Irish biotechnology Network
15 May 2002

BioResearch Ireland has recently launched a new website for the Irish biotechnology community. The aim of this website is to build a stronger communication network within the biotechnology industry. This will be achieved by Career and vacancy pages, company profiles, online discussion groups and online registering for upcoming events. Site membership is not restricted to companies; departments, research centres and individuals are welcome to join.

Noel Daly is the commercial manager of the National Cell and Tissue Culture Centre (NCTCC); NCTCC is one of the five research centres of BioResearch Ireland. Noel's Role is to liase with DCU academics to strengthen and develop the Irish commercial Biotech sector.

"The network is also a source of information on all aspects of biotechnology in Ireland and highlights Ireland as a centre for biotech excellence in basic and applied research as well a location for biotech businesses large and small, indigenous and multinational.", Noel said.

There are many factors involved that brought about the need for this web site. As already mentioned by Noel, there is strong growth in the Irish biotechnology Sector, indicated by the larger increase in research spending by Science Foundation Ireland and the success of the IDA in attracting overseas biotechnology.

BioConnect Ireland is the 'offline' Irish office of BioResearch Ireland. Since being established at the beginning of 2001 there has been a successful channel of discourse with the Irish Biotech sector. One of these conferences, organised by BioConnect Ireland, was hosted here at DCU hosted by the school of Biotechnology.

With the expansion of this industry a new means was needed to effectively communicate with the other companies entering the field of biotechnology. Government agencies and companies need to be able to maximise shared information and an interactive website is the most appropriate forum for this.

So with all these forces in play the strong success of such a website was guaranteed. In the words of Noel Daly, www.biotechnologyireland.com provides a one-stop-shop of information for the biotechnology sector.

related links
BioConnect Ireland
IDA
Science foundation Ireland