Look out for China in the wireless technology race, Iona Technologies founder Dr Chris Horn told delegates at a partnering and investment forum in Dublin Castle yesterday.

He said the intellectual capability in China and the determination to progress in this area was very impressive. Dr Horn, executive chairman of Iona, said Asia in general was leading the global wireless technology race, while Finland was most advanced in Europe. The Republic was closer to the leaders than the laggards in terms of infrastructure and had an impressive array of technology companies located here.

Progress in the rest of Europe was "patchy" and the US was still lagging the field, he said.

Baltimore Technologies executive vice-president Mr Aidan Gallagher said one of the benefits of the slowdown in the technology sector was that it gave people time to focus on how they could help each other and there were great opportunities for synergies locally.

"In Ireland we probably have the ability to have a cluster that is second only to Silicon Valley," Mr Gallagher said.

Because Irish companies are so focused on exporting, and rightly so in a small local market, they often ignore the opportunities for partnering locally, he said. With a local partner you know exactly who you are dealing with and how you can mutually benefit. He said very often investors can be your partners and picking the right partner can help you get that investment.

Mr Gallagher said while there were a lot of changes in the technology market, there were still a lot of opportunities, albeit at a more subdued level then before.

"There will always be sectors experiencing ups and downs, and new areas open up. You have to be sensitive to these changes."

He said "security" was the new growth area in the technology sector.

"In our industry, security is something that was in its infancy four years ago. Today everyone has to be aware of the need for security and, for us, that is a new industry that is now maturing."