Tech companies collaborate to create new Tech North West cluster

Twelve tech companies from the North West of Ireland have come together to form an innovative tech cluster to drive collaboration in the sector, which is exploding in the region.

Tech North West will bring tech companies, start-ups, innovators and educators together with a collective goal to stimulate the tech sector across Sligo, Leitrim and surrounding counties.

The cluster will be working closely with: IT Sligo; Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB; Sligo Local Enterprise Office and the IDA.

The North West is becoming a hub for tech jobs with a recent string of positive job announcements. More than 1,300 tech jobs have been announced for Sligo and Leitrim over the last 12 months.

The 12 companies already involved in the cluster together employ just over 400 people in the North West region and it is hoped that others will join once the cluster has been launched.

The current members range from multinationals such as Overstock and LiveTiles to large indigenous companies like SL Controls and Cora Systems as well as local start-ups such as Frankli and 6 Degrees.

On Friday, the group is launching its website www.technorthwest.ie

as well as a video and a social media marketing campaign – called #ChooseMore — to highlight the region’s growing reputation as an emerging centre of cutting-edge tech.

It will also focus on attracting tech talent to build their tech careers in a region which offers an enviable work-life balance, shorter commutes as well as lower rents and living costs.

Tech North West Chairman is David Kenny, Site Lead Ireland at multinational Overstock, which is growing its staff at its base in Sligo. He said:

“Tech North West is driven by a spirit of collaboration across the tech ecosystem in Sligo, Leitrim and surrounding areas. Our vision for the future is to work together to attract talent, new businesses and inspire the next generation of techies. We also want to show people living in Dublin, London and elsewhere that you can have a healthy tech career with progression and continuous learning opportunities while having a great work-life balance.”

Keith Moran is Founder and Managing Director of SL Controls, which has offices around the country and the US but is headquartered in Sligo. Keith, who is also a member of Tech North West, said:

“It is such an exciting time to be a tech company based in the North West as there is such a buzz and energy around the place, with a real sense of collaboration between the companies operating in the space. But it is even more exciting for people who want to work in tech, with an abundance of vacancies coming on stream for software developers, coders, analytics experts and digital architects. They can now have the option of high-level positions while living in a place that values community and a great work-life balance.”

Elaine Murphy, General Manager for LiveTiles in EMEA, is based in Sligo and is a member of Tech North West. She says:

“Not so long ago, the idea of leaving the traditional hubs for a life in the North West region would mean sacrificing your career – that’s no longer the case. The region has been experiencing a string of high-end job announcements in recent years from large tech companies, creating roles across a range of areas including back-end and front-end development, IoT, Data, Cybersecurity, AI and augmented reality.”

John Nugent. IDA Ireland’s Regional Business Development Manager for the North West welcomed the initiative. He said:

“We very much welcome the creation of Tech North West as it supports us in our work in attracting investment to the North West. It is great to see technology companies in the region working together, influencing education and training provision and attracting talent. We are all working for a common cause. Demonstrating the breadth and scope of collaboration that exists here among tech companies is of enormous benefit to prospective investors. It shows how vibrant and effective the ecosystem is here and how open and welcoming the region is for this type of investment.”

The full list of companies involved in setting up the Tech North West cluster is SL Controls, Cora Systems, LiveTiles, Overstock, Frankli, 6 Degrees, Compupac I.T, Clanwillian Health, Anuview, Trojan I.T, Jalmia Solutions and Evolutio Care Innovations See notes below for details on each company.

All of the companies are based in the North West of Ireland and are growing staff and developing cutting edge technologies that are being used on a global scale.