Latest News

Supply and demand issues to the fore in access to finance

21 December 10

InterTradeIreland Survey - Survey points to a two-tiered economic recovery with large manufacturing and exporting companies faring significantly better than small non-exporting businesses - Demand for new credit remains low among businesses with only 16% seeking new credit in the past six months - Business perception of the supply of finance is negative with only half believing they would be successful in any application

Minister O'Keeffe announces €17m fund for innovative new firms

16 December 10

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today [Monday] launched a new €17 million fund for innovative new firms to create high-quality jobs. The Bank of Ireland start-up and emerging sectors equity fund will help entrepreneurs to turn ideas into new products and services for export markets. The fund will be managed by Delta Partners on behalf of Bank of Ireland and the Government's job creation agency, Enterprise Ireland.

Innovation Fund Ireland investment in Polaris welcomed

16 December 10

The Taoiseach said “I would like to welcome Polaris to Ireland. I am delighted that they are locating their new Dogpatch Labs Europe facility in Dublin. This is an exciting initiative for Ireland, and important to our ambitions for growth and jobs.”

Louth company Suretank Ltd secures €900,000 contract in Brazil

6 December 10

Suretank Ltd, of Dunleer, Co Louth, has recently announced that it has won a contract valued at €900,000 to supply its CCUs (Cargo Carrying Units) to IWES, a leading international supplier of tanks and containers to the oil and gas exploration industry.

Local businesses achieve “take-off” through seedcorn business competition

NI regional winners and Lenis Aer Group pic with plane 2

25 November 10

Northern Ireland Company recognised as the best overall “spin-out” in the largest business competition on the island

Dublin companies triumph as Seedcorn regional winners

15 November 10

Two Dublin based companies were named the Best High Growth Company and the Best Emerging Company in the Dublin regional final of the InterTradeIreland All-island Seedcorn Business competition. The two victories have put Dublin on the map for business growth and innovation and both companies take away a prize of €20,000 each. The two regional winners will now go forward to compete in the all-island finals which take place in Belfast on 24th November where they are in with a chance to compete for the overall title in their categories. The overall Best Emerging Company prize is worth €50,000 and the Best High Growth Company prize is worth €100,000.

North by South East – Sonru and iON collaborate to innova(te)

15 November 10

Wexford based company Sonru partner with iON in Belfast to receive funding as part of InterTradeIreland’s collaborative R&D Programme, Innova. Sonru and iON today announced they have received £146,000 funding towards a £419k North/South company-to-company research and development partnership through InterTradeIreland’s Innova programme.

Cork companies triumph as InterTradeIreland Seedcorn regional winners

4 November 10

Two Cork based companies were today (November 4th 2010) named the Best High Growth Company and the Best Emerging Company in the Munster regional final at the InterTradeIreland All-island Seedcorn Business competition.

Sligo company triumphs as InterTradeireland Seedcorn regional winner

8 November 10

Sligo based company, Epona Biotech Ltd, was today (November 3rd 2010) named the Best Emerging Company in the Connacht and Leinster regional final of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn All-island Business Competition. The company, which is based in the Business Innovation Centre in the Institute of Technology Campus in Sligo, has won a €20,000 share of the prize fund and will now go forward to compete in the all-island finals which will take place in Belfast on 24th November.

Halo Reaches £2 Million Investment Milestone

25 October 10

Halo, the NI Business Angel network, a joint initiative of Invest Northern Ireland and IntertradeIreland, based at the Northern Ireland Science Park has just reached the £2 Million milestone for investments it has made since May 2009, underpinning its recent recognition as UK Business Angel Network of the Year.

First Derivatives founder named 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

25 October 10

BRIAN CONLON, founder and Chief Executive of Newry firm First Derivatives plc was named the 13th Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year at a gala ceremony held in Dublin last night. He was announced as the winner of the International Category before receiving the overall title which was presented by The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

HBAN complete €400,000 funding round for Dublin firm KidSpotter

22 October 10

HBAN Investor Syndicates, the angel investment joint initiative of InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland, has contributed €200,000 in private funding for the innovative Dublin based technology firm KidSpotter - from a syndicate of individual investors - HBAN has announced. KidSpotter has already been co-funded with €200,000 by Enterprise Ireland bringing its funding to €400,000.

