Padraig Healy, site leader, Dell Limerick, pictured with Limerick Institute of Technology's president Dr Maria Hinfelaar
Over 150 companies are set to demo their wares at an Innovation Showcase organised by Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) that will be held in Dell Ireland’s Limerick campus on 4 October next. Sessions on innovation, funding and international trade will also be taking place at the event.
The showcase is open businesses of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to long-established firms. LIT is anticipating that the innovation showcase will get up to 3,000 visitors, including investors, other businesses and the general public, as well as those who are thinking of setting up a new venture.
The Innovation Showcase itself has evolved from the Mid-West Showcase that has been running over the past five years. And this year there will also be a new element involving foreign embassy representatives.
According to the organisers, companies that are seeking to develop export/import trade links with international markets will be able to mingle with foreign embassy representatives who will be giving insights into doing business in their respective countries.
Limerick Chamber of Commerce is organising this element of the conference, which will also feature an international trade break-out out session whereby experts will be sharing their views on internationalisation and breaking into global markets.
Accessing finance
As for the innovation break-out session there will be talks on areas such as industry collaboration, finding the right partners and being lean. This session will also focus on accessing finance, ranging from banks to angel funding and venture capital.
The showcase itself is being supported by Dell, AIB Bank, Enterprise Ireland, Limerick City Enterprise Board, Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Plato Mid West, Shannon Development and Supply Network Shannon.
LIT president Dr Maria Hinfelaar said today that the event would be an “excellent opportunity” for businesses to exhibit their products and services to potential customers and other business clients.
“Businesses will also get invaluable insights into what it takes to be a success as well as our new innovative element focused on developing international markets,” she said.
It’s the second year that Dell has partnered with the institute to host the showcase. Site leader Padraig Healy said that members of the Dell team will also be offering advice on how people can get started in business.
“As part of this we’ll focus strongly on the role that technology can play in developing business ideas while also helping to minimise the investment that’s required,” he said.
