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Intel Ireland Research Conference
Intel Ireland Research Conference
The Intel Ireland Research Conference is back and will be held this year on November 21st and 22nd 2013 in Clontarf Castle, Dublin. This is a great opportunity for academic and industrial researchers, policy makers and Intel technologists to come together to discuss the hottest topics in ICT. As usual, we will host a number of plenary talks from outstanding speakers in a variety of fields, describing current opportunities and future challenges.
With the advent of the EU Horizon 2020 research funding programme, particular focus will be given to optimizing the interaction between industry and academia, from blue skies research to amazing technology. We will also host breakout sessions on themes of silicon and nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and design science for Information Systems – calls are now open for conference papers across all themes.
Design science is perhaps one of the newest but rapidly growing fields within Information Systems discipline, concerned with the creation and evaluation of IT artifacts (software, algorithms, management methods, design practices, etc) – full list of call for paper topics available at http://www.dssymposium.org/ .
Please join us for two days of debate and networking in beautiful Clontarf Castle, Dublin, Ireland. Conference pre-registration is now open at www.intel.eu/content/www/eu/en/education/ireland-research-conference.html
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Leaving your mark – How to maximise the potential of your brand online
Businesses often assume that a social media name (such as a Twitter handle or Facebook username), a business or company name or a domain name will be enough to protect their brand name. It isn’t. The only way to be sure that you have exclusive rights to your trading identity is to register the mark, logo, colour, slogan and so on as a trade mark. A trade mark registration offers brand owners a robust, frontline defence to prevent impersonation, dilution and exploitation of their most valuable intangible asset – their brand.
What could happen to my brand if I haven’t protected it?
Nowadays, businesses are facing threats from fake websites passing themselves off as the real thing, fake Twitter and Facebook accounts and the sale of counterfeit goods on websites such as eBay. If they’re not policed properly, these threats will directly affect the brand image and business of an organisation and they can drive away existing and potential customers.
Having a registered trade mark will not stop others trying to impersonate or exploit it, but it will make it much easier and cheaper to stop them from doing so. Many social media websites, online auction sites, hosting providers and other website operators have what are known as ‘notice and takedown’ policies. These policies set out when a service provider will respond to a request to remove content, branding or goods. Demonstrating the existence and infringement of a trade mark registration is often a necessary requirement for ensuring that swift action will be taken to protect your brand online. For example, generally on Twitter impersonation is not enough to require an account to be deactivated unless an element of deliberate confusion or deception is present. However, action will be taken to deal with an account that infringes a trade mark.
A trade mark registration also provides for more direct enforcement and policing of your brand. It can form the basis of a ‘cease and desist’ letter and litigation against those trying to exploit your brand, if it should come to that. While other legal routes exist to protect against the misuse of a word or a logo – such as an action for ‘passing off’ – none is as effective, both in terms of time and cost, as being able to rely on infringement of a registered trade mark.
What if I just wait until my brand has really taken off before trying to protect it?
There are many examples of businesses (particularly start-ups) failing to register their brand due to considerations of time, cost and so on: just ask Twitter itself. The social media giant was founded in March 2006 and rapidly gained popularity. Despite this, steps weren’t taken until 2007 to register the trade mark ‘Twitter’ and it wasn’t until 2009 that it tried to register the now-familiar ‘t’ logo and the trade marks ‘Tweet’ and ‘Retweet’.
Because it didn’t invest in its growing brand by registering trade marks early, Twitter had no straightforward, cost-effective way of preventing others from using ‘Twitter’ or similar variations in an attempt to free-ride on the popularity of Twitter. Predictably, lengthy and avoidable litigation ensued. Twitter also incurred further expense in subsequently having to take steps to secure the rights to its brand by having to block numerous applications in the USA to register trade marks for Twitter, Tweet.me, Tweetmarks and others.
The lessons learned from Twitter’s trade mark difficulties do not just apply to large organisations; small and medium-sized businesses also need to take steps at an early stage to protect their brand.
