WESTBIC EU - Business & Innovation Centre in the Border, Midland and Western Region, Ireland

1. WESTBICEU -Business & Innovation Centrein theBorder, Midland and Western Region, Ireland Ultan Faherty

2. WESTBIC Mandate “To identify, incubate and support value-added enterprise opportunities” • Established in 1987 as official EU BIC • Company Limited by Guarantee (non-profit) – PPP • Mandated through the Productive Sector O.P of the NDP 2000 – 2006 • ISO 9001:2000 - “Provision of local and regional economic development support services” Quality in Service Delivery

3. WESTBIC Mandate NORIBIC CROSS BORDER BIC DUBLIN BIC LIMERICK BIC CORK BIC SEBIC All-Ireland Approach – Regionally adapted

4. European BIC Network European BIC Network

5. EU Licensed BIC - European Mandate Allocated by Quality Audit to over 150 selected BIC’s in the EU European BIC Network

6. Irish Government Mandate • Supporting the competitiveness of indigenous industry in the start-up and early-stage development phases • Hand-holding innovative and knowledge-based enterprises through the business development path • Entrepreneurship… • Innovation… • Technology transfer… • Internationalisation… • Commercialisation of R&D… Commercial Ethos

7. Enterprise Support Services Regional Mandate • Foster/Promote an Enterprise Culture • In conjunction with other intermediaries/agencies • Support for Business Development Projects • New innovative businesses • Existing companies Supporting New Business Ideas

8. The Cross-Border BIC • The combined effect of a number of factors resulted in the region lacking in economic, social and infrastructural development • Disadvantaged economic and social region as a result of: • Political border through an already peripheral location • Ensuing conflict • Result - reduced infrastructure investment, low inward investment, lack of cohesion and co-operation - leading to an economic growth imbalance between this region and other areas of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland multimedia subcontractor Cross-Border Business Innovation Centre

9. The Cross-Border BIC • In summary - a lack of investment, low levels of local entrepreneurship and a ‘brain drain’ of those with important skills and qualifications. • Significant levels of unemployment and lower levels of new company formation. • This cycle of low investment and high unemployment was a driver for social and political instability. multimedia subcontractor Cross-Border Business Innovation Centre

10. The WESTBIC “Tool Kit” • Direct support to Intermediaries • Collaboration with Third Level Sector • Development and Management of Incubation Space, Enterprise Centres, On-Campus Incubation • Development of Linkages/Clusters and Networks • Provision of Seed Capital/Business Angels Integration with Partners

11. Key Success Factors • EU/National Government Mandate – Regional Focus • Private Sector Culture & Ethos • Partnership, Integration & Networks • Clear Focus – Flexible, Holistic Approach • Client Centred – Agile, Mobile, Non-programmed • Remaining Innovative in Service Delivery Integration with Partners

12. Collaboration with 3rd Level Education Sector • Project Management • EPP x 7 • Curriculum Design & Delivery • Masters in Rural Development • Masters in Business Admin • B.Comm Degree • On-Campus Enterprise Training • Campus Spin-Offs • Innovation Awards Integration with Partners

13. CEIM Enterprise Development Programme • 12 month full-time programme managed by WESTBIC, offering training, networking opportunities, incubation space and financial and other business supports to assist entrepreneurs establish and manage their own business. • Offered by Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Sligo in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta • Funded by ADM-CPA through Peace II Programme. multimedia subcontractor CEIM Enterprise Development Programme

14. CEIM Enterprise Development Programme • Targeted at third level graduates and those with innovative business ideas who live or wish to relocate to the North West region of Ireland. • Also aimed at potential entrepreneurs with an innovative idea who presently live or wish to relocate to the North West. • Projects must have high commercial and export potential and be commercially attractive with potential job creation and growth. multimedia subcontractor CEIM Enterprise Development Programme

15. CEIM Enterprise Development Programme • The programme is multifaceted in that it offers: • Training in all areas of business • Possible grant aid to eligible applicants • Mentoring from experienced business advisors and practitioners relevant to participant’s projects • Access to office and other business incubation facilities • Networking with other entrepreneurs and business development agencies • Introduction to seed and early stage capital investment organisations. multimedia subcontractor CEIM Enterprise Development Programme

16. Atlantech Project • INTERREG IIIB (Atlantic Area) Pilot Project • Objective • The ATLANTECH network aims at supporting and promoting international technology transfer alongside with cooperation between companies and Research and Development actors within the European space. Atlantech Project

17. Atlantech Project Partners • WESTBIC – Ireland • Coventry University Enterprises – Midland UK • CPIN – Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Portugal • Eurocei – Andulusia, Spain • CEIN – Navarre Region, Spain Atlantech Project

18. Atlantech Methodology • Assemble profile of each participating region both from strong industry and technological perspectives • Identify public and private R+D providers including universities and private projects • Identify companies in each region with the capacity and potential to internationalise • Identify potential matchings between companies and R+D facilities as appropriate or combinations of both • Organise thematic missions for each partner to visit and become familiar with economic and academic activity • Facilitate the ‘matching’ process as much as possible… multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

19. Technology Sectors / Actors Targeted • R&D Institutes/Centres and private companies working in • the fields: • Information and communication technologies; • Life sciences; • Genomic & biotechnology; • Automotive & transport; • Building technologies; • Chemical, rubber & plastic; • Electrical & electronics and optical; • Energy & environment; • Food & beverage. multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

20. Research and Development Capability Map

21. Atlantech Approach to Implementation • Conclusion – Gaps in our own knowledge of research & development capability and activity • Solution – currently being addressed through Atlantech programme via expertiseireland.com – a web-based portal – a gateway to Ireland’s knowledge base. • Eventually to become linked to E.U. wide portal multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

22. Atlantech – Promoting Participation • Networking with institutes and university • Consultation initially with client companies in our region • Focused promotion with SME’s who had achieved a level in their growth cycle • captured their national market • understood their business • Were ready for the next step, i.e. internationalisation • Significant selecting out at each stage multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

23. Atlantech – Conclusions re: Participants • Project partners provided an excellent introduction to the economic, cultural, social and geographic landscape of their respective regions • Each region identified companies, facilities and expertise that have been utilised and can continue to be utilised into the future • Project brought together and consolidated a network of partners with whom other projects could easily be advanced • The diversity of each partners economy highlighted that for R & D transfer to be successful a multi-sectoral rather than specific focus is required. multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

24. Atlantech – Conclusions re: Participants • There is still a significant gap between the language of Academia and that of Business • Effective co-operation processes can only take place in the context of personal networking. Tools and databases while theoretically workable cannot replace human interaction • The value of good intermediaries familiar with their region cannot be underestimated. A local contact person can provide valuable information, organise itineraries and thereby significantly reduce the time researching and organising market entry. multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

25. Atlantech Matchings to Date • 3 Touch (Ireland) - Hergos (Portugal) • Company to company - technology to technology • Chamco Foods (Ireland) – Bordas (Spain) • Company to R+D facility to research application of bioflavonoids • Tower Precision (Ireland) – Maxsystems (UK) • Company to company to distribute and possibly produce new fuel saving device • Agency Consumer Products (Ireland) - Tutti Pasta (Spain) • Company to company assisting entry to Irish and UK multi-national retail outlets multimedia subcontractor Atlantech Project

26. Atlantech Website www.getinternational.biz Atlantech Project

27. Contact Details Ultan Faherty WESTBIC Business Development Centre Letterkenny Institute of Technology Letterkenny Co. Donegal Tel: 074 9186770 Fax: 074 9186771 E-mail: ultan.faherty@lyit.ie Website: www.westbic.ie