Latest Report of the Association of EC Business & Innovation Centres in Ireland launched
By James Donlon, April 18, 2006
The latest Report of the Association of EC Business & Innovation Centres in Ireland was recently launched and presented to the European BIC Network, demonstrating the important role played by the BIC’s in supporting innovative enterprise in Ireland. At the launch Mr Buscher, Deputy Head of the Innovation Policy Development Unit, DG Enterprise, Brussels congratulated the BICs on their results and paid tribute to the BIC model and the Irish role in Europe. Speaking at the presentation Patrick Munden, Chairperson of the Irish BICs stated that the report outlines the important contribution that BICs are making in terms of the economic and entrepreneurial development of all the regions in Ireland.
“The identification and development of innovative value-added enterprises in Ireland is one of the key objectives of our funding partners, Enterprise Ireland and The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The BICs are a primary instrument in the Government’s portfolio of support to entrepreneurs and innovators and, in partnership with our private sector colleagues, we aim to bring best practice and real hands-on advice to this key constituency”
In 2005 the five BICs in Ireland met with 1,377 project promoters and provided intensive support to 416 entrepreneurs; leading to 49 business start-ups and 67 company expansions. The report gives some examples of these entrepreneurs and innovators who, with BIC support, made a real difference in enterprise and employment creation in their own region.
The BICs also have an established incubation and enterprise infrastructure throughout Ireland, representing over €40m of EU and State investment. In 2005, 205 companies were located in the BIC incubation centres and it is hoped that by using the BIC methodology a large percentage of these companies will become the key employers and catalysts for the economic development of their towns, cities and regions in the future.
The Irish BICs are considered to be key players in the European BIC Network and this is demonstrated by a number of initiatives and pilot programmes run by the BICs in conjunction with public and private sector partners throughout the EU aimed at adding value to innovative enterprise. Further details of number of these initiatives are available on the WESTBIC website.
A copy of the Report can be downloaded at the following link:
Report of the Association of EC Business & Innovation Centres in Ireland
Find more news items in our news archives.