LISBURN green technology firm StormHarvester is investing £1.6 million to create 16 jobs as it expands export sales into Europe, the US and Australasia.
Its Intelligent Sewer Suite uses machine learning, rainfall prediction and forecasting tools to monitor and control water and wastewater networks, addressing challenges such as sewage pollution, flooding and water scarcity, and StormHarvester has been identified as one of the world’s most promising water technology start-ups.
Its founder Brian Moloney said: “Last year, Invest NI’s R&D support helped us to develop our green-tech system and win new business in Great Britain.
“But we've experienced further demand for our service and need to create 16 more jobs to help keep up with demand, particularly with new international customers.
“Building strategic partnerships with leading drainage and water utilities companies is an important way for us to grow our business globally.
“Our new team will include a mix of business development roles to build and maintain successful partnerships that will help us grow our global customer base, and technical roles to continue the development of our smart technology as our product roadmap evolves.”
Invest NI is providing £153,400 of support towards the creation of the new jobs, a mix of marketing, software and civil engineering roles.
The agency's southern regional manager Mark Bleakney said: “Participating on our Propel programme, combined with our support for R&D and trade, has helped StormHarvester to grow to the stage where it now needs to increase its team from just two people to 18, which is exceptional for such an early stage company.
“Once in place, the new jobs will contribute over £800,000 in additional annual salaries for the local economy. This expansion will ensure that StormHarvester has the much needed skills and manpower to strategically focus on exploring new markets and driving export growth.”
Last summer StormHarvester - whose commitment to innovation has led to it being awarded a Platinum Level Innovator Certificate from Innovate NI - concluded a €2 million investment round led by the Green Angel Syndicate.
