Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers Are Put Into Action

Irish Minister of State for Innovation Policy, Michael Ahern visited Waterford recently to kick-off the first planning meeting between Dr. William Donnelly, Head of Research and Innovation Waterford IT and Pat Jones, MD of E-management Systems Ltd who have joined forces to spend one of Ireland’s first Innovation Vouchers.

The €5,000 voucher was issued through the Innovation Voucher Initiative by Enterprise Ireland to help Mr Jones engage with Waterford IT and deliver a solution to some of his company’s technology obstacles.

There were 194 vouchers allocated in the first phase of this initiative which is designed to assist small Irish firms become more innovative. The agreement between Waterford IT and E-management Systems Ltd is one of the first projects out of the starting blocks.

Congratulating E-management Systems Ltd and Waterford IT on their early start to the project Irish Minister Ahern said: “I am delighted to see a small technology company like E-management Systems Ltd seize the opportunity to work with WIT. I want to encourage all the small companies that will receive a voucher in the 2nd phase – applications for which closed earlier this week - to follow the example of this partnership and make early contact with the knowledge providers in the initiative. This Enterprise Ireland managed initiative is an excellent way to begin the small business community’s cultural shift towards innovation through collaboration with researchers and the sooner companies talk to the research community the better”.

Any small company with a knowledge question can seek a solution from one of Ireland’s third level institutions. There will be a further 200 Innovation Vouchers available in Phase 3 which opens on 1st October 2007.

Applications can be made through Enterprise Ireland’s website at www.innovationvouchers.ie

(CD)