At any recent life sciences gathering, there is a constant debate about the future of the venture capital model. Since 2000, the number of venture capital firms has halved and the amount of money available to VC firms to invest has also decreased significantly. For six Irish life sciences companies the 2013 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference provided an opportunity to grab the attention of potential investors, senior industry executives and key opinion leaders.
From a venture capital and business development perspective, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco is arguably the most important event of the entire year for the health care sector.
In fact, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference has had such a large impact on the life sciences community that a number of supplementary conferences aimed specifically at early stage technology companies now take place in conjunction with the main conference. While issues and trends in the US healthcare system, med tech and biopharma industries are discussed at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference – life sciences entrepreneurs such as Jerry O’Brien of Cork-based point-of-care diagnostic Radisens pitch their offerings and solutions to potential investors and partners at conferences like OneMedForum.
Genesis VMI – an Irish software company with an inventory management solution for the operating room environment – recognize that coming to the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is not just about attending seminars. Managing Director of Genesis VMI, Noel O’Hanlon commented that “it is really about the opportunity to meet with potential healthcare investors and potential technology partners from around the world – all in San Francisco for one week”.
This year, with six Irish life sciences companies ascending on San Francisco for this increasingly popular event, Enterprise Ireland organized a reception with some key opinion leaders, investors and deal-makers. Among the attendees, were Tom Loarie (Chairman of Mercator and also a member of Enterprise Ireland’s Medical Device Advisory Council – a group of experts in the US medical device industry that have an interest in helping Irish medical device companies succeed in the US), Nola Masterson (Managing Director of Science Futures – a life sciences investment firm), Randall Lashinski (CEO of Claret Medical – a catheter medical device company that has worked with a number of Irish companies), John MacMahon (COO of Maya Medical – a medical device company owned by Covidien and currently working with a number of Irish companies), Laurence McGrath (Executive Director US Healthcare Analyst at JP Morgan) and Bruce Jenett (Co-Chair of the Global Life Sciences Sector of, DLA Piper).
Other Irish life sciences companies in attendance included point-of-care diagnostic company, Biosensia; medical device company, Neuravi; drug discovery company, Sigmoid Pharma; and novel platform technology company, TriMod Therapeutics.
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It’s one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the States – a centre for IT innovation, aerospace and defence manufacturing, beef barons and oil tycoons and home to the SXSW music and media showcase. And in March 2013, and it will be the destination for an Enterprise Ireland ministerial-led cross-sectoral trade mission.
In the latest edition of Enterprise Ireland‘s The Market magazine, Nick Marmion looks at why it’s hats off to the Lone Star State.
Texas is the second largest economy in the United States and the 15th largest in the world. What’s more, it’s the largest exporter of goods in the US: Texas currently grosses more than $100 billion a year in trade with other nations. It’s also home to 51 Fortune 500 companies, making it third in line after New York (with 57) and California (53). Irish companies with operations in Texas include Intuition, Kentz, Sercom, Firecomms, Icon and Trintech. But we believe the state presents further, and as yet barely exploited, opportunities for Irish companies to sell goods and services, develop partnerships and explore research linkages. In March 2013, we will co-ordinate a ministerial-led, cross-sectoral trade mission to Texas, taking in Dallas, Houston and Austin. This should be of particular interest to companies with solutions in the areas of:
- Wireless telecoms, chip and ICT manufacturing
- Medical device and IT for life sciences
- Oil and gas
- Smartfarm products for the dairy and cattle industries
DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY
One of the first industries to thrive in Texas after the civil war was cattle. Due to its long history as a centre of the livestock industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy.
However, the state’s fortunes expanded in the early 20th century, when the oil started to flow. With strong investments in universities, Texas has developed a diversified economy and high-tech industry. Today, it is a leader in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace and biomedical sciences.
