The award recognises exceptionally high levels of innovation and collaboration between a company, a graduate and an academic as part of InterTradeIreland’s FUSION programme. The companies acknowledged were Novegen Ltd, Dublin; Complete Laboratory Solutions, Galway; Aspira Ltd from Cork, Tyrone Fabrication, Tyrone and Copper Industries from Toombebridge.
Between them, the five FUSION Exemplar companies have reported sales of more than £1.5M and savings of over £65,000 during their FUSION projects, with projected sales of upwards of £5.75M and savings of £466,000, over the next three years.
Copper Industries : Based in Toombebridge, the company manufactures and supplies hot water cylinders, calorifiers and combination units. Through FUSION they employed graduate, Anthony O’Connor and benefitted from the services and support of Dundalk Institute of Technology. The collaboration enabled the design and development of a prototype electrically heated cylinder with a built in control system. This product is now aimed at the domestic market, particularly where Oil Fired Central Heating (OFCH) is not suitable.
Novegen : Dublin based Novegen, deliver solutions and services tailored to the telecom operators in the communications markets in Ireland, the UK and internationally. Through the FUSION Programme, the company has benefitted from the support and services of Southern Regional College and graduate, Aiden Magee. The partnership has enabled the company to develop Socru, a software application for designing and documenting fibre optic networks.
Tyrone Fabrication : Engineering company, Tyrone Fabrication (Ltd), based in Ballygawley employed graduate, Dominic Mullins and benefitted from the services and support of Dundalk Institute of Technology as part of the FUSION programme. The collaboration enabled the development of a range of Hybrid Power Units, aimed at providing a constant power supply to telecoms base stations, especially in remote locations.
Aspira : Enterprise IT and Project Management Company, Aspira, based in Little Island Cork
benefitted from the services and support of Ulster University and graduate, Sami Habtemriam through FUSION. The project focussed on the development of a system for handling medical data. The system now enables the identification, collection, classification, recording, storage and analysis of information relating to the incidence and prevalence of cancer and related tumours in Ireland.
Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) : Through the FUSION Programme, CLS based in Galway, has benefitted from the services and support of Queen’s University Belfast and graduate, Maria Nevin. This collaboration has helped the company to develop a new technological approach to the analysis and forensic interpretation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in soils and water aimed at the environmental industry.
InterTradeIreland’s technology transfer and innovation programme, FUSION, partners companies north and south with a third-level institution and provides them with the specialist expertise of a high calibre graduate, who works directly in the organisation, to deliver a new product or process improvement project.
Speaking at the event, Margaret Hearty, director of programmes and services for InterTradeIreland, said: “These ambitious SMEs are a testament of what can be achieved through enterprise and innovation and North South collaboration. It is important that we recognise their success, which we hope, in turn, will encourage other SMEs to participate in the FUSION Programme, to improve their productivity, increase their revenue potential and to create real jobs for graduates. I am delighted to congratulate all of our Exemplars on their achievements and I wish them every success in the future.”
InterTradeIreland is the cross-border body that supports SMEs with funding, information and advice and helps businesses to identify and develop trade and business opportunities across the island.
For further information on InterTradeIreland and the business supports available, please visit www.intertradeireland.com.
