A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

UCD inventions up by 50%

UCD researchers submitted 37 invention disclosures in 2006, up 50 per cent on the number for 2005, according to NovaUCD, the innovation and technology transfer centre at University College Dublin.

In its 2006 annual report, NovaUCD said 15 priority patent applications, three PCT applications and two national/regional patent applications were filed for intellectual property in life sciences, engineering and information and communication technology.

Eleven licence agreements were also concluded with a range of indigenous and international companies.

Norkom wins security award

Dublin-based software security firm Norkom has been named as the world's number one provider of both anti-money laundering and anti-fraud software products by OpRisk & Compliance.

The company, which provides financial crime and compliance solutions to the financial services industry, was also recently awarded "Best Technology Solution" in Complinet's annual compliance excellence awards.

Tango secures Indonesian deal

Limerick-based software company Tango Telecom has announced that Indonesian telecommunications provider Indosat has implemented its SMS anti-threat software, iAX Anti-Spam.

Tango's software is designed not only to detect SMS spam sent from local or foreign networks but also to provide protection against deliberate attempts to bring down an operator's network using viruses.

Jivo receives €1m investment

Jivo Technology, which was launched last August, has received investment of €1 million from its sister company TNS Distribution.

The funding will be used to expand in Europe. Jivo provides more than 29 products in the digital lifestyle market, including the Jivo VOIP phone and the "Juicy Tunes" mobile phone portable speakers.

Inspired has strong growth Inspired Gaming Group has reported strong growth in interim profits with earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation up 58 per cent to £6 million (€8.9 million) before a share-based payment charge and exceptional item for the 28-week period ended on April 14th, 2007.

Group server-based revenues were up 29 per cent to £34.6 million. The company also announced that net debt now stands at £51.6 million, down from £72.2 million at the end of the last financial year.

It also received £15.3 million from strategic investor FL Group to fund organic growth and acquisitions.