Funding is available under the regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to support the development of business incubation and research and development space in institutes of technology. The operational programmes for the BMW and southern and eastern regions each contain a sub-programme on local enterprise development. The objectives of this programme include enhancing the quality and availability of employment and building research and technological development within the region.
The main elements of the programme are concerned with strengthening the regional innovation infrastructure by facilitating the provision of incubation and commercial R&D space for the development and establishment of high potential businesses, with a particular emphasis on the role of the institutes of technology. Under the terms of the measure, funds are available to institutes of technology to develop and expand incubation space and commercial research and development facilities. The main objectives of the measure are to support the development and expansion of campus company activity; to encourage and support the commercialisation of R&D carried out in the institutes of technology and to embed the institutes of technology as major supports for the development of high-tech companies in the regions.