The bottom line
The bottom line for any business is this: if you think, hope or dream that one day your business and your brand will be worth something, then you cannot risk not taking the necessary steps now to secure the rights to it – for a fraction of the effort and cost of doing so later.
For further information, please contact Brian Johnston (bjohnston@lkshields.ie), Áine Matthews (amatthews@lkshields.ie) or Deirdre Kilroy (dkilroy@lkshields.ie) of our Intellectual Property and Technology Unit.
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Innovation Leadership Recognised in Dublin
The Innovation Luminary Academy and Awards have been established by the EU Open Innovation Strategy and Policy Group (OISPG) to celebrate and recognise outstanding innovation role models and through this to inspire the next generation of innovators.
The Academy was initiated with the support and sponsorship of Intel Labs Europe, DG Connect, European Commission, and Dublin City; and were established in association with the Innovation Value Institute and the International Society for Professional Innovation Management.
Those receiving the Awards last night became the first members of the Innovation Luminary Academy.
Introducing the awards by recorded video President of the EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said “I am very excited to see the quality of the nominees this year and am sure that the Innovation Luminary Awards will fast become a hallmark for celebrating and encouraging innovation achievement”.
OISPG Chairman and Intel Vice President Prof. Martin Curley said “The Irish EU Presidency can leave a legacy of and a trajectory for a new generation of Innovation leadership. These awards and the Academy into which these individuals enter will prove to be part of that legacy and an inspiration for all who are improving an ever changing world by being creative and innovative."
Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí said “In the last few years Dublin’s annual Innovation festival has created a significant awareness and appetite for Innovation in Dublin– thus Dublin was a natural location to host these awards”
Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College Dublin commented: “We were honoured to host this inaugural Innovation Luminary award ceremony The University is first and foremost about knowledge and is therefore a key player in innovation. Its leading research and high-level graduate employment are a cornerstone of such innovation. It is important to celebrate such innovation achievement, as it sends the right signal to our students and researchers, the innovators of the future.”
Inaugural luminaries included individuals such as Professor Stephen Hawking, Felix Baumgartner, Dr. Alexander Osterwalder and Prof Alex von Gabain and companies such as McLaren Electronic Systems and Rovio.
Also Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the Irish Internet Association was awarded a special local Irish Innovation Champion award for her crusading efforts to stimulate the Irish Internet ecosystem.
The Full List of Inaugural Innovation Luminary awardees is as follows:
Serial Entrepreneurship
Professor Alexander von Gabain (DE)– Chairman, European Institute of Innovation &Technology & Chairman, IntelCell AG
High Performance Innovation
Peter van Manen (UK) – CEO McLaren Formula 1 Electronics
Innovators Courage
Professor Stephen Hawking (UK)
Innovation Courage
Felix Baumgartner (Au)- RedBull Stratos
Business Model Innovation
Alexander Osterwalder (CH)– Inventor of the Business Model Canvas & Best Selling Author
Ami de L’Europe – 21st Century Industrial Innovation
Justin Rattner (USA)– Intel Chief Technology Officer
Creative Innovation
Rovio (FI) Mikael Hed, CEO
Innovation Thought Leadership
Professor Leif Edvinsson (SE) – New Club of Paris, University of Lund.
Special Category: Irish Innovation Champion
Recipient: Joan Mulvihill, Irish Internet Association
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IRISH INTERNET ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH ENTERPRISE IRELAND FOR CLOUD APOPTION EVENT SERIES – SUPPORTED BY MICROSOFT
As they move from a traditional in-house IT infrastructure to an external cloud-based solution, businesses benefit from a responsive, timely and cost-effective operation. This announcement takes place during National Cloud Week with a number of other initiatives taking place to support cloud adoption. This Cloud Awareness series is specifically designed to help companies to assess the benefits of cloud computing while managing any potential risks. Delegates will hear from other SMEs on how, why and what they moved to the cloud as well as from security and service contract experts who will guide delegates through the process.
