14th November 2007

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Sports companies need to work more closely with researchers to enable their businesses to grow. That is the central message to be delivered at a University of Ulster workshop in Dublin this week.
 
Ulster, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Universities Ireland, will bring together researchers from both sides of the border and representatives of the sports industry to explain how collaboration between the two sectors can lead to increased business opportunities.
 
The workshop, being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday, November 14 at 10am, will examine how ongoing research across Ireland into devices, sports equipment, surfaces and physical activity and health may be applied to future EU framework programmes, with a view to establishIing stronger synergies between the research organisations and businesses.
 
Eric Wallace, Director of the Ulster’s Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute said: “This is a unique opportunity to bring sports industry representatives and our leading researchers from North and South together under one roof to discuss how best we can prepare ourselves to not only maximise this market sector in Ireland, but also crucially to become part of the bigger EU project which could lead to further funding and growth opportunities.  Ulster is committed to supporting innovation in this sector and to the growth and development of the sports industry.”
 
Eddie Friel of Ulster’s Business Liaison Office said: “For continued success in sport it is important to improve performance. One way of improving this performance is through continued use of technology in preparing athletes to develop their equipment. The better equipped we are, the more success we will have.”

The workshop is being held in response to the EU-funded Innosport project, which calls for mutual cooperation, partnership and a collaborative based approach between existing and new sports businesses and the researchers. Delegates will hear of innovative research that may yet be applied to the sports industry, a call for commitment to capacity building and an emphasis on business development, focussing on growth opportunities in this sector.  

The workshop will present the main points of the Innosport project, and will provide opportunities for business delegates to interact and contribute to future plans and directions that the sports industry in Ireland may input to the main European project.

Anyone wishing to register should confirm their attendance by contacting Karen Gwilliam, email kj.gwilliam@ulster.ac.uk   or fax 028 9036 8265 or call 028 (048 from RoI) 90368019.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young