Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2007
71 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the system of grants and supports to businesses who wish to conduct research and development is sufficiently simplified; if it is not, the reason he has not ensured this before now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15564/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department are committed to continuous evaluation and modification of their service delivery models in order to best meet the needs of client companies. As part of the development of the implementation strategy to achieve the targets set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 — 2013 (SSTI), Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland undertook significant work in 2006 under the umbrella of the SSTI implementation group ‘Technology Ireland' in rationalising and simplifying their R&D scheme offerings to firms.
The overall objective is to get more firms involved in doing research and development, to increase the amount of R&D that existing performers are doing and, to raise the quality and sophistication of the R&D they perform. This should facilitate a planned progression for companies doing R&D, thereby improving in-firm technological capacity and capability over time. The range of supports will be set out in an easily understood package for promotion to companies.
The newly designed schemes are each due to be launched by IDA and Enterprise Ireland in the third quarter of 2007 following completion of the notification process of the schemes under the new Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development and Innovation to the EU Commission.
