Innovation Process in Shannon Region Highly Inclusive and Consultative –Treacy

"The regional innovation strategy being adopted by Shannon Development in the Shannon Region is a product of new thinking about innovation at European level," stated Mr. Noel Treacy, T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Commerce, speaking at the Shannon Region Innovation Conference in Limerick today (Friday, June 9th, 2000).

Addressing the Conference, which marks another phase in the strengthening of the Shannon Region’s innovation strategy, Minister Treacy said: "the regional innovation strategy being adopted by Shannon Development in the region has set a headline for National policy, and has been a leading pilot project, now mainstreamed into the Government’s National Development Plan. The Shannon Regional Innovation Strategy has made a major contribution to pioneering national policy in this area and has set an admirable standard for regional innovation action throughout the entire country in the years ahead."

Since 1997, the Shannon Region has been the national leader in spearheading a new approach to mobilising regional resources for innovation. As the only Irish participant in the European programme of ‘regional innovation strategies’, "the approach to innovation in the region has been highly inclusive and consultative," stated the Minister.

"The Regional Innovation Strategy project, managed by Shannon Development and chaired by Pat Shanahan, managing director of Shannon-based Tellabs Ltd., involves over 100 people and key-decision makers in the region. It exemplifies the powerful impact of collective thinking on innovation, which is the root of economic development and growth and which is so relevant to all sectors of enterprise. This project has moved well beyond the research and analysis phase and now has a number of implementation teams working on practical steps to foster the innovation process," Minister Treacy added.

"This has been the real benefit of the overall regional innovation strategy to the Shannon Region. It has succeeded in mobilising so many people and so much resources, in a targeted drive directly relevant to the real innovation needs of the regional community. All of the teams are working in a spirit of true regional partnership," the Minister said.

Speaking at the Conference, Kevin Thompstone, assistant chief executive, Shannon Development added that the Company "was delighted with the opportunity to help spearhead regional innovation strategy in Ireland, We see our role as ‘innovative action – regional growth’ and so the approach offered by the EU Commission in regional innovation strategy was central to our strategy in this region. By bringing all the key players in the region together, and in particular the higher education bodies, we have succeeded in focusing attention on, and mobilising, the possibilities offered by all these educational and research institutions."

The Shannon Region Innovation Conference, organised by Shannon Development, attracted international speakers from the EU Commission, the University of Athens and UK-based Technology Innovation Associates. National speakers from both the public and private sectors also participated.