Speaking at the launch, Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the Irish Internet Association, welcomed the opportunity to partner with Enterprise Ireland in bringing these events to the Irish SME community. “We are delighted to be working with Enterprise Ireland on this initiative. We have a shared commitment and responsibility to ensuring that Irish businesses have the knowledge and resources they need to benefit from cloud solutions. It’s going to be a busy start to the summer with events planned for Galway, Dublin and Cork”.
Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, welcomed the initiative, saying: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to be part of this Cloud Computing Awareness programme aimed in particular at SMEs. This is an important move to help increase the numbers of Irish businesses, small and large, who successfully adopt Cloud Computing, and is an important element of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. A central part of this plan is targeting key sectors where Ireland has competitive advantage and the potential to foster growth. One such sector is cloud computing, and a number of studies have reported that Ireland has potential to create high levels of growth and jobs in this sector if we move early”.
Microsoft Ireland is a long-standing contributor to the IIA Cloud Computing Working Group and is supporting the IIA and Enterprise Ireland as event sponsors. Delighted with the company’s involvement, Clare Dillon, Microsoft Ireland said: “There is enormous potential for the cloud to play a central role in driving economic growth and job creation but for its potential to be fulfilled it is critical that small businesses understand how they can tap into the benefits of cloud to help them scale for growth. We are delighted that this series of IIA and Enterprise Ireland events are being announced during National Cloud Week – a week of activities organised by Microsoft to drive cloud awareness and adoption.”.
The IIA Cloud Computing Working Group last year in conjunction with the NSAI published “Adopting the Cloud – decision support for cloud computing” as the standard for cloud adoption. The working group is chaired by Lavinia Morris, head of IT infrastructure at Friends First. “The group are pleased to be bringing this decision-support guide to life in the form of these events and by sharing our collective expertise and experiences with the wider business community. These events are totally focussed on helping businesses of all industries and sizes to get the most from the cloud”.
For more information on these events: www.iia.ie/cloudroadshow
For more information on the NSAI Swift 10: www.iia.ie/adoptingthecloud
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Closed gTLDs – Comment from Irish Internet Association
The very essence of the internet as an open, democratic and free space for users is compromised by the registration of certain generic domains by large corporations. The idea that generic words such as ‘cloud’, ‘blog’ and ‘search’ are owned by commercial entities who’s primary motivation is to profit from an orchestrated monopoly of the market is at odds with the fundamental principles of an internet for all.
The applications to ICANN from a number of large organisations seeking to close-off common words for use by one company is anti-competitive, stifles innovation and creates barriers to entry for new enterprise. Consumers too for example, in using the worlds largest search engine, will be mistakenly led to believe that they are searching the global internet marketplace. Instead they will be presented only with a filtered view of the world, coralled into finding only those blogs that come under its remit. A blog by its very nature is a personal space promoting freedom of expression but where the very freedom to choose a preferred blogging software would be gone (or at least pointless).
The internet is born of dynamic, creative and enterprising innovators. They are the very kernel of it’s existence. The internet has been positively transformative for business and society as a whole. For the most part one of its defining and precious characteristics has been that it allows all comers to compete on a fair platform. Is it now to be turned into a marketplace that is ‘owned’ by a small number of worlds largest brands who have bought the market and where new enterprises are commercially disadvantaged and consumers are restricted in choice?
In making our submission to ICANN by the midnight March 7th deadline we are urging them to reject these applications for such closed gTLDs and in so doing act as the custodians for the future of the internet as a space that allows for true market competition, supporting innovation and ensuring access for all.
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Editorial Web Developer, The Times & Sunday Times
The Role
The successful candidate will be part of a small team of editors and developers that will conceive, code, test, deploy and iterate on innovative products. Your work will involve collaborating with reporters, multimedia editors, data journalists, the social media team, commercial and marketing.
The role requires a range of programming languages: HTML5 & CSS3; Java/Java developer experience; as well as the ability to scrape and wrangle complicated data and pull data from APIs. Server-side / scripting languages such as Ruby, Python or R-language would be advantageous.