ICT HUB
Texas is one of the major hubs in the US for computer components and systems, as well as software. The Austin area is often referred to as ‘Silicon Hills’ because of the concentration of semiconductor design companies. Dell’s headquarters are located in the city’s suburb, Round Rock. Dallas is the birthplace of the integrated circuit, and by some definitions, the birthplace of the microprocessor. The North Dallas area has a high concentration of IT companies such as Texas Instruments and EDS. In addition, Harris County-based Compaq was once one of the world’s largest computer companies, and since Compaq’s merger with Hewlett-Packard, HP currently employs more employees in the Houston area than anywhere else in the world.
ENERGY CAPITAL
Texas is a global leader in the energy industry, and Houston is the energy capital of the world. The known petroleum deposits of Texas are about 8 billion barrels – or approximately one third of known US supply. As wells are depleted in the eastern portions of the state, drilling has moved westward. Several of the major oil companies have headquarters in Texas, including Conoco Phillips, Marathon Oil (Houston), Exxon-Mobil (Irving), Tesoro, and Valero (San Antonio). In addition, many of the world’s largest oilfield services firms, including Halliburton, Schlumberger and Dresser, have made Texas home, and major pipeline operators, such as El Paso and Dynegy, along with diversified energy firms such as TXU and Reliant Energy, are also there.
Since 2003, Texas state officials have created various initiatives like the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to develop the economy of Texas. Texas has become a leader in alternative energy sources, producing more wind power than any other state, and it has also invested in small-scale solar power and experimental wave power generators.
DEFENCE
A large number of defence contractors are located in Dallas and Houston, creating strong employment for the state. Two divisions of Lockheed Martin have their headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worthis where the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the largest Western fighter craft – and its successors the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor – are manufactured. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is headquartered in Grand Prairie.
MUSIC AND MEDIA
Running from March 10 to 13, 2013, the Irish trade mission will coincide with the South by Southwest (SXSW) annual week of conferences and festivals. SXSW has become an increasingly important destination for Irish companies interested in the convergence of music, film, internet and emerging technologies, and we expect 30 to 40 client companies from these sectors alone to travel to Houston between March 8 and 17, 2013. So it’s come to Houston – and Dallas, and Austin.
For further information, contact Nick Marmion, Enterprise Ireland’s US West Coast Manager, nick.marmion@enterpriseireland.com, +1 650 294 4081.
2013, Austin, biotech, Communications, Compaq, Conoco Phillips, Dallas, Dresser, Dynegy, EDS, EI, El Paso, energy, enterprise ireland, EntIrl, Exxon-Mobil, Firecomms, Gas, Halliburton, Hewlett-Packard, Houston, HP, ICON, Intuition, Kentz, Lockhead Martin, Marathon Oil, March, Med Device, Medtech, mobile, Oil, Pharma, Reliant Energy, Schlumberger, Sercom, Silicon Hills, software, South by South West, SXSW, SXSW 2013, Telecomms, Tesoro, Texas, Texas Instruments, The Market, Trintech, TXU, Valero

Looking at where VCs are putting their money is an easy way to identify sectors with perceived growth potential. The Affordable Care Act (known affectionately as “Obamacare”); a new additional 2.3% medical device tax; and continued uncertainty about the FDA approval process has led to big drop in VC funding dollars in the US life sciences industry in 2012. In fact, PwC have estimated that the medical device industry is down 30% in VC funding dollars and 22% in VC deals in Q2 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.
Remarkably, it does not seem that these challenges have impacted digital health, connected health, health technology or whatever term you might prefer to use. At the Health 2.0 San Francisco Fall event, the digital health accelerator RockHealth declared that VC funding dollars had increased by 70% and that VC deals had increased by 84% in Q3 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.
So it should not be surprising that when Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick proclaimed that the third week in October would be known as “Innovation Week” in Boston that it was centered around two large health technology events.
The focus on the role of technology in healthcare began with a two-day event in the Massachusetts State House. The extensively named, “EU-US eHealth Marketplace & 2012 Transatlantic Health IT/eHealth Cooperation Assembly” was organised by the European Connected Health Alliance (ECH Alliance), the Northern Ireland Massachusetts Connection (NIMAC) and EU Commission. Essentially, the purpose of the event was to encourage the development of collaborations between the US and Europe in the area of connected health.
