Case Study - CyberColloids Ltd
Ross Campbell, co-owner of CyberColloids Ltd of Cork, says:
“FUSION has been invaluable to our business. We have availed of opportunities that small companies would not usually have the resources to pursue."
“As a researcher of food thickeners and gelling agents, we work with producers world-wide. We had our own idea we wished to investigate, which was to look at what was left after we had extracted the natural gelling agents from seaweed - were there any useful by-products in the remaining algae?"
“We didn’t have the capability to dedicate a team member to look at this, or the budget for a new start. The FUSION programme offered us the solution. We were partnered with the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE) at the University of Ulster, and advertised for a graduate for the two year project.”
After their original graduate left, the company re-advertised and took on Sarah Hotchkiss, an expert in this field, having gained a Phd. in Australia focusing on the biology of seaweed. FUSION were very accommodating of this change and extended CyberCollid’s funding until March 2008.
“Sarah is a dedicated employee who even spends Bank Holidays in the lab - her choice, not mine!” says Ross. “She has brought us to the point where we can take the business in new directions. We have the confidence to talk not only of textures, but also of the nutritional aspects of thickeners. We have even gained some new work from current clients and hope to attract further customers.”
“I would strongly recommend the FUSION programme to other small businesses. We have engaged so well with NICHE that we look upon them as part of our virtual team. Thanks to the programme, we do not feel like a small company in Ireland, we feel like we have grown up and can stand up in the worldwide arena and shout about what we do."
To download the Case Study
CyberColloids Fusion Case Study
