Puma to Launch Mobile Phone
As part of its diversification strategy, Puma is launching a mobile phone in the second quarter of 2010. The sportswear company has signed a license agreement with French mobile phone manufacturer Sagem Wireless. According to Puma, the agreement is in line with its strategy to move into new categories that complement its range of sport and lifestyle footwear, apparel, and accessories. In a statement, it said: “Puma’s entry into mobile leverages its innovative brand and design skill to improve user experience and connect its community.” The phone will be sold globally in Puma’s own stores and through operators. The phone will be solar-powered (the solar implement will be on the back of…
Read MoreTesco Launches FoodCloud Pilot in the UK After Success of Irish Programme
Tesco has this week launched a pilot FoodCloud programme at 10 of its UK stores, following on from the success of the food redistribution scheme in Ireland. Last July, Tesco Ireland committed to donating all of its surplus food to local charities through a partnership with the FoodCloud social enterprise. Set up by Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, FoodCloud connects businesses with surplus food to local charities that need it through its technology platform and app. The app allows store managers to alert local charities of the amount of surplus food they have at the end of each day. The charities then collect the food, free of charge. In the…
Read MoreNDRC Swequity Exchange calls for start-ups and backers
The second iteration of National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) Swequity Exchange is taking applications now. The initiative is building on the strong success of its first one earlier this year. People with clever digital business start-up ideas and people interested in getting involved in developing these start-ups have an opportunity to do just that through the programme. NDRC’s Swequity Exchange will bring people with business ideas together, choose the best ones and match them to a team of qualified voluntary experts. The team will get equity in the business if it successfully kicks off, while the start-ups get experienced advice and support from the beginning. Applications are being taken now…
Read MoreVodafone Smart Accessibility Awards launched 200,000 Prize Fund
Vodafone Smart Accessibility Awards launched a 200,000 prize fund The Smart Accessibility Awards 2012, a competition worth 200,000 that calls for developers from across Europe to design smartphone apps that take into consideration the needs of older people and people with disabilities, was launched today by the Vodafone Foundation and its partners. To encourage Irish interest in this international competition for new apps, the National Digital Research Centre (NDRA) has linked with Vodafone and its partners – the NCBI, IIA, and mobile open community group Mobile Monday – and will be hosting a two-day workshop at NDRC’s HQ on Crane Street on the 21 and 22 August. These leading Irish…
Read MoreMSD’s Rathdrum site to close in 2015
Pharmaceutical multinational MSD is closing its manufacturing facility in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, by the end of 2015, affecting 280 jobs on the site. The move is part of MSD’s ongoing review of its worldwide manufacturing capabilities that has resulted in sites being sold, closed or consolidated in all regions all over the world. The plant in Rathdrum makes ingredients for respiratory care, infectious disease and cardiovascular medicines. Manufacturing activities will start to be phased out in 2014 but no staff reductions are expected until the end of 2014, according to MSD. It plans to relocate products manufactured in Rathdrum to its sites in Ballydine , Co Tipperary and Singapore, as well as…
Read More100m MSD R&D; facility opened in Tipperary
A 100m pharmaceutical R&D; centre at MSD in Ballydine, Co Tipperary was officially opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny this morning. Construction on the facility on the existing Ballydine site began in September 2007 and 70 new, high-calibre roles have been created since then. MSD, which employs 2,300 people at eight operations throughout Ireland, said another 50 jobs could be created as further innovative medicines are developed at the centre. Six new medicines are currently in development at MSD Ballydine , including new candidate medicines for the combined treatment of high cholesterol and type II diabetes, and for the treatment of hepatitis C. An additional €6 million investment is already in the planning phase…
Read MoreActiveMood Review
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Read MoreTNS Distribution Opens New Offices in Sydney and Singapore
TNS Distribution has announced its expansion into the Asia Pacific region by opening offices in Sydney and Singapore. Based in Dublin, TNS Distribution has global operations with bases in the UK, Germany, France, Singapore, Sweden, Australia, Spain, and China. It is a trade-only distributor of consumer electronics and accessories for Apple products. The company has also started to offer services using PCH International entities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Japan. PCH International acquired TNS Distribution in June 2011. “We have developed a highly successful and sophisticated business model in Europe which we can now offer to our global retail partners for the Asia Pacific region,” said John McHugh, co-founder of TNS Distribution . Ivan Eustace, the co-founder…
Read More500 vacancies on offer at CCMA Ireland call centre jobs fair
500 vacancies on offer at CCMA Ireland call centre jobs fair Amazon, BSkyB, PayPal and EA Games are among the companies that will be taking part in the CCMA Ireland Contact & Shared Services Centre Jobs Fair later this month, at which more than 500 vacancies will be on offer. The event will take place in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin from 10am to 7pm on 26 February. Companies with vacancies that will be participating include: Amazon (Cork), Arise (Limerick), BSkyB (Dublin), CarTrawler (Dublin) , Chill Insurance (Dublin) , EA Games (Galway), eBay (Dublin), Eishtec (Waterford and Wexford), Marriott International Global Reservations & Customer Care (Cork), PayPal (Dublin and Dundalk), ServiceSource (Dublin), TrendMicro (Cork), VoxPro (Cork)…
Read MoreIrish start-up Pharmapod is European winner of The Global Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards
NDRC LaunchPad alumnus and Irish start-up Pharmapod was announced today as the European winner of The Global Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, an international business plan competition that identifies, supports and encourages projects by women entrepreneurs. Last June Pharmapod and its founder Leonora O’Brien was selected as one of the 18 Cartier finalists from over 1,200 applicants worldwide. This week she was invited to France for the final round of competition, which included submitting a detailed business plan and presenting her project in front of the jury. One winner was chosen from each of six regions worldwide with Pharmapod selected as the ‘Laureate for Europe’. The company will now receive a…
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