The ideal candidate will be passionate about reader experience and storytelling; and ambitious to develop ways of enhancing Times and Sunday Times journalism in a way that engages subscribers and potential customers and provides a premium experience. This is an opportunity for you to contribute significantly to the shape, direction, and execution of the goals of the News Development team, identifying opportunities to drive value from our journalism and challenge projects that do not deliver great value.
The focus will be on long-term projects as well as high-impact news stories with a shorter turnaround.
You will build strong relationships and mutual trust across the Times and Sunday Times newsroom and the wider technology functions. You will work with and alongside the News International Technology department, earning credibility and mutual trust.
Knowledge of how to build and maintain a useful datastore is desirable; as is familiarity with tools to clean and interrogate data – such as Excel, Google Refine, Google fusion tables and mapping software.
Desired Skills & Experience
Experience as a web developer or mobile developer building digital products
Comfortable using whatever open source tools we need to create innovative products quickly, with limited budgets and to the rhythms of daily and weekly newsrooms.
Imaginative, creative and innovative; coming up with new ways to create, share, and present our journalism in order to reach the widest audience possible and further our strategic goals.
Loves change, challenges old working practices, and is always looking for opportunities to do things better.
Works hard and has the ability to work across two unique and dynamic newspapers, at the same time as working across a complex business, to make things happen.
Whilst newsroom experience is not necessary, the successful candidate must have an appreciation and interest in journalism and the day-to-day realities of creating the news. An ability to a work hard and fast to meet deadlines is essential.
A good understanding of the range and breadth of data sources in the UK and internationally is helpful, but not essential
Essential Skills:
Developing front end apps across platforms: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript
Server-side / scripting languages, e.g. Ruby, Python, R-language
Advantageous Skills
GIS mapping & reverse geocoding using postcode databases, Google Maps, fusion tables, etc
Relational databases e.g. MySQL, PostgreSQL, Access
NoSQL document stores e.g. Mongo, Redis, CouchDB
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Marketing intern for ONLINE TRAINING DIVISION of Avico
The company offers online training (CBT) for Security and Dangerous Goods courses mandatory for airport staff. We need someone to come on board during the planning stage (Feb or Mar) and implement the marketing plan for a period of 6 months. The plan would be a combination of online and offline marketing but someone that is at the cutting edge of online marketing, trend analysis, etc and French language would be a huge advantage.
The position is in Dublin. A fulltime position, running the division, would be on offer if he internship was successful.
If you are interested please apply to darren@avico.com
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IIA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO TOURISM IRELAND AWARDING CONTRACT TO LONDON BASED COMPANY
There are a number of points that need to be addressed. Firstly, as a country in a job crisis we should be doing everything in our powers to support jobs locally. On principle as well as in practice, this ethos should be of highest importance for government agencies leading by example. In this specific instance, IIA members were shortlisted for this tender and we know that domestic rates are far more competitive that those reportedly paid. In accepting that price is not the only factor and that technical merit was the other criteria used, it is worth noting that on the subjective yet technical issue of design and user experience, the general view is that there are already some basic user experience shortcomings with this site.
Secondly, we must look at the broader ramifications of this decision. The majority of global technology companies have elected Ireland as their European base given the high quality of talent here. Beyond the specifics of this particular case, the political message that this decision is sending out to the world is counter-productive and anti-jobs. On the one hand, we have the IDA and Government Ministers working to increase foreign direct investment with a strong focus on the technology industry. On the other hand, in this single decision, we have a state agency saying that it is not possible to secure high quality and good value web design and development services here.
Tourism Ireland is responsible for attracting visitors to Ireland. Holiday tourism is important but so too is business and education tourism. They are asking people to visit a vibrant and welcoming country but is it also one that is so insecure about itself, so lacking in faith in its own people that when given the choice they will partner with a foreign company rather than an Irish one? The argument that this spend represents less than 10% of its total budget for the year is reminiscent of boom years when pockets were deep. The measure of value in these straitened times should surely not be that they got it for a small % of a large amount but rather that they got it for the very best possible price and in doing so factored in the multiplier effect of keeping those jobs in Ireland and promoting the world class standards that exist within our country.
