Keen to encourage more companies in the Shannon area to increase their research and development (R&D) activity and spend, Shannon Chamber has teamed up the Intel and Enterprise Ireland to host a half-day seminar on the topic.
The seminar, which takes place in Intelâs premises in Shannon on Thursday, 8 October from 8am to 12 noon, will involve speakers from Intel, Enterprise Ireland, Modular Automation, Reagecon Diagnostics and Grant Thornton, and also include tours of Intel Shannonâs plant. The seminar is free to attend with spaces limited to 70 attendees.
This is the second event Shannon Chamber has hosted in Intel and chief executive Helen Downes is delighted to have secured this venue for an R&D-themed event.
âIntel is the world leader in silicon innovation with R&D driving all its deliverables. Naturally, we were delighted when the company offered to host this seminar in its premises and to include tours of the facility as part of the event. It will give our members a real feel for the value of research.
âCoupled with this, we will have presentations from two local companies â Modular Automation and Reagecon Diagnostics, who are enhancing their competitive positions through research and development â Modular Automation specialising in solving complex automation problems for some of the worldâs largest multinationals and Reagecon, now one of the largest producers of physical and chemical standards and reagents.
âEnterprise Ireland will demonstrate the benefits of partaking in its Horizon 2020 programme – the European Unionâs new âŹ79 billion programme for research and innovation to create new growth and jobs in Europe â and its appropriateness to SME needs in particular. There are two schemes in Horizon 2020 that are of direct relevance to industry, in particular SMEs. This presentation will seek to explain these two schemes, (1) The SME Instrument and (2) Fast Track to Innovation.
âWith Irelandâs R&D tax credit system a major benefit to both multinational companies and SMEs operating in Ireland, Grant Thornton will give an overview of the financial benefits accruing to research. The R&D tax credit, introduced in the Finance Act 2004 offers a company undertaking R&D in Ireland a significant tax break representing a potential 25% refund of costs incurred.
âThis seminar will give attendees a real insight into the practical and financial benefits attaching to R&D. Â Â As the seminar is free of charge and space is limited to 70 places, early booking, on or before Oct 6 is advisable,â added Ms Downes.
The Shannon Chamber R&D Seminar is being hosted as an event in the Governmentâs ActionPlan for Jobs 2015 âStartup Gatheringâ, an initiative which runs from 5 â 10 October #StartupIRL, to highlight the resources available in Ireland to support the growth of a diverse pipeline of indigenous and international high growth start-ups,
Bookings for this Shannon Chamber seminar can be made at https://www.shannonchamber.ie/events/gaining-competitive-edge-through-rd/