COSME-EEN-SGA-Ireland

ended

Ireland - SME – 2021 implements a single Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) providing integrated services in support of business and innovation in the Republic of Ireland, a NUTS1 Region with a population of 4,581,269 whose economy is expected to grow in 2019, spurred by rising domestic demand and the positive results of the economic reforms taken by the government to restore competitiveness. Small and medium sized businesses make up over 99% of businesses in Ireland and account for almost 70% of people employed in the State. The Network targets those SMEs as well as high potential start-ups and entrepreneurs, universities and institutes of technology, clusters and other beneficiaries. It aims to stimulate the competitiveness of significantly more Irish SMEs via improved technological and non-technological innovation performance and productivity improvements to efficiently produce goods and services with market appeal, thereby generating increased sales throughout the internal market and in other overseas markets. In doing so, it contributes to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research and innovation and by contributing to better connection of actors along the innovation chain. Brexit remains one of the greatest challenges for Irish indigenous industry since the foundation of the state. The outcome of the withdrawal process has the potential to significantly impact Irish indigenous industry. At the time of writing an unorderly exit was looking more likely with both the European Commission and the Irish Government publishing their contingency plans. Whatever the outcome the new trading relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom creates a permanent and significant change in the economic between relationship between the Ireland and the United Kingdom. Enterprise Ireland provides the following to SMEs in Ireland: Enterprise Ireland supports companies across the state, to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future through our Client Engagement Model (CEM). At the centre of the agency’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020, are strategic targets focused on: • Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs; • Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum; • Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and • Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition. The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland. In 2017 209,338 people were employed at Enterprise Ireland supported companies which includes the creation of 10,309 net new jobs. In 2017 65% of employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies was outside of Dublin. Employment growth was recorded across all counties. Through its Overseas Office Network of 33 international offices Enterprise Ireland directly supports Irish companies, the majority of whom are SMEs to research markets and find buyers for their innovative products and services. This also currently includes extensive information and support in relation to Brexit. SMEs are also able to avail of management and staff development funding from Enterprise Ireland through several programmes. SMEs can also work with Higher Education Institutions to obtain technical expertise funded by Government through Enterprise Ireland to support the development of their new products and services. SMEs can also be supported by Enterprise Ireland when they seek access to EU Funding and source and licence new technologies. The European IPR Helpdesk in Ireland resides in Enterprise Ireland, http://iprhelpdesk.eu, is a project funded by the European Commission under the current Horizon 20