Gasta Tech News: NISP CONNECT

New York City launches a CONNECT after being inspired in Belfast? Yup. Check it out here…

Hot event listings and updates from Digital NI 2020, halo and Normans blog all below…..

Upcoming Events

NISP CONNECT Frameworks workshops present:
“IP Protection for Startups”
Wed 24th April, 2010 @ Northern Ireland Science Park
By Alan Wallace and Mark Earnshaw

Today’s competitive environment has made it increasingly difficult and important to stay ahead of the competition by adapting a coherent approach to Intellectual Property and the exploitation of the advantages IP can provide them with. In order to exploit this in the company's favour, it is essential that the basics of IP is known and identified. The workshop will help to demystify any common concerns with IP and give a broad understanding of the topic.

Click here for further details


NISP CONNECT Frameworks workshops present:
“The Venture Capital Process”
Thurs 15th April 2010, Northern Ireland Science Park

Click here for further details


Halo Investor Forum
28th April 2010, @ Northern Ireland Science Park

Registered angels, guests and pitching companies only


25k Award: Search for the Next Big Thing: Registration Open

The 2010 25k award: the Search for the Next Big Thing is underway. The purpose of the Awards is to identify, qualify, prepare and present the intellectual property from the publicly funded research base in Northern Ireland with the most commercial potential.

The competition is now open for registrations under the following categories: Hitech, Biotech, CleanTech and Digital Media & Software.

Click here for further details


halo News

HALO LAUNCHES NEW FUND

Halo, the NI Business Angel Network, is well known for running ‘Dragon’s Den for NI’. So for example at its February meeting 55 business angels assembled to watch 7 pitches from local start up companies.

However, in a new and radical bid to further increase private investment in NI companies, halo has launched its own business fund. Managed by Javelin Ventures, a London-based FSA regulated fund manager, the Halo Business Angels EIS Fund will provide for co-investment alongside the halo angels. The fund, which is itself only open to business angels to invest in, allows their money to be pooled and spread across a number of NI companies. This, along with EIS tax relief, has significant advantages for the investors while increasing the amount of money available to be invested in companies.

This fund, only the second of its type in Britain, will close for investment in March and should be looking to co-invest in halo companies from April.

The deadline to apply for the second of this year’s 5 halo meetings is 28th March, so if you have a high growth-potential company seeking investment, apply soon on http://www.nisp.co.uk/NISP-Halo-Entrepreneurs.aspx.


Norman's blog: “Choosing your Next steps at school”
Norman Apsley, NISP Chief Executive

I understand that this is about the time of year that each cohort of pupils in each key stage begins to choose the subjects of the next stage. So KS 3 pupils will be selecting their GCSE subjects and KS4 their AS and A-level courses. Now let me say immediately, I’m not for giving advice. These selections are so personal and so significant that only the pupils and their advisors can take on that responsibility.

I will say what happened to me. Science, especially Physics and Mathematics, fell into my lap and especially by the stage of A-level, it couldn’t have been any other way. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some regrets. My inability to choose between the Arts and the Sciences earlier, meant that my O-level [aka GCSE] curriculum couldn’t fit in Biology; without that subject, it closed off some future science avenues and that is the problem – science disciplines especially are layered structures and understanding needs to be piled on brick by brick.

Click here to read further

Sinclair’s Blog: Digital NI 2020 Update
Sinclair Stockman, Lead for Digital NI 2020
The first steering group meeting for Digital NI 2020 was held in February. Establishing and maintaining representative participation from across all business sectors is a critical input to the success of this initiative.

An update on activity over the past two weeks follows. This has involved a series of meetings with different players and building a better understanding of the extent of the IP core platform which acts as the starting point for our exploitation drive.

Click here to read further


Locate your Company at Northern Ireland Science Park

For further information on work space at Northern Ireland Science Park, click here


Events and notifications from our affiliates

IntertraderIreland Investment Pitch Masterclass
Mon 22nd March, Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge
This is a fantastic opportunity to improve your investment pitch by receiving dedicated one to one mentoring from a panel of experts. This would normally cost a company €1000 but IntertradeIreland is able to offer this free of charge.

Click here for further details


Smart Grid Virtual Event:
Tues 30th March – Thurs 1st April
Part of the Sustainability Virtual Summit organized with the UN, Telco 2.0 ‘Smart Grids' looks at opportunities at the intersection of energy and ICT in a unique video-based online setting. Free to participate.

Click here for further details


Dragons Den Looking for Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs from across the country once again have a chance to make their business dreams come true by appearing on Dragons’ Den. If you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, contact Richard Ferguson, halo manager for further information and details on Richard.ferguson@nisp.co.uk.