Information Age Park Ennis opened by Minister Micheál Martin

Information Age Park Ennis helps position Shannon Region as leader in formation of knowledge business

Mr. Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Thursday, 9^th June, 2005) officially opened the Information Age Park Ennis, a new 30 acre Technology Park developed by Shannon Development in Ennis, Co. Clare.

Minister Martin opened the 1^st Phase of the project, involving an investment of €11 million by Shannon Development, in land infrastructure and the provision of 45,000 square feet of technology incubation, large floor-plate and own door office accommodation in the new InnovationWorks facility. An estimated €110 million will be invested between the public and private sectors in the new Park over the next fifteen years.

The objective of Information Age Park Ennis is to provide a strategic, sustainable and long-term response to the economic development needs of Co Clare, through the development of a hub of Irish and foreign owned technology, service and knowledge intensive enterprise such as research, software development, back-office and headquarter facilities.

Speaking at the launch in Ennis, Minister Martin said: “When completed, the new Park has the potential to facilitate the creation of 3,500 high value jobs in over 600,000 ft² of high quality office accommodation”.

“The new Information Age Park Ennis is the fifth location in the Shannon Development Knowledge Network of business parks and will be another major asset to stimulate economic growth in Co Clare and the Shannon Region. I know that Ennis has a young vibrant population (42% of population are under 25) with the skills and appetite to exploit this new state of the art knowledge based facility. From its Information Age Town roots, Ennis boasts one of the highest PC and internet usage rates in Ireland. This combined with major progress in high-speed connectivity and broadband access in Co Clare in recent times will ensure that Ennis is well positioned to exploit exciting new opportunities on the horizon,” he added.

“The opening of the Information Age Park Ennis positions Ennis and the Shannon Region as a leader in the formation and development of knowledge age business. As it opens its door for business, the Park already has 9 High Potential Start-Up technology companies in incubation at its InnovationWorks facility. These companies between them already employ 30 people. I wish these companies every success in their new location,” the Minister concluded.

In addition to new business incubation space, the new InnovationWorks facility will offer a range of small and large floor plate and own door office accommodation solutions to a range of potential new overseas and indigenous investment. To make starting a technology business as easy as possible, the new InnovationWorks will offer a unique hot desk facility, allowing entrepreneurs to carry out feasibility studies without huge financial outlay in the initial stages.

Speaking at the launch, Kevin Thompstone, chief executive, Shannon Development, said, “Developing a high-density urban office park in Ennis demonstrates how Shannon Development continues to bring added value to economic development in the Region.”

“The opening of Information Age Park Ennis marks an important milestone in the work of Shannon Development of ensuring that the Shannon Region has world class facilities not only to attract new inward investment, but to grow indigenous knowledge based businesses. The completion of the 1^st Phase of the Information Age Park Ennis is a further jewel in the Region’s industrial crown, and we now have a cluster of high technology parks second to none in the country, which include the National Technology Park Limerick, Kerry Technology Park, Birr Technology Centre, and Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles. With the development of the Park in Ennis, we are well on our way to creating a world class environment where there is a tangible synergy between business, education and innovation. To-date over €40 million has been invested in the Shannon Region Knowledge Network,” added Mr. Thompstone.

The target market for the Information Age Park Ennis includes new indigenous high potential start-ups or HPSUs, new Foreign Direct Investment sourced by IDA Ireland, and incremental economic activity from Clare based business and investment from Irish companies outside Co. Clare and Shannon Region.

In tandem with the launch of the Park, Minister Martin also announced that Shannon Development has invested €200,000 in three new HPSU’s in the first quarter of 2005, leveraging €405,000 from promoters and venture capitalists. Two are R&D projects, Cratlon Ltd, based in Co Clare, and Puregreen Ltd in InnovationWorks Limerick. 11 new jobs are projected in the third HPSU, Computerised Measuring Systems Ltd. also based in InnovationWorks Limerick.

ENDS