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Applications invited for NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme 2009

NovaUCD is currently seeking applications for the 2009 Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP) which commences in March.
In the current economic climate, it is increasingly recognised that university research is a key national resource, which will make a growing contribution to Ireland's competitiveness and sustained economic growth through the generation of innovative products and services. In this regard, university start-up companies have a strategic role in building a thriving knowledge-based economy in Ireland.

NovaUCD is currently seeking applications for the 2009 Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP) which commences in March. The CCDP is NovaUCD’s flagship enterprise support programme and it has run annually since 1996. Since then over 140 projects and 210 individuals have completed the Programme and former participants now collectively employ over 700 people.

The aim of the CCDP is to assist UCD academic and research entrepreneurs in the establishment and development of knowledge-intensive enterprises to commercialise the output of their research and other innovative ideas. The Programme assists entrepreneurs in defining and developing their innovative ideas and preparing a detailed business plan.

 
Dr Kevin O’Connor, UCD Conway Institute & UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, founder of Bioplastech, runner-up award winner in the NovaUCD 2008 CCDP.

The programme will contain a mix of practical training and consultancy support including 12 half-day workshops, one-to-one advice, consultancy meetings, and a series of networking events.  Throughout the CCDP, participants will be assisted in the development of a business plan by the CCDP team.
Projects participating on the programme will be assessed by an evaluation panel made up of representatives from NovaUCD’s network and sponsors, including Arthur Cox and Deloitte.  Projects will be evaluated based on the progress made during the course of the CCDP through presentations made to the panel at the beginning and end of the programme and on the business plan.

The CCDP will culminate in an awards evening which will be held on November 18th 2009 in the William Jefferson Clinton Auditorium.  At this event, each project will deliver an “elevator pitch” on their project to an audience which is made up of the NovaUCD network including venture capitalists and business angels. Each project which has completed the CCDP will be presented with a certificate. Three short-listed projects will present their business plans in more detail and an overall winner will be announced. Each of the three short-listed projects will receive a sculpture and a monetary award.

All workshop sessions will take place in NovaUCD with workshop sessions starting at 8.30am and running until 12.30pm/1.00pm. For more information or for an application form please contact Dr Ciara Leonard, Project Manager, Enterprise Development, t: 716 3714 or e: ciara.leonard@ucd.ie. For additional information visit the NovaUCD website.