Institute of Technology, Sligo has extended its campus infrastructure and operations into County Leitrim with the official opening of a new dedicated facility at the Hive, Leitrim’s Technology Enterprise Centre, in Carrick-on-Shannon.

The new premises are a collaboration with the Leitrim Enterprise Office (LEO), and will enhance IT Sligo’s reach into the region, enabling it to use the new base for its innovation, online and contract research activities.

It will also act as hub for the Regional Skills Forum in the North West and its new manager Oran Doherty. The Forum was developed as part of an initiative by the Department of Education and Skills, to provide a more systematic way for employers and the education and training system to work together to build the supply of skills to support job creation and the growth and development of each region.

Welcoming the new facility, Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of IT Sligo, said: “The Institute has always prided itself on being a regional resource, not just a Sligo one. We see this new facility as another significant step in helping to drive economic and social development in the region.”
“The expertise and support provided by the Institute’s Innovation Centre at our Sligo headquarters has a proven track record over the years of nurturing businesses and start-ups. This new facility now enables us to take that knowledge into the region and to give it a distinctively Leitrim focus. We want to provide an environment where local businesses can grow their operation in their own county. As they develop, they are more likely stay in the county.”

IT Sligo’s new Hive facility addresses one of the key objectives of the recent Jobs Action Plan for the North West 2015-2017, which was published by the Government late last year – namely to increase collaboration between enterprise and the higher education institutes.

The Hive is owned and managed by Leitrim County Enterprise Fund (LCEF). Frank Curran, CEO of Leitrim County Council, and Chairman of the LCEF said: ‘The collaboration with IT Sligo is very much welcomed by Leitrim County Council and Leitrim County Enterprise Fund. IT Sligo is our local third level institution and the work of the Innovation centre at IT Sligo complements perfectly what is happening at The Hive. The Hive, or Leitrim’s Technology Enterprise Centre, provides serviced office space to meet the needs of businesses in the ICT, Digital Media and other knowledge and service based areas. I would like to thank Prof Vincent Cunnane, President IT Sligo, for working with us here in Leitrim to drive microenterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation. ‘

Further details on the new IT Sligo facility at The Hive in Carrick-on-Shannon are available at www.itsligo.ie.