ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

Make Enterprise Irelands technical expertise available to the
Irish venture capital community to assist in the evaluation
of projects;
Encourage ex-patriot entrepreneurs to return to Ireland in
conjunction with EI’s overseas offices and other networks.
Objective 2. Encourage some 40 established Enterprise Ireland
client companies to investigating, adopt and apply nanotechnology
in their products and processes.
Established companies may be slow to embrace nanotechnology
on the misunderstanding that it is primarily applicable to high
technology electronics companies. It is intended that 20+ of the
40 companies most likely to immediately benefit from
nanotechnology will be applying the technology with substantial
benefits within 5 years.
Proposed Initiatives
Undertake a series of briefing seminars focused on specific
sectors. These will be aimed at clients with the capability of
adopting the technology and carried out in association with
Materials Ireland and the Irish Nanotechnology Association.
Assist these companies to establish their specific needs and
to broker introductions with technology providers.
Enterprise Ireland will work with these companies to identify
the most suitable funding mechanisms to support the
adoption of the technology, initially through Feasibility
Studies but also through Commercialisation Fund, Innovation
Partnership, Research, Technology & Innovation funding etc.
Work with the Programmes in Advanced Technology to
identify, prepare and target sectoral activities under the
Commercialisation Fund.
Encourage a limited number of clients to participate in
nanotechnology consortia under the Framework Programme 6.
Encourage co-operative research between HPSU’s and
established companies.
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