Among the attendees with a link to Enterprise Ireland were Irish companies SilverCloud Health and Cara Wellness whom exhibited and pitched their offerings at the assembly of 300 health tech executives, financiers, policy makers and health tech enthusiasts.
Headquartered in the National Digital Research Centre in Dublin, SilverCloud Health has a platform that allows healthcare providers and organisations to rapidly introduce health and wellness programs to their clients.
Through the collaboration of CASALA, ADA and Rigney Dolphin; CARAwellness has a technology that allows users gather information about their health from several technology sources so that they can keep an eye on their wellbeing and allow them share it with their carers. CARAwellness are able to do this through the use of medical technology, such as blood pressure cuffs, weight scales and sensors.
It was not just Irish health tech companies represented though – to promote eHealth Week 2013, Ciaran Cannon, T.D., Minister of State for Training and Skills concluded the two-day seminar with an invitation to all participants and their peers to come to the new convention centre in Dublin next May for the event – one of many conferences coinciding with Tourism Ireland’s “The Gathering 2013”.
Next up was the main event, the Connected Health Symposium 2012 presented by Partners HealthCare – the not-for-profit health care system that was founded by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The Connected Health Symposium prides itself on being the place where healthcare and technology collide – and they’ve been colliding annually for 9 years now in Boston. The discussions ranged from the policy driving “meaningful use” to discussions on how Americans are embracing solutions for health and wellness voluntarily – an estimated 60% of US adults are tracking their weight, diet or exercise routine voluntarily (albeit about half of these engaged Americans are what Susannah Fox of the Pew Internet & American Life Project described as “self trackers” – those who track their health using the popular “skinny jeans test”).
There’s a lot happening in health tech in the US at the moment and next year at eHealth Week 2013 in Dublin, Ireland Inc. will have its opportunity to showcase what the Irish health tech community can bring to the table.
Picture above is the main hall in the Massachusetts State House at the EU-US eHealth Marketplace & 2012 Transatlantic Health IT/eHealth Cooperation Assembly.
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QUMAS – Complimentary Life Sciences Seminar
Implementing Compliance & Quality Management for Partner Collaboration Across Life Sciences
The Westin Princeton, Forrestal Village, New Jersey September 20, 2012
Join QUMAS for a complimentary seminar on “Implementing Compliance & Quality Management for Partner Collaboration across Life Sciences”, at The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, New Jersey, on September 20, 2012.
The seminar will focus on;
- The Growing Business Demands for Collaboration across the Life Sciences Industry
- Potential Regulatory, Operational and Reputational Impacts of Uncontrolled Collaboration
- How to Achieve Collaboration Maturity across the Enterprise, including Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing and Supply Chain
- Technology and Validation Solutions for Addressing the Compliance Challenges Raised by Collaboration
The agenda will feature senior executives from the following organizations:
Alvogen
Microsoft
QUMAS
Glemser Technologies
LNS Research
Agenda:
8:00 – 8:30 – Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:15 – Managing Compliance as Collaboration & Outsourcing Increase across the Life Science Industry, Kevin O’Leary, CEO QUMAS
9:15 – 10:00 - Global Trends in Life Sciences: Addressing Collaboration and Quality Challenges, Matt Littlefield, President and Principal Analyst, LNS Research
10:00 – 10:30 – Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:15 - CIO Insights: Implementing Compliance and Quality Management Across the Enterprise, Joe Rutz, CIO, Alvogen
11:15 – 11:45 - Implementing Compliance & Quality Management across the Enterprise, Murtuza Vasowalla, Director, Global Solutions Consulting, QUMAS
11:45 – 12:30 - Best Practice Recommendations for Implementing Quality Solutions and Validation Implications for On Premise and Cloud Based Systems, Ray Glemser, President, Glemser Technologies
12:30 – 1:30 - Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 - Microsoft for Life Sciences: Enabling Collaboration, Les Jordan, Chief Technology Strategist, Microsoft Life Sciences
2:00 – 2:30 – Compliance Made Easy with QUMAS & Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Murtuza Vasowalla, Director, Global Solutions Consulting, QUMAS
2:30 – 2:45 - Executive Summary, Kevin O’Leary CEO
2:45 – Expert Panel – In-depth Q&A Session
Demos Available On Request
Please email info@qumas.com if you would like to schedule a detailed demonstration tailored to meet your specific requirements or focused on one of the following topics:
- Moving from a Legacy EDMS, including migration and implementation
- SOP Management & Collaboration
- CAPA, Deviation, Change Control
- QUMAS ComplianceSP as your QMS
Evening Dinner Invitation
QUMAS will be hosting a dinner in Princetonon on the evening of September 20, 2012 and would be delighted if seminar attendees were available to join us. Please indicate on the registration form if you are available to attend.
