Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken during his time in office to enable small businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors to gain access to research based knowledge, expertise and facilities in higher education institutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15560/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is vitally important to ensure that supports are available to help companies achieve successful R&D results through interfacing with third level institutions and other potential solution providers.

A broad range of collaboration supports is made available through Enterprise Ireland. This includes the Innovation Vouchers scheme, which I recently launched, which give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. The vouchers, worth €5,000 each, can be exchanged for advice and expertise from an Irish research provider and used by small Irish companies to bring in knowledge that is new to that company.

Further key collaboration supports provided through Enterprise Ireland include the Applied Research Enhancement Scheme and Industry Led Networks. The Applied Research Enhancement Scheme provides funding for the establishment of applied research centres in Institutes of Technology. These centres aim to build sufficient research scale to allow them to make an impact on industry in their locality through collaboration. The Industry Led Networks programme provides support for research in areas defined by networks of companies in specific industry sectors and creates collaboration between the companies and researchers in order to ensure the transfer of technology. Particular efforts are made to involve SMEs.

The total Enterprise Ireland budget targeted at supporting industry R&D collaboration with higher education institutes is €22.5m in 2007. These programmes are being implemented as part of a suite of measures being introduced to achieve the targets set out in the Government's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 – 2013. Enhanced R&D activity will help ensure high-value, knowledge intensive activities that will support high-value added jobs and prosperity in the future.