Enterprise Ireland Chief Executive Julie Sinnamon (pictured) will be guest speaker at a major Regional Innovation Showcase at IT Sligo this Friday, attended by business owners, startups and key support and development agencies.
In a keynote address to more than 200 invited guests, Ms. Sinnamon will underline Enterprise Ireland’s commitment to regional entrepreneurship and development.
She will also will urge businesses in the North West and other regions not to wait until Brexit officially happens but to prepare for it now.
Speaking ahead of the event, Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “Fostering entrepreneurship and supporting regional enterprise is a priority for Enterprise Ireland, and the companies that have successfully completed the New Frontiers programme will play an important part in accelerating the development of sustainable new business in the region.
“However, we live in uncertain times and Brexit will prove a challenge for many regional enterprises. Despite the uncertainty, the UK continues to be Ireland’s main trading partner and it is for that reason that innovation is at the heart of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy, helping businesses to secure and maintain competitive advantage.
“We are encouraging SMEs to take the first step of preparation for Brexit by conducting their own assessment of areas of potential risk and opportunity and to develop a plan of action in response.”
“I want to congratulate all the businesses on completion of the programme and for the great success they have achieved to date, progressing their business concepts to investable business with employment and growth potential for the North West region in the future”, Ms Sinnamon concluded.
IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT (LYIT), in partnership with Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme, are hosting the showcase on May 5th at IT Sligo’s Hume Hall.
Ms. Sinnamon will congratulate the companies that have successfully completed the 2016 New Frontiers programme and hear pitches from a selection of innovative businesses.
Dr Brendan McCormack, president of IT Sligo, said: “Our Innovation Showcase highlights the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of the North West.
“In the face of many challenges we are strongly promoting self-reliance and regional business development.
The New Frontiers Programme has been hugely successful in stimulating innovation and job creation and is crucial component in the North West’s economic development.
New Frontiers has launched a string of new businesses in diverse sectors such as tech, online retail, agtech, food, digital media, tourism and creative.
The North West programme is collaboration between LYIT and IT Sligo and this Friday’s event will celebrate that partnership.
Invited guests to the event includes representatives from Local Enterprise Offices in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, other business support agencies, investors and the main banks.