Ireland, where Innovation means Business

ended

Ireland - SME – 2021 implements a single Enterprise Europe Network 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 2014, 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.