FE sector gets new £2m Innovation Centre

The first ever £2 million Incubation and Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland's Further Education sector has been launched today.

Greenshoots-Newry Ltd, based at the Greenbank Campus of Newry Institute, provides facilities and services to help take forward new business ideas – as well as assisting local firms to develop their existing businesses through technology and knowledge transfer links with the Institute and the University of Ulster.

Commenting on the centre, Raymond Mullan, Director of Newry Institute said: "This is a timely initiative to provide support for those who wish to develop their business idea and we will provide assistance and support in planning and management as well as providing applied research facilities for firms who may wish to develop their existing product or expand their product range.

"The Incubation Centre is fully serviced and will provide secondary services such as reception and secretarial assistance as well as access to broadband in state of the art premises. Up until now, such facilities were available only at one of the two universities. But now, in conjunction with the University of Ulster, this support is available locally, with preferential access to the research and development expertise at Newry Institute and the University of Ulster."

Professor John Hughes, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster, and a director of Greenshoots, spoke of his belief that the new purpose-built centre would facilitate innovation and growth leading to new businesses as well as assisting existing businesses to expand into new product lines.

Services offered by Greenshoots include: Project and business development support programmes; Access for SMEs to research and development at NCI and UU; Business Mentoring; Access to networking events; and Delivery of continued professional development to new and existing SMEs.

(MB)