CorkBIC

CorkBIC is a leading interdisciplinary venture consultancy in the South West of Ireland.

The company provides an integrated process for incubating and growing high potential technology driven companies.

CorkBIC identifies, selects and develops about 12 higher potential startups per year and works as a hands-on catalyst or project developer in infrastructure gap initiatives. Examples would be

• The Electronics Industry Linkage Programme.
• The Atlantic University Alliance of 3 established Universities coming together to develop a cross region Technology Transfer Initiative.
• CorkBIC initiated in 1997 an industry association called it@Cork for IT professionals to develop the region as a centre of IT excellence.
• Working with the Regional Authority and Cork Corporation CorkBIC initiated the 12m Euros National Software Centre project, financed between the public and private sector.
• CorkBIC with the 3 main University / Colleges (University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee) together with Enterprise Ireland initiated the Graduate Enterprise Programme - a 12 month rapid incubation programme that has now fast tracked nearly 60 companies.
• CorkBIC together with the Cork Chamber of Commerce early in 2000 initiated a broadband access project for the region.

Development:

CorkBIC was formed in 1988 with the support of the European Commission, Cork Chamber of Commerce and the public sector (local authority, statutory agencies and University/Colleges).

It was licensed by the Commission as an EC-BIC in 1994 and has been regularly audited on behalf of the Commission and the CSF for Ireland.

Regional profile:

South West Region of Ireland. The South West region of Ireland comprising of the counties Cork and Kerry has a population of 558,000 inhabitants and a wide geographic area of 12,000km².

The region has a huge coastline, the largest deep water harbour in Europe and is the most westerly point of the EU.

The traditional focus on agriculture, tourism and fishing has given way in recent years to electronics, software and biotechnology and supply chain sectors of more traditional industry.

These newer sectors have centred on major urban centres, universities/research centres and spin off from foreign direct investment multinationals.