Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) - Athlone Campus

Midlands Innovation and Research Centre

The Midlands Innovation and Research Centre (MIRC) in Athlone and MaynoothWorks in Maynooth jointly deliver the New Frontiers programme in the Midlands Mid-East region. This partnership between Technological University of the Shannon and Maynooth University means that New Frontiers participants have access to the expertise, facilities and resources of both locations.

The MIRC provides incubation facilities and business development support for innovative and knowledge-based startups and makes available the resources and expertise of TUS to support client companies and enterprise in the region. Whether you are a prospective entrepreneur, a start-up, an existing company committed to ongoing innovation or an academic interested in commercialising your research, the MIRC is open to you.

140

KNOWLEDGE-BASED STARTUPS

284

INNOVATION VOUCHER PROJECTS COMPLETED

HIGH POTENTIAL STARTUPS (HPSUS)

What’s on offer?

Incubation units ranging from 14m² to 42m², concept desking, high-speed broadband, boardroom, meeting room and canteen facilities.

Access to the R&D resources of TUS’s Software Research Institute, Materials Research Institute and Bioscience Research Institute, along with the expertise of TUS’s Schools of Business, Science and Engineering.

Business development support: project management, mentoring, one-to-one interventions to accelerate project progression, and networking. Student placements and collaborative student projects.

The InnovAIT Entrepreneurship Academy for graduate entrepreneurs – led by TUS’s Business School – is based in the MIRC.

Gallery

NO REPRO FEE 7/12/2014 Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, announced Eamon Keane (2nd from left) of Xpreso, South Dublin as 'Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur' and winner in the 'Best Start Up' category, Dean Gammell (right) of The Group System from Co. Westmeath as winner of 'Best Established Business with Add On' and Philip Martin of Blanco Nino from Co. Tipperary as the winner of 'Best New Idea' at the first-ever 'Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur' (IBYE) competition National Final, held at Google's European Headquarters in Dublin. A total investment fund of eur100,000 was awarded to the three winning companies, in a competition that attracted over 1,100 entries when it was launched earlier this year through the Local Enterprise Offices and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Each of the three finalists also wins a place at the Google 'Adopt a Start Up' programme next year. The Google award for 'Best Online Promotion of a Business' was also announced and went to Padraig O'Scanaill, from Fund Recs in Waterford. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

HPSU Showcase Start Up Class 2013.
Picture by Shane O'Neill / Copyright Fennell Photography 2014.

The team

The New Frontiers Programme Manager at TUS – Athlone Campus is Nick Allen. Nick has 18 years’ experience working as a training consultant and management consultant in the challenging environment of leading corporations in the UK and in delivering value management services to public and corporate sector clients in Ireland and the UK.

Visit their website

Nick Allen

New Frontiers Programme Manager

090 648 3043

Michael Lonergan

MIRC Manager

090 647 1882

Joe Moore

MaynoothWorks Manager

01 708 6902

“As a startup company, New Frontiers has provided us with a comprehensive business support programme. In addition to mentoring, training and facilities, the networking opportunities were invaluable for validating and growing my business value proposition.”
Brian O’Rourke, HuddleBus

“The format and structure of New Frontiers was extremely beneficial to me at a critical point of my business evolution. The programme continuously challenged me and my assumptions, thus ensuring my own entrepreneurial development and the development of my business.”
Henry Fingleton, Sweepovac

Notable alumni

Emma-Rose Conroy, Euro Stallions – stallion semen agency
Dean Gammell, TheGroupSystem.com – software for group bookings
Brendan Murphy, Better Energy Management – energy-saving products
Ian Kerr, Idaso – traffic count/classification technology
Keith Harrington, DebaPay – innovative digital exchange
Neal McDermott, Whatzere.com – mobile ordering solutions
Henry Fingleton, Sweepovac – integrated vacuum system

Alumni news

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All Athlone

Congratulations to our award-winning alumni

Huge congratulations to all the New Frontiers alumni who took home a National Startup Award this year: Gold (Early Stage Tech): Heidi Davis - Identify Her; Bronze (Early Stage Tech): James Power - Agri Guardian; Gold (Tech): Pierce Dargan - Equine MediRecord; Silver (Emerging Tech): Emma Meehan - Precision Sports; Bronze (Emerging Tech): Stephen O'Dwyer - Trojan Track; Gold (eCommerce/Retail): Alan Power - SizeWise; Bronze (eCommerce/Retail): Erica Hargadan - Babogue; Gold (Social/Sustainable): Aisling Kirwan - Positive Carbon; Gold (Food/Drink): Gráinne Mullins - Gra Chocolates; Silver (Food/Drink): Aisling Cullen - Thank Plants; Gold (Fintech): Alva Horgan - Valid8me.

Galway’s CitySwift to roll out big data tech on New York buses

CitySwift has secured a one-year pilot deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to deploy its software across a handful of bus routes from February. Read more on irishtimes.com.

Have A Startup Idea? Register Your Interest In New Frontiers And One Of Our Programme Managers Will Be In Touch Soon!

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Athlone Campus