New programme launched in Ireland to help start-ups succeed
29 March 2010
I recently read this article on BizSpark in Ireland on siliconrepublic.com (check out their website, there’s some great tech articles) and it draws upon interesting points relating to what we at Microsoft are doing with the BizSpark program.
A key aspect of the BizSpark scheme and with particular relevance in Ireland, is the creation of a strong ecosystem and developing communities. Entrepreneurial initiatives are important for the European economies as they foster innovation and drive growth. It is crucial that in Ireland and the rest of Europe, SMEs can operate in an environment supportive of innovation.
Success doesn’t come easy for SMEs and without support many business can, and do fail in the first few years after launching. The BizSpark programme aims to support start-ups in these difficult early years with access to Microsoft development tools and software. The BizSpark ecosystem isn’t just about giving start-ups access to technology, it’s about giving them greater market visibility, and opportunities to network with partners, customers, etc. The article on siliconrepublic.com is great in that it really shows the community aspect of the scheme in Ireland.
It will be interesting to see how Ireland develops as a European hub for innovation over the coming years and the role of start-ups will play. We would love to hear your opinions so please join the discussion by commenting or connecting with us on Twitter @MSEurope.
Click here to share this post on Twitter