Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the progress made regarding the commitment given in the Renewed Programme for Government to expand the role of innovation vouchers in allowing growing local enterprises bridge the innovation gap in getting their products or services to the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The objective of the Innovation Voucher Initiative is to facilitate and encourage enterprises, in particular small enterprises, to engage in research or development by availing of the services available from research institutions.

Through this initiative Irish companies are being supported to rapidly and effectively develop and commercialise new processes, products and services profitably. They are helped to acquire, develop and integrate the technologies and supporting knowledge required. They are also supported in developing the leadership skills and capability of company management necessary to drive innovation.

The initiative is already both successful and popular with small Irish businesses. It is playing an important role by opening up access for small companies to a wide source of innovative acumen. It has also encouraged a transfer of knowledge between Third Level educational institutions or research providers to the business community, very often at local level.

The level of interest and engagement by companies speaks for itself - 891 Vouchers worth almost €4.5 million have been redeemed by small companies since the programme was launched in mid-2007. That is potentially 891 new ideas or processes developed with the support of professional expertise.

In addition, feedback from companies has been positive confirming that the application procedures, level of funding, the low level of bureaucracy and the frequency of calls are welcome features of the initiative. Enterprise Ireland has improved the support and assistance provided to assist the engagement of companies with the third level sector. A website was introduced to assist companies in identifying the location of the various areas of skills and knowledge in academic and research institutions.

In 2010, my Department will ensure that Enterprise Ireland will continue to support, manage and grow this initiative with a raised profile. The budget for Innovation Vouchers in 2010 is €2.5 million, representing a 37% increase on the amount spent in 2009. Improvements will continue to be put in place, to make participation easier as experience is gained, and to help business people identify the key researcher who is best placed to address their proposal.