init innovation in traffic systems SE: New capacity comes on stream

• – Innovation for the island and a focus on the English-speaking world
• – Successful reference projects

In the Bloomberg Innovation Index 2018, a list of the most innovative countries in the world, Ireland occupies the 13th place out of 200 countries – just behind Germany. In some subcategories, such as "Productivity", Ireland comes out top. Ireland’s capacity for innovation is now being tapped by init innovation in traffic systems SE, which has opened its first software development centre outside Germany in Maynooth, close to the capital Dublin.

"For us this has two major advantages: we can provide even better support to our Irish customers, and from here we can provide innovative software to the growing English-speaking markets," explains Dr Jürgen Greschner, Chief Sales Officer at init innovation in traffic systems SE.

The Karlsruhe-based specialists in integrated planning, dispatching, telematics and ticketing solutions for buses and trains have been active in Ireland for several years now and have successful reference projects in the country under their belts. At Dublin Bus, for instance, the leading public transport provider on the island, init has put in place an integrated telematics solution.

In the course of the project it also became clear what major efforts the country is making to establish itself as an international software hub and centre of innovation. There are 14 Technology Centres, 15 Technology Gateways and 12 Research Centres where issues such as big data, digital content, nanotechnology and other intelligent technologies are researched. In each of these centres, scientists and engineers work together across academic and business boundaries to find solutions to important questions for society.

"Here we found the sort of capacity and infrastructure that were decisive for the establishment and growth of init at its original base in Karlsruhe. We therefore wish to make use of these rich resources, particularly in the IT sector, for our growth in the English-speaking world", is how Matthias Kühn, a member of the init Managing Board and Managing Director of INIT Ireland, sums it up.

University city that is going places

INIT Ireland is based in the university city Maynooth, about 25 kilometres west of Dublin. Maynooth hosts Ireland’s fastest-growing university, which now has more than 11,000 students from 90 countries. A particular focus of its research and education is intelligent transport infrastructure – init’s core business.

INIT Ireland already has eight members of staff working on ticketing solutions for the global market. In future, there may be 20 more, as Matthias Kühn emphasised on the opening day. "We are delighted to be able to strengthen our presence in Ireland. With its fast-growing economy, well-developed infrastructure and the highly skilled labour force we have available here, Ireland is an ideal location for us."