tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62303757632193989942012-01-03T12:18:16.468ZThe Innovation SpaceSynergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-49759250181073023202009-10-22T12:40:00.004+01:002009-10-22T12:47:57.438+01:00

It's been a hectic week here at Synergy Centre - what with hosting the iFactor finals on Monday night (www.innovationfactor.blogspot.com); welcoming John Green for a Franchising Juice on Tuesday morning; and spending Wednesday with our EPP participants making their parting pitches! As if I didn't have enough on my plate I had to run the gauntlet of Vincent Browne last night (http://www.tv3.ie/

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-1502057940983628832009-09-02T13:39:00.003+01:002009-09-02T13:45:21.237+01:00

Synergy Centre has been approved under the Fás graduate workplace programme for the position of Student Enterprise Champion. We are seeking a graduate who is outgoing, motivated and thrives on student life while balancing it with a professional approach. to qualify for the scheme you must have been unemployed for at least 6 months. For more info click on the title link or e-mail innovate@

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-72127473403466330152009-08-19T10:32:00.003+01:002009-08-19T10:49:14.441+01:00

In the past week or so we've really felt things beginning to buzz again here at Synergy as the summer lull draws to an end. With our Enterprise Launch Programme starting on the 4th September and being in the midst of recruitment for the Synergy Enterprise Platform Programme we are looking forward to welcoming a new crop of enterpreneurs to Synergy Centre. In the meantime Jos, Onray and myself

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-86481913520373926612009-08-04T16:14:00.002+01:002009-08-04T16:20:26.996+01:00

Thus was the verdict of the Synergy Book Club this afternoon having read Timothy Ferris' book The Four Hour Work Week. Mr Ferris didn't win too many friends through this book and readers questioned whehter he will ultimately be happy with a business based on online reselling and working hard to master various life skills from martial arts to languages. Some lessons were taken from the book

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-49650163756434008342009-07-30T15:04:00.001+01:002009-07-30T15:05:41.484+01:00

And don't forget to read "The Four Hour Work Week" for next Tuesday's Book Club!

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-88026699469807533672009-07-29T16:41:00.008+01:002009-08-04T16:14:29.319+01:00

John Murray of RTE Radio's "The Business" visited us today and met with a number of our entrepreneurs to find out what goes on here at Synergy Centre. He spoke to Seamus Kilmartin of UltilitySaver, Karen Bolger of HowtoProjectManage, Conor MCGoveran of Onformonics and Dave McDonnell of VisualID. The rain just about held off for an external interview after which John and Alan (producer) were

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-61034088671434030412009-07-27T10:25:00.003+01:002009-07-27T10:28:17.293+01:00

Check out www.digitalmarketingschool.ie for a new website that aims to bring us all up to date on the terminology and techniques behind online marketing. starts right at the beginning without being patronising - v. interesting. The brains behind it - Andrew Jenkinson and Niall O'Driscoll - have been at this online marketing business for years and have the experience, understanding and industry

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-82728830784807027562009-07-22T14:58:00.005+01:002009-07-22T15:07:58.699+01:00

Win a €15k promotional campaign with 4FM, Unique Media and the Sunday Business Post. Now is not the time to be experimenting with advertising as a small business - the funds involved make the risk/reward ratio too unattractive. I'd argue, in fact, that in a business2business market it rarely makes sense to spend big bucks on advertising. HOWEVER - if someone will pay for it for you, it gives you

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-63885669643918373122009-07-21T12:42:00.003+01:002009-07-21T12:51:42.489+01:00

It's been a day of deep breathing from the get go here at Synergy Centre. We kicked off at 8.30 with a breakfast session with Martin Toner, the golf specialist. Martin not only worked on our golf game, but also showed us the importance of switching between left and right brain activity to achieve optimum results. Focus, passion, preparation and understanding are what we must bring to bear in

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-77308833139905707722009-07-20T12:51:00.004+01:002009-07-20T13:03:46.563+01:00

It's official - Tallaght is, according to An Bord Snip Nua, the place to be. The recommendation by Colm McCarthy's review group is that Blanchardstown Institute of Technology and the three DIT sites be relocated to our own campus here at ITT Dublin. This runs alongside proposed swingeing (what a great word!) cuts to R&D funding and serious rationalisation of the Enterprise Development arms of

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-26834129510592007402009-07-17T12:34:00.007+01:002009-07-21T12:33:17.920+01:00

Synergy Centre will host a presentation and Q&A from Intertrade Ireland on Monday lunchtime as part of our Brown Bag series. The topic will be the agency's Seedcorn Competition which offers decent cash prizes and much kudos in the business start-up/investor world. The competition mimics an investment decision-making process: It demands a succinct (25 pages), believable, goal and growth oriented

