en srudden@irelandwales2.ie Copyright 2012 2012-01-16T13:25:17+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/got_an_idea_inventorium_events_are_for_you http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/got_an_idea_inventorium_events_are_for_you#When:15:39:42Z The coming months are ripe for opportunities for Irish and Welsh entrepreneurs as the Inventorium project hosts five creative and networking events across South East Ireland and North Wales.  Funded by the Ireland Wales Programme, Inventorium works with start-ups, existing businesses, social enterprises, institutions and individuals who want to turn innovative ideas into profitable ones. Based in Bangor (Wales) and Dublin (Ireland), the Inventorium team offers resources and advice, host events, networking, and joint working opportunities across many sectors, communities and disciplines.  Inventorium has a key focus is on digital and intermedia innovation. Inventorium has a mission to help reduce the risks for people and organisations with great ideas. Opportunities to watch out for… Wales 7 February, 2012 Creative Technologies within the Welsh Environment, Coleg Harlech Ireland 28 February, 2012 Open Mic Idea Jam, Langtons Pub, Kilkenny Ireland 6 March, 2012 Open Mic Idea Jam, The Kazbar, Waterford Wales 27 March, 2012 Digital Culture Workshop, Galeri Caernarfon Wales 17 April, 2012 Open Mic Night, Fat Cat, Bangor Click here for further information on Inventorium 2012-01-26T15:39:42+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/2.6m_for_science_careers_in_ireland_and_wales http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/2.6m_for_science_careers_in_ireland_and_wales#When:17:07:45Z Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) & Bangor University launched a €2.6 million project to help develop and sustain jobs in the life sciences industries in Waterford last December.  Funded by the Ireland Wales Programme, the “Wales Ireland Network for Scientific Skills” (WINSS) is a four year project which will see over 200 people from Ireland and Wales participating in workshops, seminars and advanced scientific research programmes and 120 receiving certified qualifications ranging from special purpose to PhD level awards. WIT’s Dr. Peter McLoughlin, Principal Investigator at the PMBRC, leads the 30-strong WINSS team (11 new members funded by the project) who will design and deliver scientific and generic training programmes across the two regions.  He said: “WINSS aims to address this demand and provide professionals with transferable skills and ‘real world’ experience essential to the job market.  Access to a strong research base and highly skilled professionals is a key consideration for companies from indigenous SMEs to multinationals. It is pivotal to securing current R&D activities as well as stimulating future regional growth and attracting new investment to the region,” he said. The project has four main aims: generate cross-border economic activity by creating a strong applied research base in the human and animal health sectors; establish a training network that will address skills gaps and increase the number of highly skilled professionals with expertise in new and emerging technologies; provide a re-training opportunity for those affected by the economic downturn; establish the “Wales Ireland Network for Scientific Skills” to bring together industry and academia to discuss challenges, promote skills and training and encourage the exchange of ideas and communication between stakeholders. For further information visit the WINSS project website. 2012-01-17T17:07:45+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/new_funding_calls_open_interreg_4b http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/new_funding_calls_open_interreg_4b#When:13:25:17Z The Northern Periphery Programme (Interreg 4B) has launched two calls for proposals.  The ninth call and a strategic project call were launched for main project proposals.  The deadline for both is 2nd May 1012. The Northern Periphery Programme is looking to fund one additional strategic project and possibly up to three main projects. It is expected that all remaining funding will be allocated during the calls announced. Applicants are instructed to carefully read the announcement of the relevant call for details on the focus of the call, available funding and upcoming project development support activities. For more information and the respective application packs, please see notice on the Northern Periphery Programme website. 2012-01-16T13:25:17+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/ireland_wales_programme_funding_update http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/ireland_wales_programme_funding_update#When:09:33:50Z 16/01/12 The Ireland Wales Programme has now committed 99% of its available funding (originally €52m). A small balance of €600,000approx. remains across the Programme, the breakdown of which is €100,000 under Priority 1 and €500,000 under Priority 2.  The Programme’s Managing Authority is currently preparing appropriate options for the allocation of this small balance which will be proposed to the Programme Monitoring Committee for approval. Further information will be publicly available in late February. 2012-01-15T09:33:50+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/mcommunity_app_launched_to_smes http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/mcommunity_app_launched_to_smes#When:12:36:37Z Representatives from Welsh small business were present to support the launch of the mCommunity smart phone application at Liberty Stadium in December.  A cross-border partnership between Pembrokeshire College, Gower College Swansea in Wales and Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland, the mCommunity project focuses on using mobile technology to positively engage two target groups, learners and businesses.  The project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Ireland Wales Programme. The project aims to work with small businesses to pilot how technology can improve their business effectiveness.  mCommunity has also engaged adults not in employment, education or training by using mobile technology to help establish positive social networks.  The project will pilot the delivery of learning, skills and qualifications to improve employment and educational opportunities through mobile technology. Small businesses are benefitting from the development of the mCommunity app, which is has been developed by the Telecommunications Software and Systems Group (TSSG) at Waterford Institute of Technology.  It is currently loaded on to Samsung, Google and Motorola android devices. The event was an opportunity for all project partners, beneficiaries and contributors to discuss developments and share their experiences and ideas for future developments. For more information: Twitter: @mCommunityPro Facebook: mCommunity Web: www.mcommunity.org.uk/ Email: info@mcommunity.org.uk 2012-01-10T12:36:37+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/8_projects_approved_for_ireland_wales_funding http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/8_projects_approved_for_ireland_wales_funding#When:15:27:42Z We are pleased to announce that 8 new projects have been approved for funding by the Programme Steering Group meeting, which took place in Dublin on 24th November 2011.  