Cork’s Technology Network appoints new Chair

The CEIA, Cork’s Technology Network today appointed Sean Moran as Chair of the non-for-profit association at the 31st annual general meeting held in the Maryborough Hotel, Cork. The CEIA was founded in 1984 and represents high tech companies in the Cork region providing a platform for member companies within IT, electronic and engineering sectors.

Speaking following his appointment as Chairman of the CEIA, Sean Moran, Vice President of Operations & Plant Manager at Sanmina said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chairman of the CEIA. The CEIA is a very significant association for the High Tech industry in the region, as it hosts a number of business events annually for its members, sharing best practice in Innovation, Engineering, Market Development and Manufacturing; It facilitates a networking opportunity to make new business contacts, address common issues while liaising with local government agencies and higher education institutions on industry training and graduate profiles required to ensure the sustained growth and competitiveness of its members’ organisations,”

The CEIA provides on-going learning and transfer of knowledge for ICT professionals and engineers and also for students with an interest in working in ICT, Science and Engineering through their education and schools programme. STEM Programmes run by the CEIA, with support from SFI and its industry members include a robotics competition for schools, the ‘HighTechElec’ transition year work experience programme and free maths tutorials for Leaving Cert HL and the CEIA-ESERO Ireland CanSat Competition to name a few.

“Ireland hosts some of the best High Tech companies in the world and in order for these companies to flourish there is a need to produce a highly skilled, capable and innovative workforce. The CEIA has been on the ground for the past eleven years working with schools in the Cork region helping to drive the STEM agenda through our fun, interactive and challenging programmes,” said Valerie Cowman, Skills and Education Chair of the CEIA.

The CEIA works in accord with the Industrial Development Agency, Enterprise Ireland, Cork Education & Training Board, SFI, CIT and UCC, to ensure a sophisticated technological infrastructure is in place to enable industry to grow and prosper.

“We want to continue to grow these programmes over the course of 2016 to further encourage young people to consider the option of Engineering and other Science & Technology disciplines as a career option,” she added.
For more information on CEIA programmes and initiatives see www.ceia.ie.