For the record 29 January

29-01-2008

by Stephen Errity

Increase in online advertising spend predicted | ComReg announces latest licence offer details

In Ireland the proportion of marketing budgets spent on online advertising falls significantly behind the figure for the UK, with just 2.5 percent of Irish media marketing budgets spent on e-advertising in 2007, compared to 12 percent in the UK. That's according to the latest figures from research firm iReach which has also predicted that the amount spent on online advertising in Ireland will increase from EUR35 million in 2007 to EUR55 million in 2008.

The communications regulator ComReg has published a finalised information document detailing the licence award process for more than 1,000MHz of national spectrum in the 26GHz band. Up to 18 lots of spectrum are being offered. The licences will provide for the provision of point-to-point (P2P) and point-to-multipoint (PMP) fixed links. A reserve price of EUR350,000 has been placed on each one. The regulator says an auction will be held if demand for licences exceeds supply.

Bank of Ireland has announced a new partnership with the County and City Enterprise Boards that will see 'The Enterprise Bus', a mobile support and advice unit for budding entrepreneurs, visiting multiple locations around the country over the course of the next 10 months. Business owners or those thinking of setting up a business will be able to avail of support and advice from enterprise mentors and business advisers. Location details and dates for the bus are available on www.theenterprisebus.ie.

Mike MacDonagh has been appointed as ERM products director at Ci3. He joins the financial risk management solutions firm from QUMAS, where he was solutions director. In addition, MacDonagh has more than 20 years of product management and business development experience in financial services.

In other appointments news, Celtic Catalysts has named Dr. Brian Kelly as its new CEO. He replaces current CEO Brian Elliott, who has been appointed Chairman of the company's Board of Directors. The NovaUCD-based firm specialises in the development and supply of chiral products and technology to the pharmaceutical industry, which is used in the production of a range of phosphorus nucleotide drugs.

Two hundred and fifty students from all over Ireland took part in the IBM/DCU Irish Science Olympiad on the DCU campus last weekend. The students were challenged in a range of biology, chemistry, physics and computer programming competitions designed to further their interest in science and technology. The top four students from each subject are to be invited to compete at this year's International Science Olympiads, which will be held in India for Biology; Hungary for Chemistry; Egypt for Computer Programming and Vietnam for Physics.