Small firms get foot up with meetup

NEWRY, Mourne and Down District Council's digital technologies initiative for small business, Digital NMD, hosted an Internet of Things (IoT) Meetup on May 22, 2018 at the Greenshoots Campus, Greenbank. The event was hosted in conjunction with Newry Digital Meetup and local financial company, First Derivatives.

The initiative, which is a collaboration with SERC and SRC, focuses on new and emerging digital technologies that can be beneficial for small businesses. Its aim is to develop the digital skills and confidence of local businesses and their employees through workshops and seminars in order to create innovative and efficient ways of delivering their services or goods.

Outgoing Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, "The Council's Digital NMD project aims to bring together the diverse and talented community of digital businesses and individuals right here in Newry."

"We are delighted to work with key partners such as First Derivatives and the Newry Meetup in Order to develop the Newry tech scene within the Newry, Mourne and Down area."

The event featured experienced tech professionals, Martin Naughton from IoT Belfast and First Derivatives Data Scientist, Conor Moran who spoke about the possibilities and opportunities Internet of Things technology brings for businesses of all sizes.

Speaking about the event, First Derivatives Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Toner said, "As we continue to expand into new verticals, including IoT, it is a real privilege to be able to share our expertise with the technical community here in Newry."

"It's very exciting to witness the growth in the local tech scene and be a part of such a talented community. We look forward to future collaborations with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the Newry Digital Meetup group."

Further meetups are planned on topics such as Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies, Cybersecurity, and 3D technologies. Information on Digital- NMD and the Newry Meetup can be found at: wnvw.digitalnmd.org