Companies

InterTradeIreland FUSION can help you get ahead of the competition in these tough economic times with a comprehensive support package that includes funding as well as expert help and technical advice. It does this by helping you identify solutions to your technology problems- giving your company that edge it needs to survive the financial downturn.

FUSION can help your company to :

• Develop new and innovative products
• Improve existing products
• Streamline production processes
• Improve environmental performance
• Enhance design capabilities
• Develop and implement IT solutions

Support Package:

FUSION provides a comprehensive package of support that includes assistance towards the recruit's salary and associated costs and a full consultancy package for the academic that your company will work with. Up to £47,750/€59,690 will be made available to each project, to fund 50% of the recruit's employment costs and 100% of other eligible costs. The company will contribute a minimum of £11,000/€ per annum towards a graduate salary and support.

InterTradeIreland's support package also includes :

• Masterclasses - to support your comapny through the application process
• Consultancy support - quarterly review meetings with an InterTradeIreland appointed consultant
• Helpline - to provide ongoing support and advice
• Recruitment - advertising of graduate/diploma holder position
  
  

How FUSION Works:

Your company is partnered with a university or college with the specialist expertise you require. It provides one-to-one tailored assistance to solve your technology needs.

A high calibre graduate is recruited and based in the company to champion the project. S/he is the link and agent for technology transfer between the university or college and your company.

The graduate will also receive specialised training in business management skills from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, University College Dublin, leading to a Post Graduate Diploma in Management.

FUSION has a number of key stages:

1. Partnership Formed: a company with a technology-related development need is partnered with a university or college from the opposite jurisdiction with the specific expertise required.

2. Joint Application: together, the company and the university or college work up and submit a joint application for support to InterTradeIreland. The application sets out the project plan and the support the company requires.

3. Project Implementation: for the duration of the project, there is ongoing input and involvement of the three partners as agreed at the outset. Collectively, they work on carrying out the project and implementing new technology in the company. InterTradeIreland assists the co-ordination of the project through a FUSION consultant.

To Find out how FUSION can help your company, download the brochure [PDF] here .

"FUSION has been invaluable to our business, allowing us to avail of opportunities that small companies do not usually have the resources to pursue. We have engaged so well with out partner, the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health at the University of Ulster that we look upon them as part of our virtual team. Thanks to the programme, we feel like we have grown up and can stand up in the worldwide arena and shout about what we do."

Ross Campbell, co-owner of CyberColloids Ltd of Cork