Silicon Valley set to come to Belfast

A delegation of senior technology leaders and venture capitalists from the US will travel to Belfast in October to engage directly with technology companies from across Ireland.

Influential Irish Technology Leadership Group, ITLG, outlined details of their conference to the First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness today when they met senior executives from leading Californian technology corporations to promote Northern Ireland's software capability.

Mr Robinson said: "We welcome that ITLG have decided to hold this year’s technology conference in Belfast and look forward to meeting the delegation from Silicon Valley in October."

Chairman of ITLG, John Hartnett said: "Having taken an all-island approach since our foundation, we always envisaged taking the Silicon Valley initiative to Belfast as well as Dublin. With such strong support for our objectives from the Northern Ireland Executive, Invest NI, and Queen's University Belfast, we are now realising one of our key goals."

ITLG's membership includes senior executives from some of Silicon Valley’s leading corporations, each of whom are committed to helping Ireland address the challenges of embracing new technology opportunities.

Mr Robinson said: "The United States is a vitally important source of investment for Northern Ireland. When Californian IT companies such as Cybersource and 3Par sought world class talent to support their global business, they found it in Northern Ireland.

"Now, more than ever, companies won’t stand still in their quest to be profitable and competitive. As an Executive, we will continue to encourage decision makers to be aware of the opportunities that Northern Ireland offers to improve their existing operations and innovate. We remain optimistic."

Mr McGuinness said: "Groups such as the ITLG provide invaluable insights into this dynamic industry which help our local software companies identify emerging opportunities and innovate for future growth.

"In addition to being a major source of inward investment, the United States is also a $2billion, export market, and one where there is growing demand for our technology-led products and services. Our local software industry has a world class reputation for producing software for highly demanding international clients, who are attracted by the highly innovative approach and quality driven business processes.

"Some of the world’s best known and most successful serial innovators in the development of technology products are based in Silicon Valley, California. We are proud to present the very positive story of our software sector to them and to explore the potential for strategic relationships to be developed between Silicon Valley and Northern Ireland."

Later today the Ministers will hold meetings with representatives from the US film and TV industries.

Notes to Editors:

1. Invest Northern Ireland, along with local ICT companies, universities and government has been working with ITLG since its inception to identify key contacts in companies and supports ITLG events in Silicon Valley.
2. Invest Northern Ireland is working with ITLG to bring its conference to Belfast in 20-22 October 2009. It is currently working with ITLG leadership to define the program in Belfast and identify the target audience. It will be hosted by Queen's University.
3. A number of ITLG executives visited Northern Ireland as part of the USNI conference.