Photo: Oisin McHugh True Media
THE Nexus Innovation Centre at the University of Limerick marked its fifth year in business this week with Innovation Minister John Halligan paying tribute to its role in supporting 76 start-up companies which employ more than 310 people between them.
Launching the Centre’s annual report, Minister Halligan said: “Nexus has made a significant contribution to entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation in this region. The generation of new ideas and new companies at UL has far-reaching impacts, such as attracting foreign direct investment, driving innovation in our SME sector, attracting talent and contributing to our global reputation.”
Dr Mary Shire, Vice President Research said that since its establishment, the Nexus Innovation Centre has exceeded all targets and has become a key part of the dynamic start-up ecosystem in this region.
“We are educating our students here to become masters of their own destiny with over 68 per cent of companies at Nexus founded by UL graduates,” she added.
This state-of-the-art campus facility, opened in 2011 with support of €1.44 million from Enterprise Ireland, has supported a growing community of international entrepreneurs. Over the last five years, Enterprise Ireland has provided funding in excess of €6.5 million under the Commercialisation Fund, to aid the development and generation of spin-out companies.
In 2016 alone, support from the Nexus Centre led to the creation of more than 149 high quality jobs in companies that received investment in excess of €7.35 million.
In recent times, UL spin-out and campus company successes include:
Arralis – An aerospace start-up, which recently secured €50m of funding from a consortium of Hong Kong-based investors and is the 2016 Irish Times Innovation of the Year award-winner.
HookeBio – Drug discovery start-up, in the process of being established by Stokes Bio Founder Prof Mark Davie, recently won ‘One to Watch’ award by Enterprise Ireland.
Stokes Bio – established by Prof Mark Davies and Dr Tara Dalton, Stokes Bio made history in 2010 when it was sold for €33 million, making it the largest university spin-out acquisition in the history of the state.
Altratech – the rapid diagnostics technology company, recently raised €5.2M following The Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Growth Fund and Infinity Capital leading a €2.2M investment and the Company securing €3M in EU Horizon 2020 funding.
Ostoform – medical device campus company is 2017 AIB Start-Up Academy winners.
BNest – Ireland’s first social entrepreneurship programme delivered in partnership with Nexus Innovation Centre.
