The new Offaly Innovation Centre will be opening for business in the next couple of months. Members of the Committee met yesterday (14th May) to mark the completion of the building works. Offaly Innovation Centre is based out in Axis Business Park and will be a multi-functional space, providing: hot desk facilities, office space, business training and mentoring, and facilities for people to develop ideas and business.

Speaking to Orla Martin, Head of Local Enterprise Offaly (LEO Offaly), she said that it was an exciting initiative for Tullamore and the wider Offaly business community. The new Offaly Innovation Centre would provide an important addition to the supports and services for enterprise in the County. The businesses renting space here will be working in innovative and creative businesses. These may include businesses involved in: software, multi-media, publishing, industrial, digital and media design.

She commented that it would benefit “solopreneurs” looking to work in a collective space. They could either rent hot desk facilities or look at renting an office. People at a pre-enterprise stage could also avail of the hot desk facilities. Companies that are already trading could apply to rent space in the Centre and all businesses both within the Centre and in the wider business community could avail of training and mentoring services in the Innovation Centre.
Offaly Innovation Centre will be supported by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Offaly to assist people develop their idea and access the supports that are available to new and existing businesses. LEO Offaly has committed to organizing and providing €25,000 worth of training and mentoring clinics each year for the next 3 years. This training will focus on product development, patents and copyright, licensing and other areas of commercialization. In addition; LEO Offaly be working to facilitate connections between tenants and the wider business community, and third level institutions such as Athlone IT.
The project is a collaborative project, led by Offaly County Council, and supported by Tullamore Town Council, Offaly Local Development Company, Enterprise Ireland, Offaly LEO (formerly Offaly County Enterprise Board), AIT/Midlands Innovation Research Centre, Bord na Mona, Tullamore Chamber of Commerce and private business interests.

The Committee members acknowledged and expressed thanks to all of the agencies and bodies who are providing support in terms of funding, advice, technical expertise, training and mentoring. 

People looking to rent space in the new Offaly Innovation Centre are advised to watch for advertisements in the coming weeks. Alternatively, they can register their interest by emailing info@leo.offalycoco.ie and adding Offaly Innovation in the Subject line.