Mr Denis Cumins, Neil McLoughlin, Technology Transfer Manager, DkIT, Dr Fergal McCafferty, Dr Paul Clarke and Dr Marion Lempets, CEO Celtic MedTech.

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How to view Innovation VouchersThe Innovation Voucher scheme is run by both Enterprise Ireland and InvestNI and through agreement either vouchers may be redeemed at any Institute within the 32 counties of Ireland.

The voucher is to the value of €5,000 and is available to assist a company to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. A company may obtain 2 standard vouchers and may seek a 3rd voucher if they contribute a further €5,000 to the project – this 3rd voucher is called a 50:50 Voucher. Rather than view a voucher project as a standalone project some companies take a strategic view of their needs and will dove-tail several voucher projects to achieve their ultimate aim. In this manner a company can potentially obtain €15,000 funding for an overall project cost of €20,000. This approach requires a company to plan a continuum of developments which combine to achieve a strategic output.

In the roller-coaster that is running a business it can be hard to take the time out to take a strategic view of one’s development needs. The Technology Transfer office in an institution can assist in scoping out the strategic output and in conjunction with the academic staff help to articulate the individual ‘stepping-stone’ developments, i.e. the individual voucher projects, which will support the desired output. It should be noted that seeking assistance from the TTO does not commit your project to that institution and a company should ensure that it is satisfied with the agreed work programme before committing to any institution.

The next call for Innovation vouchers application with Enterprise Ireland is Sept 9 – 23rd and for InvestNI please visit their website. – www.investNI.com . There are terms and conditions which apply and a company should review these prior to submitting an application. The company is required to pay the VAT on the voucher.

If you would like more information on Innovation vouchers please see the Enterprise Ireland or InvetNI websites or contact Neil McLoughlin Technology Transfer Manager at DkITneil.mcloughlin@dkit.ie

2015 New Frontiers Programme

The 2015 New Frontiers Programme phase 2 launched early in June with participants undergoing a challenging few days of business training and personal development. The theme of the launch was scaling new heights and culminated with participants climbing a 50-foot pole as a team signifying that building a business is not an individual pursuit and that success comes from reaching out and accepting support along the journey.

This is the fourth NFP delivered by DkIT in collaboration with DCU which has supported over 140 entrepreneurs to date. Phase 2 focuses on helping participants develop investable business plans and strategies and over the past four years 51 participants from the following sectors: software development, food and beverages, digital media, product development, sports technology and energy solutions were selected for this 6 months of comprehensive support.

For further information on the programme or to apply please contact garrett.duffy@dkit.ie

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RDC Client, Alan Clarke of StatSports has been nominated as a finalist in the 2015 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for the International category along with Frank Madden of Crest Solutions; Graham Stubbs of Diona; Denise Tormey of PlanNet21 and Sean O’Sullivan of SOSVentures.

As part of EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme, the 24 finalists will join 100 entrepreneurs for a week-long CEO Retreat to Berlin and Munich in June. Focused on the future of industry, the CEO Retreat will include executive education with the European School of Management and Technology and site visits to companies including BMW.

The shortlisted entrepreneurs will vie for the title of EY Entrepreneur of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dublin in October. The overall winner will go on to represent Ireland at World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monaco in June 2016.

Alan Clarke Finalist in EY Entrepreneurof the Year

Mcor Technologies 10 years of InnovationThe RDC would like to offer its congratulations to Conor, Fintan and Deirdre MacCormack and all the staff of Mcor Technologies as they celebrate their landmark first 10 years in business