The future for the technology sector in Ireland looks bright despite the recession.
With Ireland experiencing a first recession since 1983, most areas of the economy are wondering whether they will take a direct hit. There is more confidence in the technology sector though, where many internet entrepreneurs feel a combination of big ideas and low overheads could lead to success.
An example of this optimism is The Big Word Project, technology developed by two Belfast students Paddy Donnelly and Lee Munroe. Paddy Donnelly explains how the project came about.
We just decided one day to sell the words of the dictionary.
So far, the pair have sold more than five and a half thousand words at the price of a dollar per letter.
Further innovation can be found at iFoods.tv a Dublin based social networking and video recipe website. Last month, iFoods.tv was voted one of the best technology startups in Europe. Managing director Niall Harbison says,
The beauty of the web is that you don't have major overheads, especially with web 2.0.
For any project to succeed, talent needs to be matched by capital investment. Ken Bagnall of Clean Communications Ltd is looking to a global market and is reaching out to an investor website in Silicon Valley.
Many in the technology sector are confident that they will thrive during the recession.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 June 2008. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