Please click here to register
Please click here to download the seminar invitation
For more information, please see:
www.qumas.com/nj
QUMAS LinkedIn
http://www.twitter.com/QUMAS
https://www.facebook.com/QUMAS
About QUMAS
QUMAS is the leader in Compliance and Quality Management Solutions for the Life Sciences industry, with more than 260 global customer deployments and domain expertise in regulatory compliance since 1994.
Biopharma, biotech, Compliance, Complimentary, enterprise ireland, EntIrl, Generics, Life Sciences, Med Tech, Medical Device, New Jersey, Princeton, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, QUMAS, September, The Westin
Launching today is a new online resource directory for tech companies entering the US market. TechResources.us provides Irish technology companies doing business in the US with trusted and up-to-date information and connections to essential in-market resources, services and supports. These include accelerators, professional services providers, networking groups, investors, co-working spaces, conferences, online resources and academic research centres.

At the launch Nick Marmion, Head of Software with Enterprise Ireland’s Americas team said:
It can be challenging for Irish companies to find relevant and trusted resources using an online search so we’re offering clients this tailored directory as a starting point. The aim of the directory is to help Irish companies to understand and connect with the market before they even leave Ireland.
From there, Enterprise Ireland’s team in America can help clients to hone their market entry strategy and introduce them to the decision makers and relationships they’ll need to accelerate their growth over time”.
The directory was developed by MarketSprint, a market entry consulting firm based in New York and has been customised specifically to the needs of Irish technology exporters.
There are currently over 1,600 qualified resources in the TechResources directory and users can search by location, vertical market or resource type and refine their search using keywords. Directory entries are enhanced with one-click connections to key people or communities via Linkedin, Twitter, phone or email.
In addition to offering clients quick access to market knowledge, the TechResources directory encourages Irish tech companies to share their knowledge and expertise with each other.
As Nick explains:
Clients can use the directory to share their own favourite US resources, and they’ll get credit for doing so. This is an opportunity to create a community of Irish knowledge around the practical resources needed for US market entry.
Access to the directory requires a sponsor code. To get yours please email Request@TechResources.US using your company email address.

Company Description
Idiro Technologies provide predictive analytics for companies with large customer networks particularly telecoms, social networking sites and online gaming providers.
Idiro’s award-winning software service is used by its customers to predict consumer behaviour, acquire customers, drive revenues and many other marketing / CRM applications.
Job Description
Idiro Technologies are looking for an experienced Oracle developer/DBA to join their development team in Dublin (Ireland) city centre.
The job offers the successful candidate the opportunity to take a leading role in the design & development of Idiro’s award winning social network analysis platform. You will work in a small team and will be expected to take a proactive role in driving innovation and quality within the company.
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employment, idiro, ireland, Job, oracle, software, technology
Enterprise Ireland are delighted to announce our participation at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012 which takes place in Toronto from July 8th to 12th and provides a forum for companies to connect with Microsoft channel partners and with Microsoft staff, and to learn about the latest Microsoft programs, strategies, and cutting-edge technologies.
You can visit Digital WPC to find everything you need to know about the event.
