InterTradeIreland highlights H2020
A number of strategies have been outlined at a major conference in Ireland to increase SME participation in Horizon 2020.
The all-island ‘Collaborate to Innovate: Access Horizon 2020’ conference taking place in Dublin and organised by InterTradeIreland showcased the assistance that will be available to companies and researchers in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Europe to prepare for Horizon 2020. The conference was attended by representatives from the European Commission and Annette Borchsenius from Denmark’s Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Speaking at the event, Alastair Ross MLA, Assembly Private Secretary for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, said: “With Horizon 2020 having an increased focus on SMEs, this new funding provides a particularly valuable opportunity for businesses from across Northern Ireland to engage in groundbreaking research and innovation which will help them to lead the way in their field.
Ross added that it was important that firms were given the right support to apply for funding, citing support from InterTradeIreland and Northern Ireland’s Horizon 2020 Action Plan and helping to “capitalise on this opportunity”.
Figures from InterTradeIreland indicate that the drawdown from FP7 projects with participants collaborating from Ireland and Northern Ireland is valued at €60.7m.
Aidan Gough, director of strategy and policy at InterTradeIreland, said: “Collaboration is key to obtaining funding. This is why SMEs across Northern Ireland and Ireland are well placed to benefit from the multi-billion research and innovation funding opportunities on offer as they can seek to collaborate with leading researchers and academia across the island and beyond.
“We are confident that Horizon 2020 will deliver the research and innovation required to boost growth and jobs and meet societal challenges into the next decade. InterTradeIreland will continue to provide the necessary supports to companies to enable them to prepare and to gain access to this crucial funding.”