NWRC helps three Donegal businesses access InterTradeIreland Fusion funding
By Aoife Curran
North West Regional Colleges (NWRC) Business Support Centre (BSC) has assisted three Donegal companies to secure InterTradeIreland Fusion funding to drive innovation and new product development in each of the businesses. The three businesses MMG Welding, Houston Precision Engineering and 3D Issue will each now recruit a graduate to drive forward their individual product development projects as part of the programme.
Dr Fergal Tuffy, Technology Innovation Manager at the NWRC’s BSC explained: “The InterTradeIreland funded Fusion programme encourages cross-border collaboration where a company on one side of the border partners with an academic institution on the other to bridge a gap in knowledge and support the company with bringing new process and product development ideas to fruition. Each project recruits a graduate specific to the needs of the company and then we at the NWRC provide our knowledge and expertise to supervise the graduate and support the company to make their ideas a reality. We have supported 17 businesses over the past 4 years and we are delighted to support these 3 companies on their new projects.
“The first company that we are assisting is Killybegs engineering company, MMG Welding. Our Product Design Centre Manager Philip Devlin met MMG owner Martin McGuinness on a joint Derry City & Strabane Council and Donegal Co. Council trade mission to the USA and Martin identified a market opportunity for a new product for the fishing industry. This product will be the first of its kind with significant commercial potential for the company. This project will see a mechanical design engineer recruited to lead the project and implement 3D computer aided design for it.
“Letterkenny based Houston Precision Engineering is a well-known Donegal company that specialise in metal fabrication and precision machining. When we spoke with Managing Director Martin Houston he outlined a new product that he wishes to bring to the market for waste recovery. Again we supported Houstons to successfully apply for the InterTrade funding and now a mechanical design engineer is being recruited to lead that project.’’
The final company that the NWRC are supporting is Letterkenny software company 3D Issue. Fergal outlined their project: “We got in touch with 3D issue just as the Covid-19 crisis was beginning. Around that time 3D Issue had some great publicity as they had announced that they were providing their staff the flexibility and opportunity to work a 4 day week. I thought that this showed great vision by company CEO Paul McNulty and after connecting we discussed ideas that Paul had to continue to grow the business. 3D Issue really are leaders in their field and after a successful funding application a front-end developer is now being recruited to work in the 3D Issue team to develop an online responsive magazine builder called Experios.”
Applications for the roles close on Friday 26th June and successful applicants will lead an 18-month innovation project, in a supportive partnership with NWRC and will also have the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in Business & Management as part of the employment package.
Graduate and experienced individuals are encouraged to apply for the InterTradeIreland Fusion Programme roles by visiting, https://intertradeireland.com/career-boost/current-vacancies/ or if you would like more information about how your business can benefit from working with NWRC through the Fusion programme call 0044 7436836313.
