Pictured (L-R): Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; Joanna Murphy, CEO, ConnectIreland; Paul Pietrangelo, COO, Alien Technology Transfer’s Ireland operations; and Emmanuele Angione, entrepreneur
The launch of its strategic operations centre in Dublin sees UK-based Alien Technology Transfer build up its Irish operations.
Consultancy company Alien Technology Transfer (ATT) as introduced to this country via ConnectIreland, a government programme that rewards those who make introductions leading to new jobs being created in Ireland. In June the London-based company announced 19 new jobs in Ireland over three years, with the opening of its new strategic operations centre.
“We chose Dublin for our expansion as it is one of the best places in the world for start-ups to grow and do business,” explained COO Paul Pietrangelo. “With the presence of both research-focused universities and big tech companies, Dublin is becoming a centre of excellence for innovation. We hope to work with many local start-ups in achieving their financial and commercial goals.”
ATT offers its clients project financing, project management, the development of concepts and business models for innovative products: it assists its clients to obtain grant funding under the EU’s Horizon 2020 SME Instrument research and innovation programme, which has €80bn in funding to disburse between 2014 and 2020.
The company cited Ireland’s highly educated multilingual workforce, booming start-up culture and large number of small- and medium-sized companies as reasons for expanding in Ireland, and is beginning by recruiting project managers. Its Irish operations will handle project management and the development of business plans for clients Europe-wide in the ICT, energy, health, manufacturing, transport and eco-innovation sectors.
In 2016-17 the SME Instrument is funding SMEs in 13 sectors, from high-risk ICT innovation through sustainable forestry and agri-food to security research and development.
“Alien Technology Transfer provide invaluable support to small and medium-sized companies looking to access important EU funding. We are delighted that they recognised the value of Ireland’s business community and wish them every success in the future,” said ConnectIreland CEO Joanna Murphy. Over 70,000 ‘connectors’ have signed up to the initiative, which is in partnership with IDA Ireland.
We chose Dublin for our expansion as it is one of the best places in the world for start-ups to grow and do business
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ATT was founded in 2013, and its Dublin expansion adds to a 25-strong workforce in London, Rome and Vilnius. “Alien Technology Transfer is among a rising number of companies who have decided to set up a European base in Ireland,” said minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor. “Once again, this is a testament to our talented Irish workforce and also to Ireland as a great place to do business. I wish Paul and his team all the best for the future.”
ATT’s strategic operations centre is at the Digital Hub in Dublin’s Liberties, an announcement made last October. “We are growing our operation in Dublin to better address the Irish market but also with the objective of bringing our US clients to Dublin,” said ATT CEO and founder Alessandro Rufo at the time. “This move represents an excellent environment and a perfect gateway to Europe for young US start-ups in terms of economy, taxation, language and culture. Our interest in the Digital Hub is also linked to our marketing activity in the US, since many of our clients operating in the IT field require an office in Dublin in order to operate.”
The team then comprised four people – meaning that the Alien Technology Transfer headcount in Ireland has multiplied in a few short months.
About the head of Irish operations
Since 2013, he has concentrated on the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, working with SMEs from across the EU and the world in developing their business concepts and creating pan European collaborative partnerships with the objective of gaining finance.
Pietrangelo graduated with Honours in Politics from the University of Southampton and since graduating he has worked in local government in the environmental department researching the feasibility and planning the roll-out of cost and emissions saving methods such as the use of LED lights in addition to a garden waste recycling service.
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