IDA Ireland launches Technology & Innovation Showcase in Second Life

IDA Ireland Technology and Innovation Showcase

IDA Ireland, Ireland’s Investment Promotion Agency responsible for securing foreign investment in Ireland today announced the launch of their Technology & Innovation Showcase in Second Life.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world, inhabited by millions of residents from around the world who interact with each other. It is an innovative and exciting arena in which to increase business opportunities and carry out marketing with a new slant. Working with creative agency V Rising, IDA Ireland has chosen Second Life Dublin to display the showcase.

The exhibition showcases sectors such as Information and Communications Technologies and Life Sciences. Visitors can watch a weekly screening of the Irish Mind documentary series, which aired on CNBC in 2008. The episodes look at different aspects of the Irish mind including business, science, creativity, and the humanities.

Ireland continues to be a key location for top technology companies such as, Intel, Yahoo, Adobe, Microsoft, HP, Apple, Google, Amazon.com, and Facebook, to name just a few. The depth of Irish management talent and technical skills are important factors that attract these companies, as is their ability to tap into innovation networks in Ireland.

“We are excited to be using this innovative virtual world technology to promote Ireland as a location for foreign direct investment. Second Life provides a platform for experimentation as a non-traditional marketing tool.” said IDA Ireland Marketing Manager Caitriona O’ Kennedy. “Dublin Second Life was the perfect location for the exhibit to be based because of its strong community and upstanding reputation”.

Dublin Second Life is a popular location for real Irish businesses to establish and experiment with virtual worlds. Created by John Mahon (aka Ham Rambler), it is a thriving location for live music and offers a warm and friendly atmosphere to new visitors.

Entrance to the Exhibition
New Second Life Users:
Click on the following link to register for a Second Life Account. It is a simple sign up form and users will land in Dublin Second Life once they have Logged in.

http://www.pnewell.com/Dublin/Regapi.aspx

News users can also download a Second Life Guide pdf.

Existing Second Life Users:
The address of the Exhibition is:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dublin%203/234/30/25

For more information and media requests:
email - idaireland@ida.ie
or contact digitalireland@ida.ie