At a ceremony in Enterprise Ireland, minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD, celebrated the issuing of the 1,000th innovation voucher.
The innovation voucher initiative is administered on behalf of the Government by Enterprise Ireland and allows small business access to third level expertise and resources to solve business and technical problems. Each voucher is up to a value of €5,000.
Institutions from all of Ireland, from universities to Bord Iascaigh Mhara, offer their services under scheme to small businesses. A full list of the knowledge providers is available from http://www.innovationvouchers.ie/
Small businesses here are now working with 41 research institutions under the scheme. Waterford Institute of Technology is reported to have completed 144 innovation voucher projects since the initiative was launched three years ago. The Institute of Technology Carlow has completed 70 projects, University College Cork has completed 68 projects, Athlone Institute of Technology has completed 65 projects and Cork Institute of Technology has completed 58 projects.
“The scheme has helped small firms to explore how they can play their part in building the knowledge economy,” Minister Lenihan. “The vouchers have brought firms and researchers together in finding innovative ways to overcome challenges and give products a more competitive and commercial edge for the marketplace.
“The knowledge providers offer valuable advice and expertise to small Irish firms that want to scale their output and compete for business by adopting a more innovative approach.”
“WIT has completed a remarkable level of innovation voucher projects with small companies,” said Feargal
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