Lincor Solutions Ltd, a provider of next generation interactive digital media solutions for the delivery of content and communication services to the healthcare sector, has scooped the top prize in this year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards.  This is the first year the company has entered the awards.

The company, which was founded in 2003 and has offices in the Digital Depot in Dublin and in Cork Technology Park, achieved an aggregate growth rate of 3,145% over the last five years. The average growth rate of the Fast 50 companies named in this year’s ranking was 460%. 

Once again Zamano, a leading provider of mobile services in the UK, Australia and Ireland, put in a strong performance achieving second place for the second year in a row with an aggregate growth rate of 1,627%. Third place went to iSite, a technology solutions provider specialising in systems integration with an aggregate growth rate of 1,503%. This is the first year iSite achieved a ranking in the awards.

This year, there are two winners in the Rising Star category, which recognises younger companies with the fastest growth in turnover over the past three years. Roomex Limited is the Republic of Ireland’s representative, with Stirk Lamont Associates, a technology business solutions company representing Northern Ireland.

The Fast 50 programme, now in its ninth year in Ireland, ranks the fastest-growing technology companies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This year, there are 17 companies from Northern Ireland in the ranking. Unitas Software is the highest ranked Northern Irish company with an aggregate growth rate of 583%.

Three companies – Andor, textHelp Systems Ltd and Novosco, all from Northern Ireland - have been placed in the ranking for the ninth time and are the only three companies who have achieved a ranking in every year of the awards. In total, 16 companies achieved a placing in the ranking for the first time this year.

Announcing the winners of the Technology Fast 50 programme, David O’Flanagan, Partner with Deloitte, Dublin said: “Congratulations to our 2008 Fast 50 winners – and in particular to Lincor Solutions who has certainly made quite an impression in its first year. Lincor’s win is indicative of the innovative technology companies present in Ireland, who are identifying niche markets for themselves and targeting them to great success. To have 16 new companies in the awards is a true sign of the talent and creative thinking that is present in the technology industry in Ireland. It is this innovation and fresh thinking that will ensure Ireland’s continued success in this competitive industry.”

The awards took place in the Guinness Storehouse on October 16th.  Industry figures speaking at the event included Jim Breen, CEO, Pulse Learning, John McElligott, Director of Strategy and M&A, eBay Global Classifieds, and David Tansley, Partner, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Deloitte UK.  

Details of the final Technology Fast 50 ranking list are available to download at www.fast50.ie.  

Ends

About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Programme

To enter the Fast 50 Awards, companies must meet the criteria listed below.  Entries must be sent in electronically, with the necessary supporting documents (audited financial statements).

Entry Criteria:
• Have been in business for a minimum of five years
• Considered a technology company, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technology-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology R&D
• The parent company must be Irish-owned and have its headquarters in Ireland
(subsidiaries of multinational organisations do not qualify)
• Operating revenues must be at least €50,000 for 2003

Rising Star category

Companies who wish to enter the programme, which have not been in business for the minimum 5 years may qualify for the Rising Star category on satisfaction of the following criteria:

• Have been in business for a minimum of 3 years and less than 5 years
• Considered a technology company, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technology-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology R&D
• The parent company must be Irish-owned and have its headquarters in Ireland
(subsidiaries of multinational organisations do not qualify)
• Operating revenues must be at least €30,000 for the year 2005

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