BY AUSTIN LYNCH
One of Europe's largest and cutting edge technology firms has signed an historic agreement with a Fermanagh firm which will ultimately lead to at least 100 jobs for Lisnaskea.
German technology firm, Bosch has just signed a historic knowledge transfer agreement with McElwaine Smart Technology which commits both organisations to collaborate on a range of research and development (and commercialisation) projects which, it is anticipated, will create at least 100 jobs.
Bosch is a leading provider of 'social alarms', devices which can be located in the homes of people who may require healthcare monitoring for any number of reasons and which are designed to give users help at the touch of a button.
Social alarms have been used in Germany for the past 25 years. They are designed to give users, such as the elderly and others in need of care, a means of living more independently, often in their own homes while still being able to rely on help in an emergency.
Working together with Bosch, and using the latest Bosch technology, McElwaine Smart Technology will establish a remote monitoring station in Lisnaskea to provide reassurance and support to those people who have social alarms in their homes. And, it is in this monitoring and response station that the majority of these new jobs for the county will be based.
Details of this agreement were revealed at a special launch in Enniskillen Townhall on Monday afternoon.
It was hosted by the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, John O'Kane, who welcomed representatives from Bosch, McElwaine Smart Technology and the University of Ulster as well as representatives from the main political parties.
In his address, Mr O'Kane congratulated John McElwaine and his team 'for their vision and work to date in driving this project'
"This is really one of the most exciting and positive economic development occasions that the Council has had the pleasure to be involved with for some time. We are delighted to be able to host this launch, and we congratulate all of those who have worked so hard to bring it to its present stage," said Councillor O'Kane.
McElwaine Smart Technology is already collaborating with Bosch and the University of Ulster to commercialise new products for introduction to the marketplace. All three are currently involved in ongoing research and development to further enhance the existing product range with a strong focus on bi-directional wireless devices.
John McElwaine, from McElwaine Smart Technology, reported that, from humble beginnings, with support from Fermanagh District Council, their company had created and sustained 150 jobs to date.
"We are delighted to welcome our colleagues from Bosch and representatives from our stakeholders, the University of Ulster.
"This is a first for the county. Smart Technology is based on an innovative, high skill business model, with a strong focus on high valued-added jobs," he said.
Ian Murphy, the Managing Director with the Clients Group and Entrepreneurship with Invest Northern Ireland (INI), described it as an exciting development for Invest NI.
He explained that the University of Ulster has been looking for a good 'research and development' partner and they had found that in Bosch.
Talking about what's known as, 'tele-medicine' Mr Murphy said: "This is a new market, one which a lot of people want to get into."
Explaining some of the potential benefits of these type of systems, he said there was firstly a big patient benefit in that people could stay at home longer, and get back home quicker, after hospital procedures. This also had a cost benefit in less people would be taking up hospital beds.
Mr Murphy also explained how these systems could be used for remote monitoring of people. Systems in the home would be able to monitor people's movements and notice if, in the elderly for example, there was any change in pattern of movements within a particular home.
The third potential benefit was being able to use IT systems, like those being developed by Bosch, for remote healthcare monitoring of patients. This, he instanced, could include monitoring of a patient's blood pressure, sugar levels or even heart rhythm through the use of what are known as 'smart technologies'.
This type of monitoring will be done by a remote station, the like of which McElwaine Smart Technology intend to establish in Lisnaskea. And, from this station, staff could monitor people not just in Fermanagh but in homes right across the UK.
Martis Thuersam, Head of Research and Development with Bosch said he was delighted to be in Fermanagh at the beginning of what they believe would be a long-lasting relationship. He said this partnership was the foundation of ambitious plans for the UK and Ireland social alarm market.
Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist MLA welcomed the proposal, but asked how quickly could jobs be created in the locality.
Mr Thuersam said it was hoped they would have something up and running in Fermanagh during the first two quarters of 2007.
It was also explained that the costs of such social alarm systems are not prohibitive starting from as little as £300 to £800.
'E-medicine' has the potential to be a multi-billion euro market within the next five years and, thanks to the drive and vision of Fermanagh firm, McElwaine Smart Technology, the county is now primly positioned to play a pioneering, and potentially pivotal role in this exciting, emerging market".