ENDS
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IRISH INTERNET ASSOCIATION LAUNCH ECOMMERCE SKILLS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Speaking on the launch Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the IIA, highlighted the scale of the opportunity for businesses and interns alike. “With €4billion being spent online by Irish shoppers the opportunity for Irish retailers is enormous. But 75% of that is being spent with overseas retailers so much of that opportunity is being lost. The challenge is not in convincing retailers to develop an eCommerce proposition but rather in enabling them with the skills and knowledge to execute it. This course is ideal for retailer owner/managers to build that knowledge. Likewise, many retail sector workers have suffered during the downtown. This combined Diploma and Internship is a great way to adapt your retail and merchandising knowledge to fill the increasing number of eCommerce manager positions”.
Gordon Newman is the Head of Online Sales at Life Style Sports and a member of the IIA Working Group. He expressed his own difficulties in filling ecommerce positions. “One of the most challenging aspects of my role has been finding the right people with the right skills. People think they have to be web developers or social media gurus but this just isn’t the case. We really need great process and merchandising people with commercial acumen and Customer focus. A broad understanding of retail operations is just as important for an eCommerce specialist as getting to grips with the technical components. It’s why we are so supportive of this Diploma course and also why we are one of the businesses looking forward to taking an intern and with our proven record of internal progression there is a very real prospect of a job at the end of it”.
Mulvihill added “For anyone wishing to avail of the internship, we would encourage them to send us their CVs as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this course is not covered by any government programme so course fees are applicable.”
Internships will be granted by the businesses directly and subject to their respective interview procedures. On a case by case basis, depending on organisation requirements and candidate suitability, some internships may qualify for Jobbridge.
This course has been designed by the Irish Internet Association and its leading industry expert lecturers and practitioners. It is delivered in partnership with Irish Times Training.
Course enrolment is now open and all details are available on www.iia.ie/eComDip
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Joan Mulvihill, Irish Internet Association: 01 5424154 / 086 389 7552 joan@iia.ie
IIA eCommerce Working Group Members
Bob Curran……………………………………………Buy4Now
Tracy Glynn…………………………………………..Realex Payments
Graham Merriman……………………………………Carrickane Consulting
Kevin Murray…………………………………………Nightline’s ParcelMotel
Gordon Newman…………………………………….Life Style Sports
Vinny O’Brien…………………………………………Micksgarage.com
Rory O’Connor………………………………………..Scurri.com
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Eamon Leonard announced as Overall Net Visionary 2012
Friday, 28th of September, 2012: The Irish Internet Association (“IIA”) this evening announced Eamon Leonard of Engine Yard as the Overall Net Visionary Winner in the IIA Dot ie Net Visionary Awards. Also announced this evening were the winners in 13 individual categories, all of whom were decided by a combined judges and public vote. The Awards, now in their 14th year took place in the prestigious Wintergarden at the National Gallery of Ireland – perfectly befitting a celebration of the creativity and genius of the industry.
Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the Irish Internet Associationcommented: “This has been a great year for the IIA’s Dot ie Net Visionary Awards. By refreshing the award categories each year, it allows us to showcase fantastic new businesses and fresh talent as well promote key industry opportunities and highlight important trends. All of the winning businesses have proven their commitment to excellence in this fast-paced and dynamic sector. Unlike any other awards, the small number of carefully crafted categories and the combination of judges scores and public voting makes these awards the most challenging to win and all the more coveted as a result.”
She added: “Eamon Leonard, the founder of Orchestra subsequently acquired by US multinational Engine Yard, is an outstanding and worthy winner of the Overall Net Visionary Award for 2012. Not alone a successful entrepreneur, he is the standard-bearer for the technical skills required of the next generation of young developers. He is the definitive role model and in his selection as the Overall Net Visionary, the IIA are recognising the standard it takes to succeed in this industry. He epitomises the tech community’s values of openness and collaboration as an Angel Investor and Start-Up advisor. He is selfless in giving his time and expertise to promoting key issues within the industry and he continues to grow his team as the VP of Engineering at Engine Yard”.
