15th June 1999

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The computing industry in Northern Ireland has been given a major boost with the announcement that a new company specialising in business intelligence is to spin off from the Faculty of Informatics at the University of Ulster.

MINEit Software Ltd, based at the new Technology and Software Incubator Centre in Magee College and at the University's Jordanstown campus, has already won major contracts for work in Northern Ireland and in Dublin, and has plans to employ 10 people in its first year.

MINEit is developing innovative business intelligence software products that use data mining technology to help companies focus on their customers' needs. The technology has been developed by the University's NIKEL research laboratory which is recognised as a world leader in data mining research. The data mining technology developed by MINEit enables a company's databases to be analysed by computer algorithms that can discover previously unknown patterns, such as customer purchasing behaviour and trends. This technology has substantial potential for companies engaged in e-commerce, trading via the Internet.

The company's founders, Professor John Hughes, Sarabjot Anand, Alex Büchner and Maurice Mulvenna have invested in the company with UUTECH, the University's spin-off organisation. Additional funding from external organisations and the Northern Ireland Government is in place. The Government funding includes support through LEDU's European-funded Fast Growth Brokerage Scheme, and demonstrates the commitment of the Northern Ireland Government to support indigenous software companies in the province. The new company will be led by the by Managing Director, Mr Maurice Mulvenna.

This is one of the first software spin-offs from the University of Ulster and as such indicates the value of university research in the province, and its potential in creating local jobs and contributing to the competitiveness of Northern Ireland.

Professor Hughes, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, and one of the founding directors of MINEit said: "This is a significant milestone for NIKEL and for the Faculty of Informatics. MINEit is the first of several software companies that will be launched by Faculty staff this year, thereby contributing significantly to the indigenous software industry in Northern Ireland".

Maurice Mulvenna said: "Our applied research and technology transfer in NIKEL has helped to put our research ideas into practice. We're competing in a global market, providing innovative software that helps companies to do business on the Internet."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk