Hundreds of new jobs at UCD

OVER 300 highly skilled jobs are to be created at UCD
in the next two years, it was revealed last week.

It comes on top of another 100 positions announced by
Greyhound Recycling and Recovery which recently acquired the bin collection
services in Dublin city and South County Dublin.

At UCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre
NovaUCD expects 300 highly-skilled jobs to be created through the 37 companies
based at the centre over the coming two years.

This will more than double the number of people currently
employed in companies based at the centre, which stands at 205.

The announcement was made by Professor Peter Clinch,
Vice-President for Innovation at UCD.

The employment projection figures are based on the
results of an annual employment survey of companies based at the centre. These
companies have raised over

?¬40 million in equity investment to date and created
80 jobs last year.

Firms located at the centre include a mixture of

“spin-out

? and

“spin-in

? operations. Spin-outs are companies established by UCD
researchers to commercialise the outputs of their research activities. Spin-ins are companies that locate at NovaUCD
to interact more closely with UCD research and development and
commercialisation activities.

NovaUCD companies are involved in diverse activities
including social web search solutions, services for app developers, equine
genetics, elearning and energy management.

Professor Clinch said NovaUCD client companies were
established to translate innovative ideas into value-added products and
services.

“The development and growth of such high-tech and
knowledge-intensive companies is of critical importance for Ireland’s economic
recovery,

? he said.

“I am delighted that the facilities and supports being made
available to the start-ups located at UCD are helping these companies thrive
and create quality jobs.

?

Meanwhile, the
Clondalkin based company, Greyhound,
said 50 new positions across the company’s IT, customer care, credit
control and marketing departments have been filled in recent weeks.

Appointments will be made for the remaining 50
positions over the coming months as the waste management company continues to
roll out its new bin collection service across Dublin city.

“The creation of these new jobs is directly related to
our decision to acquire the bin collection services in Dublin city and South
County Dublin,

? said Michael Buckley, joint founder and CEO of Greyhound
Recycling and Recovery.

“We have developed and sourced the most efficient
technologies and software from our experience of operating our business across
16 countries worldwide and applied that to our operations in the household
market in Dublin.

?