Twelve to Fifteen Enterprise Ireland client companies are being offered the opportunity to participate in an ‘Ireland @ WPC’ stand at Microsoft WPC 2012. This is the second Enterprise Ireland participation at WPC and we are keen to build on last year’s success.
The Enterprise Ireland subsidised cost of participation at Microsoft WPC 2012 is €2,450 + 23% VAT per company.
Registration includes;
1) 1 Full Conference Pass (access to all areas) & Access to Microsoft Connect,
2) Stand Participation: Logos on backdrop, flyers on stand, Use of stand & EI PR,
3) Channel Partnering Workshop, 7th July
•How to sell to Channel partners
•How to better partner with Microsoft
4) Networking Reception for clients, partners and prospects. Monday 9th
5) Pre & Post Event Marketing to Press and Attendees
6) Advance Assessments (To be completed in April/May):
•International Expansion Readiness Assessment
•Partner Channel Building Readiness Assessment
•Ideal Partner Profile definition template
•Partner Value Propositions definition template
•Competitive SWOT & differentiator’s analysis template
The competition for space on the Ireland Stand at this show will be intense so early registration is advised. Places will be allocated to qualified client companies on a first come, first served basis.
You can register at;
https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/444/register
The deadline for online booking will be Monday 30th April 2012.
If you have further questions please get in touch; william.corcoran@enterprise-ireland.com
Pricing Intelligence Firm Profitero Named IBM Global Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012
Dublin-based pricing intelligence firm Profitero has been announced the IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year at the IBM SmartCamp Global Finals in San Francisco, California. Profitero beat off strong competition from almost 1,.000 start-ups from around the globe to win the title. The technology company provides a next-generation pricing intelligence service for retailers and manufacturers.
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Location: The Dogwood Room,
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709
8.45am -11.30am: Life Sciences Networking Event
An Irish delegation is embarking on an upcoming trade mission to strengthen economic and trade ties between North Carolina and Ireland. A key element to the Mission is a Life Science networking and partnering event to take place at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
The life Science event will showcase 14 of Ireland’s visiting high technology Life Science companies (Pharma and Medical Device click Enterprise Ireland Companies to view each company). The event will take place in an informal networking environment with table top displays by the guest companies. North Carolina Life Science companies are welcome to come and meet the visiting Irish companies to discuss their technologies, the life science sectors in North Carolina and Ireland, new developments in the sectors, collaboration and supplier opportunities.
The event will be opened by remarks from the Irish Government Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. and Richard Stack, President, Synecor. This event will start at 8.45am and give the opportunity for meetings and informal networking between North Carolina based and the visiting Irish companies.
You are warmly invited to come along and meet examples of technologies from the burgeoning Irish Life Science sector and network with the visitors and local colleagues.
******REGISTRATION INFORMATION******
Please RSVP to: Eoin.Moore@Enterprise-Ireland.com. For more information, please call: Eoin Moore on 212 546 0470
ReadySpace Announces Partnership with SaaS Internet
Security Services Provider MXSweep
ReadySpace partners with MXSweep to address growth in demand for internet security
and data retention compliance services in Asia Pacific
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Los Angeles – July 14th, 2011 – Readyspace, based in Singapore, and a Web Hosting Specialist offering a wide range of web hosting and cloud computing solutions, today announced at Microsoft WPC the launch of MXSweep Internet Security & Compliance services as part of their customer offering. Through the Parallels Automation platform, Readyspace will initially make available MXSweep email archiving & security services as a value add bundle to existing services such as online data back up and managed server hosting.
With over 4,000 SME, corporate and public sector customers in 18 countries, MXSweep is a global provider of on-demand security services including email security, content control & business continuity, encryption, email & SharePoint archiving, web and mobile security. These services allow users to address internet security issues by stopping malware threats in the cloud and can be combined with encryption, archiving and mobile security services to protect and retain confidential data. These services allow customers
to meet data privacy and retention rules driven by corporate governance and laws such as the Data Protection Act, FRCP, Basel 1, SOX, HIPAA, PCI and MiFID.
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