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Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Athlone Campus

Midlands Innovation and Research Centre

TUS Logo Limerick and Athlone New Frontiers

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
18
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.

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

Nick Allen

New Frontiers Programme Manager

090 648 3043

Michael Lonergan

Michael Lonergan

MIRC Manager

090 647 1882

Joe Moore MaynoothWorks

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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Alumni Profiles: Adrienne Magnier and Zarasyl

Adrienne Magnier’s startup story is one of a serendipitous business opportunity followed up by five years of hard work. Her company, Zarasyl, has created a “miracle cream” for horses and companion animals. Read on to discover how Adrienne charted her path to international success. Adrienne previously worked in software development, bringing software products to the health and human services market. This meant she already had a deep understanding of what it takes to develop and deliver a product to market and work with customers on a global scale. Adrienne’s husband is involved in the thoroughbred horse business in County Meath, so the couple were around horses every day. Around five years ago, they were introduced to the technology behind Zarasyl.…

Alumni in the Forbes 30 under 30

Congratulations to Gráinne Mullins, founder of Grá Chocolates, and Aisling Byrne, founder of re-commerce app Nuw, on being named in the Forbes 30 under 30 recently! More on independent.ie.

Have a startup idea? Register your interest in New Frontiers and one of our Programme Managers will be in touch soon!

Register your interest