More About ICE

ICE Project - Innovation for Competitive Enterprises (ICE) - Promoting regional economic growth and development through the establishment of a Tri_Regional Innovation Network aimed at building the innovation capacity and capability of existing SMEs in the Northern Ireland, the six southern Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland.

The project is a joint collaboration of University of Ulster, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian and led by Dundalk Institute of Technology.

With significant changes in the economic landscape, there is a growing and recognised need to increase the innovative capacity and capability of indigenous companies and especially the Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Within the context of this project, SMEs are defined at employing more than ten people, have moved passed the early stage development and moved into the growth phase of their life cycle and operate in any sectors excluding retail and professional services. To continue to succeed as a developed and dynamic economy in an ever-increasing global and competitive marketplace, the region needs to create innovative companies particularly those SMEs who would not traditionally have an innovative culture.

Despite the range of financial and training supports available, the number of SMEs involved in innovation is alarmingly low across the region. A number of factors can be identified that have led to low levels of innovative activity, such as:

• There is not an innovation culture within most SMEs
• Training on innovation is predominately centred around a “chalk and talk” approach whereby SMEs find it extremely difficult to implement the learning into their everyday working environment
• SMEs do not have a tried and tested method of identifying the commercial potential of new ideas before spending vast amounts of time and money into the developmental process
• SMEs have difficulty in resourcing /accessing technology transfer or licensing opportunities.
• SMEs do not have the absorptive capacity to implement innovation within their enterprises
• Time pressures within SMEs often resulting in the urgent rather than the important tasks around innovation being neglected.

This project is therefore focused upon Innovation for Competitive Enterprises (ICE)  through a Tri-Regional Innovation Network. Growing and developing SMEs through innovation in the region is a key economic challenge. One of the main methods to address the low levels of innovation among SMEsis to promote and encourage the development of an innovation culture in the company through a dedicated in-house project led approach aimed at commercial rewards and supported by a cross border cross regional network (Tri-Regional Innovation Network).

A new approach needs to be adopted which aims to embed innovation practices within SMEs through a four-stranded approach:

The project aims to embed innovation practices within SMEs through a four-stranded approach:

• Strand 1: Regional Information Resource and Network of SMEs for sharing of information, resources and knowledge
• Strand 2: Access to regional Panel of Experts
• Strand 3: Access to Technology Transfer and Licensing Opportunities
• Strand 4: Specialist SME Innovation Learning Programme coupled with in-company mentoring and assistance with innovation planning and implementation (Learning By Doing)

Each strand will be delivered on a cross-regional cross-border basis through the tri-regional innovation network with an overall project team of one full-time Programme Manager and Project Administrator based at Dundalk Institute of Technology, one full-time Project Manager based in Scotland and one part-time Project Manager based at University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.

The additionality which the proposal brings is in regard to: -

(a) tri-regional innovation network

(b) engaging with SMEs through an in-house real-life project approach resulting in increased turnover, profitability and employee numbers as outlined in the outputs below. The approach is one of “learning by doing”.

(c) involvement of multidisciplinary experts with sectoral and market knowledge

(d) the introduction of mechanisms that allow staff within SMEs to engage in innovative activities

(e) essential skills development within companies thus building absorptive capacity.

The Key quantitative and qualitative outputs expected from the project are:

• Establishment of a tri-regional innovation network of SMEs
• 27 information sessions over life-time of the project
• 270 SMEs attend information workshops for the duration of the project
• 135 SMEs undergo an Innovation Audit and feedback results
• 90 companies to participate in an intensive Innovation programme
• 50 new/modified products/services/ process or business models developed for commercialisation
• 270 people (average 3 per company) involved in company innovation process
• The creation of 90 new sustainable jobs/placements.
• At least 15 technology transfer or licensing opportunities identified and investigated
• Increase in turnover for participating companies by 10%.
• 75% satisfaction rating from SME participants
• Database of role models and ambassadors from the participating SME group which can support and encourage other SMEs in their innovation endeavours
• Development of a sustainable network of SMEs allowing for exchange visits into the future.

The project is a three-year programme with a three-month set-up phase and a three-month wrap-up phase. The total project funding is €2.49m from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme with match funding contribution from Scottish Enterprise.