1. Sources of Innovation Funding & Support in Northern Ireland Invest NI http://www.investni.com/http://www.investni.com/ Knowledge Transfer Programme http://www.ktponline.org.uk/links/ http://www.ktponline.org.uk/links/ Innovation Vouchers http://www.innovationvouchers.com/ http://www.innovationvouchers.com/ Intertrade Ireland http://www.intertradeireland.com/ http://www.intertradeireland.com/ ECON-IT2

2. Invest NI support for Innovation Collaboration Technical Advisory Unit (TAU) - Who & How Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme Innovation Vouchers Summary/contact ECON-IT2

3. TAU - Who are they? Engineers (mechanical; electrical/electronic; manufacturing) Scientific Advisors Management System (eg. ISO9001) advisors Intellectual Property/ Technical Information specialists ECON-IT2

4. TAU - What do they do? Guidance & support on a wide range of technical issues: Technical information and problem solving Advice and information on technical and legislative issues Intellectual Property advice Management Systems (quality, environmental, safety etc) Technical Compliance Issues eg CE Marking Financial support: Technical Development Incentive (TDI) Scheme Innovation Vouchers

5. Technical Development Incentive Financial support to SMEs to address technical and quality related issues such as: New technologies or processes Product & process problem resolution Product approval/ type testing Intellectual Property Improved product design & performance Quality/Integrated management systems Max grant of £5,000 (at up to 50% of project costs) Projects costing between £500 and £15,000 Further information – Kieran McGuinness 028 9069 8818

6. Innovation Vouchers £4000 voucher to encourage small registered enterprises to engage with a Knowledge Provider to develop an innovative solution to a business issue Companies can apply for up to 3 vouchers for different projects but may only have 1 ‘live’ voucher at a time Pooled voucher option for collaborative projects (up to 10 companies) Around 700 vouchers issued to date

7. Knowledge Providers 41 public sector Knowledge Providers throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Universities, Colleges, Institutes of Technology and other research bodies eg Loughry, Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute Full list of Knowledge Providers and initial point of contact for innovation vouchers at www.innovationvouchers.com The company chooses which Knowledge Provider to use

8. How to apply Company completes application form – available on website www.innovationvouchers.com Straightforward application process - Company Profile - Issue to be solved - Skills required to solve the issue - Outputs for the company as a result of the project

9. In Summary Technical Advisory Unit Technical information and problem solving Management systems (quality, environmental, H&S) Intellectual Property Technical Development Incentive grant Innovation Vouchers www.innovationvouchers.com Contact: Ian Wilkinson tel. 028 9069 8802 Email: tau@investni.com Grant for R&D and general Invest NI info Contact: 0800 1814422

10. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

11. KTP UK Wide What is KTP? How does it work? Aims and objectives? KTP at Ulster Case studies

12. Funded by the Technology Strategy Board with 19 other funding organisations (AHRC, BBSRC, Defra, DoH, EMDA, EPSRC, ESF, ESRC, Invest NI, NERC, The Northern Way, One North East, Science & Technology Facilities Council, SEEDA, Scottish Government, SWRDA, WAG) £32M grants committed; each £1M generating –32 jobs –189 people trained –£3.6M profits 1,000 live Partnerships (65 in NI) Invest NI contribution 2008/09 = £1,000,000

14. Features Project length 12-36 months At least 1 Graduate (KTP Associate) Associates recruited jointly and employed by the University Project located on company premises with joint company and academic supervisor Academic Supervisor spends ~ ½ day per week on the project Funded by Government grant and the company partner

15. Company Benefits Achieves business goals faster Transfer of knowledge/expertise Recruitment of the “right” people Embedding of innovation culture Long-term, strategic relationship with KB partner

16. Associate Benefits One of Europe’s largest graduate recruitment schemes Competitive salary Employment within chosen academic discipline Fast-track career development Opportunity to register for higher degree during project 73% Associates employed by host company Training and development with qualification in Management to National Standard

17. SMEs collaborating with HEIs

18. Intertrade Ireland Fusion http://www.intertradeireland.com/fusion/ FUSION, support packages worth up to £29,500/€33,150 are available for you to undertake a 12 month innovation project. Partnered with a third-level institution with the specialist expertise you need and a high calibre science, engineering or technology graduate. A graduate is employed by you and is based in your company throughout the project with mentoring from the academic partner and InterTradeIreland FUSION consultant.

19. Fusion Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITG2- Lg1szI&feature=player_embedded

20. Fusion Benefits On average, each company taking part on the FUSION programme benefits from over £1 million worth of sales or efficiency savings in the three years following the project. The programme can help your business to: Develop or improve products, processes or services Streamline business processes to increase efficiency and performance Develop and implement new technologies, systems or processes Improve capabilities in innovation, design and technology Reduce costs Increase sales