Innovation Center for Irish Startup Companies opens in Silicon Valley
An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, formally opened a newly created Irish Innovation Center (IIC) in San Jose, California on March 14th during his official visit to the United States. The IIC, which is located in Silicon Valley, has been established to provide Irish technology startup companies a base to develop partnerships, markets and additional funding in the United States.
An Taoisearch was accompanied at the formal dedication ceremony by recently appointed chairman of the Irish Technology Leadership Group, Dr. Craig Barrett, and San Jose Mayor, Chuck Reed as well as Silicon Valley business executives, city and government officials.
“We are very excited with this new center being located in San Jose and to have the Prime Minister of Ireland here personally to offer his support to this enterprise,” said Chuck Reed, Mayor of San Jose. “Silicon Valley continues to demonstrate leadership as an ideal location for foreign based startups looking to partner with some of the world’s leading technology companies here locally,” he added.
The IIC announced that local industry veteran, Gordon Ciochon has been appointed as Executive Director of the center. Mr. Ciochon has thirty years of experience working in Silicon Valley’s technology sector, including ten years at Symantec as head of global operations.
Dr. Barrett commented, “The IIC is a concrete result of the vision embraced by industry and government participants at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin last September.”
The IIC will be ready for occupancy in April, providing flexible office space for up to 30 companies as well as access to venture capital firms, banking and legal services.
Resident companies will also be able to avail of reception and administrative support, as well as relocation, financial and IT services.
The IIC is closely affiliated to the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) which will partner with the center to provide residents with access to a built-in network of successful Silicon Valley business executives from leading technology companies.
In June 2009, the Innovation Alliance signed a transatlantic collaboration agreement with the Silicon Valley-based Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) to drive innovation and create new business on the island of Ireland.
Pictured far-right: Dr John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, John Hartnett, Chairman of the ITLG, and Dr Hugh Brady, President of University College Dublin signing the agreement last September
The Innovation Alliance/ITLG agreement defines a number of key areas where the parties collectively agree:
About IIC:
The Irish Innovation Center is the Silicon Valley launching pad for Irish Technology companies. From
San Jose, California - the capital of Silicon Valley - companies rapidly accelerate their growth by taking
advantage of the extensive services available from the IIC. The Innovation Center provides an
environment for like-minded entrepreneurs to gain access to venture firms, bankers, customers, suppliers
and employees that will enable their companies to grow and flourish. Within the innovation center flexible
office space, reception, administrative, legal, financial, human resource, and IT support are all available to
resident companies. For more information about IIC, visit www.irishic.com
About ITLG:
Established in October 2007, the ITLG is a group of high-level technology leaders in Silicon Valley who
are Irish or Irish-American. The ITLG includes senior executives from some of the Valley’s leading
corporations, each of whom are committed to helping Ireland face up to the issues and challenges of
embracing new technology opportunities. Chaired by Dr. Craig Barrett, the ITLG is based in Campbell,
California, USA. For more information about the ITLG, visit www.itlg.org.
Posted 15 March 2010