Engineer Yard is the number one Platform as a Service (PaaS) for Ruby and PHP.
David Curtin, CEO of IE Domain Registry Limited commented: “The IE Domain Registry is delighted to be the headline sponsor for this year’s Dot ie Net Visionary Awards. Now in its 14th year, the standard of the shortlisted websites for the Awards continues to increase year-on-year. The level of innovation, originality and creativity, not to mention the power and functionality of the underlying website applications, continues to impress. For the winners, it is a wonderful accolade to be recognised by their peers in the Internet community, as being the ‘best of the best’. These websites will provide a quality benchmark for others to rank and improve their own online offerings.”
Keith Bohanna, Chair of the Irish Internet Association commented: “A NetVisionary has to have a record of business success but it is their vision that sets them apart. Eamon Leonard is a unique winner. His vision extends the breadth of the industry not just the vertical in which he works. His own business success, his work in the open source and open data community, his commitment to supporting start-ups; this makes up the quality hallmark of a Net Visionary”.
The IIA are reaching the end of another landmark year. With two major launches under their belt in 2012, the IIA continue to lead the way in championing digital in Ireland. This year has seen the launch of the IIA NSAI (“National Standards Authority of Ireland”) Swift10 Cloud Computing Decision Support Matrix for SMEs as well as the launch of “Digitise the Nation”, a year-long digital inclusion programme providing free online training for older people. The IIA has continued its commitment to supporting eCommerce through the introduction of their Diploma in eCommerce Management, the first of its kind in Ireland. This commitment was further reflected in this year’s award categories with not one but two awards dedicated to standards in online trading.
With headline sponsor in IE Domain Registry Limited (“IEDR”), a select number of key categories, the most challenging awarding structure, a stunning and original venue and a record number of entries, these awards are annually the ones to watch.
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Dot ie Net Visionary Winners 2012
Overall Net Visionary Winner sponsored by IEDR
2012 Winner: Eamon Leonard, Engine Yard
Best International "we’ll conquer the world" Irish technology business, sponsored by RSM Farrell Grant Sparks
2012 Winner: Sonru.com
Bravest and Best “Brick to Click” Business, sponsored by FEXCO
2012 Winner: The Corkscrew Wine Merchants
The Very Best Place to Start” Incubator or Support for internet start-ups, sponsored by Grant Thornton
2012 Winner: NDRC
Most innovative and cutting edge web developer (individual or agency), sponsored by Treehouse Republic
2012 winner: Web Together
Best Digital Marketing by an online trader that makes customers love your brand! – Sponsored by AIB Merchant Services
2012 Winner: PuddleDucks.ie
Most “joyous to look at and splendid to use” Web Design – Sponsored by IADT
2012 Winner: Dara Creative
Best Mobile Service or App for fast moving people –Sponsored by William Fry
2012 Winner: DoneDeal
Most Creative Use of Social Media for compelling customer engagement – Irish Internet Association
2012 Winner: Hairy Baby Clothing Company
The Most Indispensable Cloud Service for SMEs – Sponsored By Telecity
2012 Winner: Redeem & Get
Best “someone who really gets it” Professional Services Advisor to techies – Sponsored by Goldenpages.ie
2012 Winner: Peppe Santoro, Venture Law
This is the "One to Watch" Internet Start-Up of the year – Sponsored By Digital Hub Development Agency
2012 Winner: Scurri.com
Most Insightful and Intriguing Internet Innovation –Sponsored By Paypal
2012 Winner: siansplan.com
Outstanding Contribution from an IIA Member – Sponsored By IIA Board
2012 Winner: Lavinia Morris, IIA Chair Cloud Computing Working Group, Friends First
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