---

TechTrade | 01 Feb 2012 :  The National Digital Research Centre in Dublin (NDRC) is currently evaluating 70 Irish and international applications to participate in its Launchpad accelerator programme for digital start-up enterprises. A total of 15 of the most promising start-ups will be selected for the investment programme which starts in mid-February and culminates in a year-end competition for a follow-on investment sourced from VCs and angels. NDRC provides up to €20,000 per project in micro-seed investment to support the founders during the programme.

Following the current competitive selection process, NDRC Launchpad participants will start into a three month intensive mentoring and advisory programme alongside other start-ups, innovators, engineers and investors. At the end of this period, the start-up promoters will pitch for follow-on investment. All of them will then also have the option of a further six-to-nine months of development time at NDRC in Dublin's Digital Hub district.

Last year, NDRC Launchpad was identified in the top six best accelerators in Europe following a study by the US Kaufman Fellows Programme. NDRC has supported the acceleration of 30 start-ups through its Launchpad programme since it was established in 2009.

Working in joint venture collaborations with industry and a range of investment partners, the NDRC has secured commercial investments of €4.8 million in technology developments and emerging enterprises by third party partners in the past 18 months.