Innovation Vouchers are put into action

10 September, 2007

Minister of State for Innovation Policy, Michael Ahern TD visited Waterford on Wednesday 1st August 2007 to kick-off the first planning meeting between Dr. William Donnelly, Head of Research and Innovation Waterford IT and Pat Jones, MD of E-management Systems Ltd who have joined forces to spend one of Ireland's first Innovation Vouchers.

The €5,000 voucher was issued through the Innovation Voucher Initiative by Enterprise Ireland to help Mr Jones engage with Waterford IT and deliver a solution to some of his company's technology obstacles.

There were 194 vouchers allocated in the first phase of this initiative which is designed to assist small Irish firms become more innovative. The agreement between Waterford IT and E-management Systems Ltd is one of the first projects out of the starting blocks.

Any small company with a knowledge question can seek a solution from one of Ireland's third level institutions. There will be a further 200 Innovation Vouchers available in Phase 3 which opens on 1st October 2007.

Applications can be made through Enterprise Ireland's dedicated website http://www.innovationvouchers.ie/