LIT ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF IRISH INNOVATION SHOWCASE
AT DELL’S LIMERICK CAMPUS ON OCTOBER 4TH

150 exhibitors and 3,000 plus attendance at Ireland’s largest enterprise showcase

INTERNATIONAL EMBASSIES TO GIVE INSIGHTS INTO DOING BUSINESS ABROAD

Thursday 30th August 2012: Limerick Institute of Technology is today delighted to announce Ireland’s largest enterprise showcase, the Irish Innovation Showcase, which will take place on October 4th next at Dell Ireland’s Limerick campus. Dell is supporting the event for the second year running.

Over 150 companies will exhibit their products and services at the event, which will also include two break-out sessions, covering Innovation, Funding and International Trade, in which leading industry figures will give their expert opinion on these key areas.

The Showcase is open to all businesses and to the public, from start-up to long established companies, across a range of sectors, from manufacturing to services. They will be able to interact with an expected 3,000 strong attendance that will include investors, other businesses and general members of the public. It will also be an ideal opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to examine the market for their emerging companies.

Companies seeking to develop export/import trade with international markets will benefit from the addition of a unique new element to the Showcase involving foreign embassy representatives from some of Ireland’s leading trade partners being present on stands to give insights into doing business in their countries.

This element, which is being organised by Limerick Chamber of Commerce, will be complemented by the International Trade break-out session which will see experts add their views on internationalisation and breaking into global markets.

The Innovation break-out session will hear from a panel of experts on areas such as industry collaboration, finding the right partners and ‘being lean’. Critically also, it will focus on accessing finance across all sources, from banks to angel funding and Venture Capital as well as other existing but largely under-utilised resources.

The Irish Innovation Showcase has evolved from the highly successful Mid-West Showcase run over the past five years. Booking for exhibition stands is now open and companies wishing to participate are asked to secure their stand early to avoid disappointment as the event is over-subscribed each year.

The Irish Innovation Showcase is supported by a range of businesses and agencies in addition to Dell. These include AIB, as well as Enterprise Ireland, Limerick City Enterprise Board, Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Plato Mid West, Shannon Development and Supply Network Shannon.

Announcing the Showcase, Limerick Institute of Technology President Dr Maria Hinfelaar said: “We have had five hugely successful events to date and the programme in place for this year’s Showcase is by far the most dynamic and exciting so we are really looking forward to October 4th and what it can do for businesses.”

“We believe that the event will be an excellent opportunity for them to exhibit their products and services to potential customers and other business clients. Businesses will also, through the morning and evening seminars, get invaluable insights into what it takes to be a success as well as our new innovative element focussed on developing international markets.”

Speaking today about Dell’s support of Ireland’s Innovation Showcase, Padraig Healy, Executive Director Global Supply Chain and Site Leader, Dell Limerick said: “Dell is delighted to once again partner with Limerick Institute of Technology to host the Irish Innovation Showcase at our campus here in Limerick. Dell’s operations in Ireland are a true reflection of innovation in action. In Dell’s Solutions Centres, one of which is located at the Limerick facility, there is a team who constantly work to develop new technology solutions to help our customers achieve their objectives. A key focus this year for the Showcase is to help the start-up and entrepreneurial community evolve their ideas and to support them with the information and expertise that they need to grow their plans.

“Members of the Dell team will offer attendees advice on ‘How to get Started’. 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 required. Dell has a strong track record of supporting start-ups and small businesses so we look forward to meeting with small business owners and entrepreneurs from the mid-west on October 4th and hope that we can play some role in helping them to grow and develop successful businesses.”

Announcing the International Trade element of the Showcase, Limerick Chamber President Gordon Kearney said: “We know that obtaining quality information on overseas markets is one of the biggest challenges firms face when they look to expand internationally. For this reason we have been looking at bringing the embassies to the region so that they can inform businesses on how to access their markets. The Irish Innovation Showcase is the perfect opportunity for this as there is no other forum that draws together so many businesses which ensures that the initiative will have maximum impact.”

For further information, including booking stands for the Showcase, tel. 061 490 152, email innovation@lit.ie or visit the Irish Innovation Showcase website at www.irishinnovationshowcase.ie

ENDS/

Media related queries to:

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Eugene Hogan, Public Relations Consultant, Tel: 087 249 7290