The Secretariat received 17 project applications in May in response to the fifth call for proposals.  The Committee welcomed the overall quality of the applications.  All applications were made under the Programme’s Priority 1, Knowledge, Innovation and Skills for Growth.  Approximately €8.1m was available to the applicants, with just under €8m committed to the approved projects by the Committee. The Secretariat would like to welcome the new projects to the Programme.  Further information on the new projects will be made available once contractual agreements have been put in place in early 2012. Funding is almost fully committed with 99% of Programme funds now allocated to 41 joint projects. No further calls are anticipated before the end of the funding period in 2013. 2011-12-19T15:27:42+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/the_atlantic_area_programme_interreg_4b_annual_conference http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/the_atlantic_area_programme_interreg_4b_annual_conference#When:10:45:28Z ‘The Marine Economy’ – a key component of the EU Integrated Strategy for the Atlantic Area Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co. Dublin Tuesday, 7th February 2012 No Conference Fee Keynote speakers: Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., Irish Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food Mr. Bernhard Friess, Director Atlantic Regions, DG MARE, European Commission Other speakers will include representatives from the Atlantic Area Programme Managing Authority, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the Irish Marine Institute and a selection of Atlantic Area approved marine projects. Contact:   Michael O’ Brien BMW Regional Assembly The Square                             Ballaghaderreen                         Co. Roscommon     Ireland               E: mobrien@bmwassembly.ie T: + 353 94 9862970 F: + 353 94 9862973 Click here for the event agenda The Atlantic Area Programme is one of the transnational (Interreg 4B) co-operation programme in the framework of the European Territorial Co-operation objective.  It covers all of Ireland and the Atlantic regions of Spain, France, Portugal and the UK (including Wales).  Click here for further details on the Atlantic Area Programme. 2011-12-18T10:45:28+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/ecojel_in_the_spotlight_open_days_2011 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/ecojel_in_the_spotlight_open_days_2011#When:15:05:23Z The Ecojel project was showcased to over 6,000 representatives from over 200 EU regions at this year’s Open Days event in Brussels on 12th October.  Dr. Tom Doyle of University College Cork, Ireland presented the research which is being jointly carried out with Swansea University, Wales.  Ecojel was selected by the European Commission to represent Ireland and Wales as an example of best practice in EU-funded projects in the area of innovation. The Ecojel cross-border team have been researching the secret lives of jellyfish in the Irish Sea to assess their opportunities and detrimental impacts.  “We need to understand the socio-economic impact of jellyfish and as part of this, we have been tagging them to track their movements,” said Dr. Tom Doyle. Ecojel is a four year project funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013. EcoJel is collaboration between Swansea University (Wales) and University College Cork (Ireland) and aims to assess the opportunities and detrimental impacts of jellyfish in the Irish Sea. Visit the jellyfish website for further information on Ecojel. 2011-10-19T15:05:23+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/creativity_in_action_conference_201 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/creativity_in_action_conference_201#When:15:54:34Z Location: Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Ireland Dates: 2nd & 3rd November 2011 The overall aim of the Creativity in Action Conference, collaboration between the CIME project and the nc4c is to promote investment in creativity and demonstrate the value and use of creative thinking to stimulate economy/growth/links in general environments of business and society. The purpose is to facilitate co-operation and cross fertilization between business, academics and experts in the fields of creativity & innovation.     * DAY 1 of conference is aimed at micro and small businesses in Ireland and     * DAY 2 focuses on academics, politicians, agencies and associations. This two-day bespoke Creativity in Action Conference will showcase the CIME Project outcomes and business impact to date, interlaced with the engagement of expert input on best practice and demonstration sessions via master workshops and plenary case studies. The aim is to bring together methods and tools from collaborative businesses and educations, which can be adapted to innovation and creativity in organisations. The CIME project (www.cimeproject.com) was set up to help small and medium sized enterprises to think in a more creative and innovative way in order to survive in the current challenging economic climate. The project helps such companies to become more efficient and effective in managing their business(es) and explore new opportunities and new ways of doing business. It also helps them to respond to new technologies and trends as they emerge and adapt to changing market conditions. The National Centre for Creativity (nc4c) is a proposed virtual centre of excellence for the research, understanding, development and promotion of creative thinking within the community, education, business and public sectors in Ireland for realising the potential of individuals and society. Through the CIME Project, five Business Innovation Networks in the South-East Region of Ireland have been set up (one each in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary), each comprising 15 micro-enterprises across a broad range of sectors that are engaging in creative and innovative training techniques through a course of workshops, individual mentoring sessions and networking events. Click here to visit the conference website. 2011-09-04T15:54:34+00:00 http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/celtic_wave_cruises_to_success http://www.irelandwales.ie/index.php/site/celtic_wave_cruises_to_success#When:12:33:55Z The Celtic Wave project has been awarded the title of 'Best International Initiative in the North of Europe' at the recently held Cruise Excellence Awards in Bilbao, Spain.  The project has been working to create a unique and exclusive cruise itinerary through the Celtic lands of Ireland and Wales has scooped a major industry award. The project was recognised for its commitment to creating a unique and exclusive cruise itinerary through the Celtic lands of Ireland and Wales, whilst presenting the option of an Irish Sea cruise itinerary with short steaming times and low bunkerage which reduces carbon footprint. Managed by the Cruise News Media Group, the awards are peer voted by the cruise industry. The award is testimony to the continued hard work of all the projects partners across the Irish Sea to enhance cruise benefits and support the tourism sector.   For further information on Celtic Wave, visit http://www.celticwave.eu/ 2011-06-10T12:33:55+00:00