Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1412. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department is responsible for providing a mandate to allow a consortium to deliver a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19788/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is recognised at national and EU-level that the biggest challenge often faced by innovative companies is finding a first customer, rather than securing funding for Research and Innovation.

At the EU-level, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020 has two programmes designed to address this challenge, namely Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovative solutions (PPI).

At a national level, to address this challenge, the Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen T.D. announced in September 2016, a €1m Enterprise Ireland fund, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fund, to drive collaborative projects between companies and public sector bodies to find solutions to specific public sector challenges and needs. The SBIR process facilitates competitions which enable public sector bodies to connect with innovation-led businesses to work on innovative ideas which tackle challenges facing the public sector leading to better public services and improved effectiveness and value for money.

The call, ICT-33-2017 Innovation Procurement Networks, is a Coordination and Support Action designed to address the fragmentation of public demand by facilitating cross-border cooperation among procurers. One objective is the creation of an EU-wide network of national competence centres on innovation procurement to promote the PCP and PPI programmes. The centres should assist ICT procurers in participating in PCP and PPI and share expertise across the EU.

In relation to the specific project referred to by the Deputy, I have been advised by the Office of Government Procurement that they have been notified that an application to participate in the Networks was submitted by the consortium to the European Commission by the 25 April 2017 closing deadline.