15th June 1999

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The new £2.7 million Technology and Software Incubator has opened for business at the University of Ulster's Magee College campus with four companies already located in the Centre.

The Centre provides space for at least eight new software businesses in a purpose-built technology facility. Services offered include state-of-the-art software and electronic testing laboratories, full office and secretarial support and 24-hour access to secure business premises.

The opening marks the completion of three years of intensive negotiations between the University and its partners, who include LEDU, Derry City Council, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and other founders.

Funding has been provided by the University and private sources, and includes £1million from the European Unions Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

Professor Fabian Monds, Provost of Magee College and Co-Director of the Centre, said:

"The opening of the Incubator Centre is an exciting development for the North West. The University is committed to the economic development of the region and this facility, along with the recently announced Science Park initiative, will play a leading role in encouraging new business start-ups and in attracting new companies to the area. The Centre forms part of the University's strategy for the region and it builds on the success of existing initiatives With our partners, we have built the foundation for the development of new technology-based businesses which will make a vital contribution to the North West's economic future."

Mr Jim Dougal, Head of the European Commission Representation in Northern Ireland warmly welcomed the opening:

"Job creation and a new spirit of enterprise is important to the aims of the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation which is helping to fund this facility. Boosting our economic base will have an add-on affect on our social one, and indigenous technology based enterprises are vital to the growth of any economy. Entrepreneurs here can work in a supportive environment with access to industrial partnerships and networks."

Professor Terri Scott, Centre Co-Director, added:

"We're convinced the Centre will make a contribution towards job creation. At the moment, too many of our young computing science graduates are leaving Northern Ireland. We want them to have the opportunity to stay and contribute to the local economy, and this Centre - which will become a magnet for IT innovation and excellence - will help make that possible," said Professor Scott.

Four businesses have already set up in the Centre. Among them are husband and wife team, John and Penny Cowper who relocated to the area from England to set up a data warehousing company. The Cowpers believe that the data warehousing technology used by large companies could be adapted for use in smaller firms. Having identified this gap in the market they established their own company, The Data Warehousing Practice.

Raw Nerve Interactive is a joint venture between a University of Ulster academic and Raw Nerve Productions who made the Oscar nominated film Dance Lexie Dance.

Electronic Procurement Environments Ltd (EPE) is a new campus-based company and a joint venture between Vocean Ltd and the University of Ulster, which will develop and market a specialised electronic bidding product.

MINEit Software Ltd is a spin-out company created by a number of academics from the Faculty of Informatics in the University of Ulster which specialises in the provision of data mining services in national and international markets.

For further information, please contact:

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