City of Culture Hosts All-Island Innovation Awards Launch

Innovation awards derry launch thumbnail image

18 October 10

The City of Culture 2013 played host to the launch of the Irish Times InterTradeIreland All-island Innovation Awards last Friday. Around 60 companies attended the launch event which took place in the University of Ulster Magee campus, Derry.

Businesses say innovation and new markets are key to recovery

28 May 10

InterTradeIreland’s quarterly All-island Business Monitor survey has shown companies continued to take action to fight the recession in the first quarter of 2010.

HBAN Investor Syndicates placed €1 million into equity-ready firms last quarter

7 October 10

HBAN Investor Syndicates placed €1 million into equity-ready firms last quarter - Angel investor master classes in Dublin & Cork will highlight the potential of syndicate based investing - Private investors prove ‘critically important’ to emerging Irish companies - HBAN Investor Syndicates have up to €10 million to invest

Minister samples local produce on offer from Augher Co-Op

FUSION Augher Co-op Imager Sept 2010 thumbnail

1 September 10

Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster today visited local diary producer Augher Co-operative to sample their new product range which was developed with assistance from InterTradeIreland’s FUSION programme.

Technology transfer programme to generate €287 million in savings for companies

23 September 10

An all-island technology transfer programme which develops and facilitates three-way cross-border innovation partnerships and projects between companies, graduates and third level institutes will result in the generation of €287 million in savings for participating companies.

RTE dragon calls for NI companies to give their business 'Lift off'

24 August 10

RTE ‘dragon’ calls for ni companies to give their business ‘lift off’ as business competition deadline looms

Investors with over £275million of funds to attend Belfast conference

26 May 10

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today launched InterTradeIreland’s ninth Venture Capital Conference, where local businesses can access funds of £275million from investors. The annual event, which is being held this year in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on Wednesday, 26 May, will bring investors, with access to over £275million worth of funds, together with entrepreneurs seeking finance.

Venture capital conference attracts investors with over €275 million

14 June 10

InterTradeIreland conference calls for an urgent increase in the supply of equity finance available to seed and early stage companies if we are to deliver our economic growth strategies, North and South.

Businesses to cut costs further to improve competitiveness

2 June 10

InterTradeIreland’s Quarterly Business Monitor Survey, released today (Tuesday, 2nd June 2010) revealed that almost half of all companies indicate labour costs remain a key concern for business. The survey of 1,000 businesses both North and South show that companies are still focussing on measures to improve their cost base and ensure competitiveness.

Local firms should innovate to unlock potential of civil security market

17 February 10

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has launched InterTradeIreland’s Innovation Connections Programme, to help local businesses unlock the potential of the multi-billion pound Civil Security market.

All-island innovation awards shortlist announced

5 February 10

The Irish Times, in association with InterTradeIreland, today announced the shortlist of companies who will compete for the overall title of ‘Innovation of the Year’.

International expert says orporate entrepreneurship is key to making innovation

18 March 10

Generating good ideas is generally not the bottleneck in the innovation process for companies, the real challenge for them is to successfully commercialise those ideas and this requires their employees to act as entrepreneurs, according to Professor Peter Russo, a renowned entrepreneurship expert.

Biggest challenge to businesses are cash flow and late payments

9 March 10

Biggest challenges to businesses are cash-flow and late payments, says InterTradeIreland

€280,000 seedcorn prize fund for best early stage companies

4 May 10

The InterTradeIreland Seedorn Competition 2010 Goes Live Entrepreneurs from (insert region) could get a huge cash boost for their business, thanks to a prize fund of €280,000 being offered by InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn All-Island Business Competition 2010.

InterTradeIreland