CoLab – at the
heart of innovation in Donegal
07.09.21
CoLab is a purpose built
incubation centre based on the campus of the Letterkenny
Institute of Technology. Having began life in the early
80s as a small incubation centre, it is now the largest
business centre in the 3rd level sector in Ireland.
Patsy Donaghy is manager of CoLab and has been with the
centre since 2002, overseeing significant expansion, the
roll-out of a host of training programmes and the
provision of 35 business units to 60 companies who in
turn employ over 220 people.
Patsy explains: ‘’At CoLab we offer a wide range of
workspace solutions. From large offices to hot desks in
the co-working area we have space to fit a range of
business offerings. There are three distinct groups whom
we assist. First are start-ups that need help and
direction with their early stage ideas. We offer the New
Frontiers Programme in conjunction with IT Sligo in the
North West which provides the skills, support, and
confidence needed to make the leap to starting a
successful business.
‘’The second group we are looking to help is Diaspora
from the region. We connect with people that have left
the North West but either want to return to start-up
their own business or can influence the company they
work for to open a European base in Donegal". Some
examples of these companies include ElectroRoute,
an independent energy trading and services company,
Arklu, the Lottie Dolls manufacturer and KeyedIn
Solutions, a cloud-based software company. |
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Patsy Donaghy, manager of
CoLab. |
The third group are remote
or co-workers with the centre equipped to service 30
remote workers with individual desks along with printer
and private phone facilities.
CoLab clients, or assets as Patsy calls them, are
diverse in nature. While the centre focuses on helping
technology and export focused companies sectors
represented include: cloud computing, software
development, e-commerce, education, film and video,
energy, finance, fire safety and manufacturing.
Two of the largest companies in the centre are currently
adding significant numbers to their staff headcount.
These are Druva, a software firm headed up by local man
David Gildea who will recruiting a further 20 employees,
while similarly Nvolve, a long-term CoLab resident, have
recently announced similar expansion plans.
One of the biggest benefits for businesses setting up in
CoLab are the established connections to businesses in
the region and abroad, business consultants and
high-quality graduates on your door step being based on
the campus of LYIT, as well the nearby Ulster
University. |
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CoLab is a purpose built
incubation centre based on the campus of the LYIT. |
According to Patsy: ‘’the
most important benefit is the calibre of the companies
that are based in the centre. If you need advice on
setting up your company we have accountants online, if
you want advice on manufacturing or buying in China then
Ian Harkin is the man to talk to. If you need advice on
crowd funding you can talk to Michael White of Motorme
or problems with data security then Clare Ryan of Itus
Technologies is the person to have a cup of coffee
with.’’
Collaboration is in the name and in the DNA of Patsy and
the business centre. CoLab also works closely with other
business centres including Inishowen Innovation Hub in
Buncrana.
Patsy’s concludes ‘’Donegal is now recognised as a hub
for tech, R&D and innovation. At CoLab alone there are
60 companies who develop new tech products and export
across the world as far away as Japan, US and Australia.
Businesses have chosen to locate here because they have
all the facilities and supports available in major
cities but without the hassle of congested traffic, high
costs and time constraints, coupled with an unrivalled
quality of life.’’ |
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