Towards 2016 - Department of Taoiseach

New R&D FundIn January 2008, Minister Martin launched Enterprise Ireland’s new R&D Fund to support market-ledinnovation in manufacturing and services companies. The fund is open to applications from clients ofEnterprise Ireland, Údarás Na Gaeltachta and the County & City Enterprise Boards that want todevelop new and more competitive products, processes, services or business models that will lead to anincrease in sales and profitability.Innovation VouchersThe objective of the Innovation Voucher Initiative is to drive an on-going innovation cultural shiftwithin small enterprise. Under the Initiative Vouchers worth €5,000 are allocated on a semicompetitivebasis to small businesses whose proposals, to work with public knowledge providers onspecific innovation questions, meet basic criteria. In 2007, 428 companies received Vouchers with atotal grant allocation of €2,140,000. In January 2008, a further 20 companies were approved Voucherswith a total value of €100,000. It is intended to have 5 calls in 2008.High Level Group on ManufacturingThe Group is currently in the process of finalising their report and it is anticipated that they will reportwithin the next two months.Food and Drink SectorExports rose by €414m (5%) to reach €8.62 billion in 2007, a significant achievement for anindigenous manufacturing industry, greatly assisted by increased exports to Asia. The industry has metits target of doubling food and drink exports to Asia, two years ahead of schedule.As agreed in the Programme for Government, a high level Interdepartmental Food IndustryDevelopment Group, chaired by D/AFF has been established.Infrastructure and planningOver 70 notifications of requests for pre-application consultations, and 37 formal applications havebeen received by An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act2006.National Spatial Strategy (NSS)The Gateway Innovation Fund to support distinctive and innovative projects at Gateway level hasreceived proposals which are being considered by a Management Committee and will be brought toCabinet for approval in March.A joint framework for collaborative action between the NSS and the Regional Development Strategyfor Northern Ireland will be finalised and jointly published by both Governments in Summer 2008.National Development Plan (NDP 2007-2013)Monitoring and Reporting ArrangementsA Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) for the NDP has been established. It held its inauguralmeeting in November 2007.An Annual Report on NDP implementation will be drafted each year from 2008 (in respect of eachprevious year). Work on the NDP Annual Report for 2007 has commenced.2