South West Regional Authority

Regional Innovation Cluster

Folowing the successful Drive for Growth project (www.driveproject.eu) led by the Regional Authority , a decision was taken in late 2008 to establish a Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) on the model as advanced by the European Commission in addressing the development of the European Research Area. More information on regional innovation clusters and the European Research Area is available here

A Memorandum of Understanding was prepared and cirulated to potentail members of the RIC and a total of 23 member organisations from Industry, education and research, local regional development and training agencies signed the memorandum by mid 2009. For a copy of the Memoranum of Understanding , please click here.

In the meantime, background preparations were underway and the Regional Authoriy secured funding of approximately €600,000.00 under the Interreg IV(b) Atlantic Area Programme to address various aspects of the work of the RIC, in terms of cluster building, access to venture capital for smaller enterprises and developing new approaches to entrepeneurship.

The Authority also undertook a benchmarking study of existing clusters in the region, this study was part financed under the Interreg IV(b) project At Clusters The results of the Cluster benchmarking study were published in June 2009 . The study is available for download here. This work was folowed by a focus exercise examining the clusters or potential clusters in the south west and the focus group also produced a report in September 2009.

With a view to clearly identifying the Regional Innovation Agenda, the Regional Innovation Cluster at its first formal event in June 2009, held a workshop which was facilitated by Forfás, the national board responsible for providing policy advice to Government on enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation in Ireland. Forfas has now published its report on the region which is in two volumes - Vol. 1 presents a national overview and Vol. 11 presents a Regional Competitiveness Agenda for the South West

The National Innovation Taskforce has also now completed its report and this will be a key document in the future work of the Regional Innovation Cluster. To download a copy of the report please click here

Regional Innovation Cluster Workshop 17th. May 2010 -

Under the auspices of the AT CLUSTERS Project , Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation Deputy Batt O'Keeffe T.D., will address a meeting of the Regional Innovation Cluster at the Oriel House Hotel on the 17th. May. The programme will include speakers from the European Commission, The National Taskforce on Innovation and Forfas. Full details of the programme are available here.

Note : The Regional Innovation Cluster is a grouping of Universities, Institutes of Technology, Companies both large and small and State, Regional and Local Development Agencies. It is a forum to achieve greater connectivity between the different sectors, to maximise opportunities for innovation within the region. European Commission policy envisages Regional Innovation Clusters in regions throughout Europe, with these clusters interacting also with each other to build a cohesive and connected approach to innovation across the EU.

The Regional Innovation Cluster is always open to new members.