A collaboration between academia and industry has led to the launch of a new network multi-media laboratory at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Aungier Street.

Its Digital Media Centre has joined the Cisco networking academies programme, and received equipment sponsorship of £100,000 from Cisco, which specialises in networking for the Internet. At a seminar to launch the new laboratory, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Martin, yesterday stressed the importance of network technologies for Ireland's future economic success.