University College Dublin’s (UCD) innovation and technology transfer centre NovaUCD is holding an open day on 24 March which aims to attract high-tech entrepreneurs to its unique services and facilities, and will feature RTÉ’s Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher, co-founder and CEO of Smarthomes.ie.
Right now, many organisations and groups such as BizCamp and BizSpark are looking to stimulate entrepreneurship in the face of job losses and a recession.
NovaUCD wants to show high-tech entrepreneurs how they can develop their business further by looking at the research opportunities and services available at UCD’s Belfield campus.
“In the current climate, entrepreneurs who want to ‘fly higher’ will have a significant role to play in Ireland’s economic recovery and the development of a smart economy,” explained NovaUCD director, Dr Pat Frain.
“These entrepreneurs are increasingly relying on university research as a source for the innovative ideas underpinning their new ventures.
“The overall objective of the NovaUCD Open Day is to give budding high-tech entrepreneurs an opportunity to drop in and visit our facility, and to discover the research opportunities, unique services, supports and facilities available.”
As part of the open day, Gallagher will give the lunchtime ‘Entrepreneurs Live’ talk, where he will discuss the highs and lows of setting up and running your own business and the secrets of his success.
Attendees will also receive a tour of NovaUCD’s facilities and a technology demonstration by BiancaMed http://www.biancamed.com/home/index.php, a current research company incubating at the centre.
For further information on the open day, visit the NovaUCD webpage.
By Marie Boran
Pictured: UCD’s innovation and technology transfer centre, NovaUCD