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-30361994874521899832009-07-16T15:04:00.004+01:002009-07-16T15:13:45.952+01:00

A sign of the times we live in? The recently blogged Innovation Vouchers Call from Enterprise Ireland that opened on Monday is now closed. With over 100 applications received in just three days, in the height of summer this has to be both scary and reassuring. Scary for those of us who support young, high-tech start-ups - the challenge is for us to marshall our resources so that we are in a

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-57294854887585395002009-07-15T12:38:00.001+01:002009-07-15T12:40:48.515+01:00

Announced in May this year, the FÁS Work Placement Programme is designed to offer unemployed people, including unemployed graduates, the opportunity to obtain 6 months quality experience in a work situation. Placements must provide quality work experience, with a work plan, for a 6 month period. There must not be a vacancy in the work activity in which you are offering placement. Participants

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-4367598327556789402009-07-14T16:24:00.002+01:002009-07-14T16:28:59.923+01:00

For those of you not familiar with them, Innovation Vouchers are just genius for small companies with an R & D bent. Enterprise Ireland will give you a voucher worth €5000 to use with any third level college in the country to do some development work for you. All you have to do is to find the right person to work with (and pay VAT on the 5k). The next open call for the vouchers is in September

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-28768953812751049112009-07-10T16:51:00.002+01:002009-07-10T16:56:19.894+01:00

Just finished a long session with the design team for the extension to Synergy Centre which will include the new PRTLI funded Centre of Applied Science for Health, more Innovation laboratory space for commercial rersearch, and double the amount of business incubation space. A lovely discussion in the incubation space focus group around interaction vs. privacy/productivity and the challenge for

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-60413034991605270912009-07-09T11:29:00.002+01:002009-07-09T11:37:27.088+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts - been out sick since Thursday last - boo hoo! While out though I've been reading the Harvard Business Review's "Innovation" compilation which my kind hubby picked up for me in Boston's Logan Airport. Lots of ideas now for accelerating the development of our own innovation factory here in Synergy Centre. I'll pop the book in the Synergy library when done and

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-80453425081357068172009-07-02T13:12:00.002+01:002009-07-02T13:21:31.009+01:00

Okay - I've twisted his arm, but I honestly think it will be fascinating! Martin Toner, golf guru and mind-man will visit us on the morning of Tuesday, 21st of July for the next Juice session on balancing your work and your life. I've been aware for some time that the myriad of concerns - all the things that you have to do, and all the things that might possibly go wrong - can become paralysing

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-29432039540881016322009-07-01T10:56:00.004+01:002009-07-01T14:16:05.324+01:00

What a lovely post to be able to put on the Synergy blog :-). Onray, our Enterprise Officer (and general "keep the Synergy Show on the road" man), has told us that he expects to be a Dad in the new year! We already have high hopes for the bairn and I am currently working on a reading list to accompany the monopoly board and fisher-price mobile phone that will be my first birthday gift. Congrats

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-70326774626314933102009-06-29T15:04:00.002+01:002009-06-29T15:06:57.414+01:00

If you have been giving out about the government response to credit crisis for small business then you have a one-day window to get your spoke in! The County Enterprise Boards are carrying out a survey to establish what the situation is now and what changes (if any) have taken place so they can present the situation to the Minister. Please participate by completing this survey (below) by close

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-13569553268458087502009-06-29T10:15:00.002+01:002009-06-29T10:19:00.541+01:00

On Friday week, 10th July, Taylor Architects will be hosting a focus group here in Synergy centre for client companies to get input on the extension to the incubation centre. To get best info from the group they'd like to keep numbers between 6 and 8. If you're a synergy client company and would like to attend please just let Onray or Nicola know. Don't have a time as yet (likely to be

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-86303609649092045142009-06-26T13:45:00.003+01:002009-06-26T13:49:25.126+01:00

If building a business is about Blood, Sweat and Tears, then at the moment I'm all about the blood. I was on to the Stillorgan clinic yesterday rearranging my donation appointment (you can't give for 28 days on return from the US at the moment) when they told me about how they are desperate for blood at the moment - particularly in advance of the August bank holiday weekend. I'm on the hunt now

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-32171307341055936762009-06-25T17:25:00.003+01:002009-06-26T15:27:59.087+01:00

So we had the first meeting of the Synergy Book Club at lunchtime today. The book up for discussion was Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat" and the general consensus was that it is an eminently worthwhile read (some attendees might actually be reading it post-event!). Discussion focussed on the ups and downs of increasing technology-driven communications such as blogs :-) that facilitate easy

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-46160013616969453262009-06-24T12:40:00.003+01:002009-06-26T15:28:31.931+01:00

