Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

112. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which innovation remains a feature in the generation of business and new enterprise at home and abroad with particular reference to access to new markets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23077/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which innovation remains part of her programme to assist business and new enterprises seeking to establish themselves on EU or non-EU markets; if particular issues have arisen in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23079/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together.

Enterprise Ireland, an Agency of my Department, supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients with global ambition to build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting them to innovate, be competitive and to diversify their global footprint. Innovation is at the centre of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020 and is critical for companies seeking to diversify their global footprint, both within and outside of the EU market.

Innovation is essential for all companies, irrespective of their stage of development.  It enables companies to improve their competitiveness both at home and internationally, to develop tailored products and services for global customers and to win market share. 

Enterprise Ireland is working with its clients to drive innovation activity via a number of supports that enable companies to:

- Diagnose their innovation readiness;

- Finance in-house R and D projects;

- Finance collaboration with research expertise within the Higher Education Sector and with companies; and

- Maximise the funding they can receive from the European Union.

To support these activities, in 2017 Enterprise Ireland:

- Approved 99 R and D projects to clients over €100,000;

- Approved funding for 436 industry innovation projects at Technology Gateways throughout the country; and

- Provided financial support for 1,065 collaborative innovations between industry and higher education institutes across the country.

Innovation is a key attribute required to be resilient to economic shocks, such as Brexit.

To drive the building of resilience to such shocks, Enterprise Ireland has put an increased emphasis on market diversification - driving innovation and competitiveness, which are key areas for companies with global ambition.  In delivering on this, new supports have been introduced, others streamlined, and a Global Ambition campaign featuring the importance of innovation was launched. Enterprise Ireland has also recently launched a new fast-track Agile Innovation Fund which gives companies rapid access to innovation funding to enhance processes and adapt products for new markets.

Enterprise Ireland will continue to work with companies with global ambition, both within and outside the EU to communicate the importance of innovation, ensure that companies are aware of the available RDI supports and that available supports are streamlined and meeting the needs of companies. Among the core objectives of Enterprise Ireland is to help companies increase sales and exports.  In 2016 exports by Enterprise Ireland clients had a total value of €21.6 billion, up 6% on 2015 levels.  In terms of research and innovation, Enterprise Ireland’s key measure of success is investment by companies in R and D. Enterprise Ireland Clients invested €916 million in R and D in 2016 and EI’s goal is to raise this to €1.25 billion per annum by 2020.