Tech SMEs invest over £4 million to increase exports and create 33 jobs
Pictured (L-R) are James Bojdo, CEO and co-founder, Medinect Bioservices; Mark Flynn, co-founder and Managing Director, Rubik Technologies; Martin Naughton, founder and Managing Director, Galvia Digital; Ryan Donnelly, co-founder and CEO, Enzai; Tom Forson, Digital Consultant, Rubik Technologies; Ben Williams, founder and Marketing & Date Strategist, Tiedot; Naomi McGregor, founder, Movetru; and Simon Cole, CEO, Bia Analytical; with Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Susan O’Kane, Head of Regional Business for the Belfast City Region, Invest NI.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced that seven SMEs in Belfast are investing more than £4.1m to grow exports, invest in research and development, and create 33 new jobs.
The companies are Bia Analytical, Enzai Technologies, Galvia Digital, Medinect Bioservices, Movetru, Rubik Technologies and TieDot Digital.
Making the announcement during a visit to Ormeau Labs, where three of the companies are based, the Minister said: “The north is predominantly an SME economy. It is therefore important we provide the right support to help SMEs succeed.
Each of the companies making these investments has accessed a broad range of support from Invest NI. This is enabling them to invest in innovation, help boost productivity, create good jobs and grow sales in the south, Britain, and the USA.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Minister for the Economy
“Each of the companies making these investments has accessed a broad range of support from Invest NI. This is enabling them to invest in innovation, help boost productivity, create good jobs and grow sales in the south, Britain, and the USA.”
Over the last three years the companies have received financial assistance and advice from Invest NI towards innovation and R&D, trade, employment and market development.
Bia Analytical, an AI-powered food integrity company based at Queen’s, is investing in R&D and increasing its team with six new jobs. This will enable the company to commercialise its food fraud detection products and develop portable testing tools to allow customers to identify risks and rapidly test for food authenticity and safety.
Enzai provides AI governance and enablement software which helps large organisations maximise AI adoption, while minimising the risks that come with it. Ryan Donnelly, Co-Founder of Enzai, said: “This business was born in Belfast and we very much intend to scale it from here too, as we service customers across North America, Europe and Asia. We’re creating five new business development and customer support roles which will enable us to continue to grow our presence in the market. We are grateful to have the continued support of Invest NI and the Department for the Economy as we help cement Northern Ireland’s place at the forefront of this technological revolution.”
Our support of almost £590,000 for these seven businesses over the past three years will contribute to more than £4.1m of investment in our economy. This will not only lead to new jobs but will increase productivity and economic growth.
Susan O’Kane, Head of Regional Business for the Belfast City Region, Invest NI
Galvia Digital, a provider of bespoke software solutions, and Medinect, a specialist preclinical research organisation focused exclusively on retinal disease, are investing in equipment and people to increase business in the US.
Movetru tracks the performance of elite athletes, helping to reduce the risk of injury and boost performance. Naomi McGregor, Founder of Movetru, said: “Movetru supports athletes to perform at their best, on and off the field. With Invest NI’s support, we will be able to grow our team which will enhance our technology, boost sales, and expand company visibility across Great Britain, Ireland, and the USA. This investment will enable us to grow as an international company within sports technology for athlete wellbeing.”
Rubik, which helps manufactures drive productivity through digital transformation, is creating six new jobs to increase capacity and productivity and grow sales outside Northern Ireland. TieDot, a data marketing agency, is creating three jobs to grow its marketing analytics expertise.
Many of these companies are part of our £3.4bn tech sector, leading the way in areas such as AI governance and biotechnology.
Susan O’Kane, Head of Regional Business for the Belfast City Region at Invest NI, added: “We have been working with these innovative companies for several years, providing a range of expert solutions to help them develop products, accelerate their growth plans and secure business in new markets.
“Northern Ireland has a strong tech scene and these companies are brilliant examples of homegrown talent. Our support of almost £590,000 for these seven businesses over the past three years will contribute to more than £4.1m of investment in our economy. This will not only lead to new jobs but will increase productivity and economic growth.”