Synergy Centre, ITT Dublin’s Innovation space has appointed Philip Lee Solicitors and FRKelly Patent Attorneys to provide legal services to its entrepreneurs. The deal sees the two law firms partner with Synergy Centre in the development of high technology start-ups throughout the Synergy enterprise launch programme, enterprise platform programme and full incubation. The law firms will provide

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-52983571800376298942009-06-16T14:21:00.006+01:002009-06-26T15:26:56.496+01:00

Toby Scott was in to visit us for this morning's Juice breakfast. Beginning with a powerful video on the increasing rate of change and our somewhat slower rate of response to it, he immediately captured the audience of entrepreneurs and academics. He spoke of the powerful effect that using design to drive strategic thinking has on SMEs - increasing product demand by 250%! Unfortunately only 15%

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-39686551501335166432009-06-15T15:08:00.001+01:002009-06-16T14:41:41.387+01:00

If you're a gaming fanatic check out http://hivemindgames.ning.com/, the blog of Hivemind Games CEO, Mark Tattersall, who's on the current Synergy Enterprise Platform Programme. Mark's just back from E3 and has posted playtest reviews, trailers and gameplay videos to the site as well as updating hisBlog with all the new trimmings Microsoft announced for the Xbox at E3, a must read!

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-89529377754050041932009-06-15T14:51:00.000+01:002009-06-15T15:00:40.411+01:00

The sun might have gone in and it may be Monday but there's always something to smile about! Sage are now offering their TAS Books Basic and Quickpay Free to small businesses free of charge - they say they are perfect for companies with 5 or less employees. To download the software visit www.tassoftware.ie/free. In a similar vein, don't forget that Synergy is a network partner for Microsoft's

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-83063765472298600212009-06-10T13:22:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:29:16.570+01:00

News just in that 3 copies of The World is Flat, Synergy Book Club's June read are now available in the ITT Dublin library - just ask for the Synergy Book Club book - and thanks to Niamh and Gilian for organising. Two copies are also available from the Synergy Honour Library. The book's fairly big so you can just focus on chapter Two - The Ten Forces that Flattened the World - if you're

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-72308531309033237492009-06-10T13:18:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:29:47.527+01:00

Ronan Ganter, who took part in the last Enterprise Launch Programme here at Synergy, has just launched his new business http://www.bagcab.com/. BagCab picks your luggage up from one destination and delivers it to another for a mere five euro, leaving you free to walk, cycle or hitch hike from one destination to the next. Currently operating in Galway/Westport/Clifden area, Ronan has plans to add

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-751951459893539162009-06-10T13:05:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:30:27.488+01:00

Watch out entrepreneurs - the next generation is hot on your heels. Tallaght Library is currently showcasing projects from South Dublin County Enterprise Board's "Bí Gnóthach" project aimed at entrepreneurial primary school kids. Mini-businesses set up by the kids range from Sensational Smoothies to Book Fairs and Craft Shops. First prize went to 6th class students from St Martin de Porres

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-20217740268183484782009-05-29T13:22:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:31:12.757+01:00

The new Synergy Business Book Club will meet for the first time on Thursday, 25th of June from 1-2pm in The Glasshouse. The first book under discussion will be "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman (2006). The title is a metaphor for viewing the world as a level playing field in terms of commerce, where all competitors have an equal opportunity. The book is all about globalisation, outsourcing,

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-51057237790480365172009-05-26T15:05:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:32:17.025+01:00

Unfortunately, none of the Student Synergy Awards winners made it through to the finals of the Enterprise Ireland Student Awards which will take place in Coleraine on the 10th June. Undaunted, our winners are working away on their businesses - we just got a mail from Niall of All Mountain Experience (http://www.allmountainexperience.com/) in Italy - they've had 20 clients through their Lake Garda

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-43741407790218323082009-05-22T10:33:00.001+01:002009-06-26T15:33:27.746+01:00

Synergy Centre is currently recruiting for its Autumn 2009 Enterprise Development Programmes. There are two programmes running this Autumn -aimed at would-be entrepreneurs who are at slightly different stages of their business development.The Enterprise Launch Programme runs over 6 wks, part-time, Fridays (6.30 – 9.30) and Saturdays (10 – 1). The cost is €300, and the programme starts 4th Sept,

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6230375763219398994.post-5017901754483656782009-05-22T10:30:00.000+01:002009-05-22T10:33:04.685+01:00

Hi folks,there's so much going on here in Synergy and sometimes we just don't get to tell everyone about it so we decided to stop making excuses and start blogging! We'll give you updates on events that take place in the centre, dates and deadlines for programmes that we are running and recruiting for, and news on how our client companies are getting along. Stay tuned!Synergy

Synergy Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236629810259220110noreply@blogger.com0