Minister Devins announces 3 Enterprise Innovation Networks

'This initiative is the latest recommendation of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 to be put into action.' Devins

Dr. Jimmy Devins T.D, Minister for Science Technology and Innovation, speaking at the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, announced the establishment of 3 new Enterprise Innovation Networks that will introduce more than 1,000 companies to the benefits of R&D in their operations.

This new initiative, devised by Enterprise Ireland, will provide resources, on a competitive basis, to industry groups to enable them to play a role in promoting innovation, Research and Development to the benefit of Irish industry. Each of three successful Networks will receive €200,000 per annum in financial support for 3 years. This will enable them to take on new resources to allow the groups to play an active part in increasing the number of companies undertaking R&D and creating a step change in the effectiveness and use of technology. Measurable deliverables have been set for each successful Network.

The three successful companies are Irish Software Association, the Construction IT Alliance and the Industry Research & Development Group. The 3 networks will support more than 1,000 companies in their R&D promotional activities over the next 3 years.

Making the announcement Minister Devins said;

“The Enterprise Innovation Network is a welcome initiative to provide support from the exchequer for the development of cutting edge, innovative enterprise in Ireland. This initiative gives the Irish Software Association, the Construction IT Alliance and the Industry Research & Development Group the resources to introduce their members to Research & Development. As they speak the same language, the industry groups are the best placed to deliver advice and support their member companies in how to utilise Research & Development to transform their businesses.”

“In the highly competitive and rapidly changing global markets now evolving, success goes to those who read new trends first. Creative ideas, new and better ways of working, innovative products and services, and improved ways of marketing and delivering goods to the world will be the drivers of future success.”

“The Enterprise Innovation Network builds on research and innovation supports for companies such as the €500 million R&D grant scheme and Enterprise Ireland’s €60 million Growth Fund. Groups representing companies are already aware of the challenges involved in engaging in R&D which is what makes these groups such powerful ambassadors for research and innovation”.

The Enterprise Innovation Networks are industry-focused and have targets based on their member companies R&D needs. These focus on increasing the levels of R&D, developing structured relationships between the third level research sector and Irish SMEs and entrepreneurs, and facilitating innovative business practices in their member companies.

The Construction IT Alliance (CITA), for example, will enable their member companies to conduct more business on line and use e-tendering to help them win international contracts.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Dr. Alan Hore, Director of the CITA Enterprise Innovation Network said CITA will focus on promoting R&D to more than 300 SMEs in the Irish construction sector, with the specific aim of improving their e-business capability.

Dr. Hore said, “The construction industry needs to win business overseas now more than ever, which means competing with companies that are more technologically advanced. It is critical for the competitiveness of Irish construction companies that they adapt to using eBusiness technologies. Enterprise Ireland’s funding will help us bring small Irish construction companies into the world of online tendering and e-business”.

Looking forward to getting the ISA Enterprise Innovation Network up and running, its Director Shane Dempsey said; “The EIN will provide a forum for companies and academic researchers to interact in real ways leading to beneficial collaborations in business and research. We believe that the dynamic between Ireland’s excellent research base and its innovative software technology entrepreneurs will be very powerful”.

Dick Kavanagh, Managing Director of the IRDG said that “over a 3 year period, the IRDG will double its current membership to 238 and will interact with over 700 individual companies and organisations on particular R&D issues”.

Feargal Ó Móráin, Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland, welcomed the announcement saying;

“Enterprise Ireland recognises that the IRDG, ISA and CITA have established trust and shared experiences with their members. Enterprise Ireland is making this investment to enable the groups to build on the strong relationships they already have with their member companies to provide independent and experience-based advice on the innovation and R&D options open to companies in Ireland”.

This initiative is the latest recommendation of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 to be put into action. The overall Strategy amounts to a commitment of €8.2 billion over the period 2007 to 2013, aimed at building the skills needed for a modern knowledge-based economy and strengthening Ireland’s research base.

ENDS/IP61