The aim is that a total of €175m will be drawn down by North South research partnerships across Ireland over the course of the Horizon 2020 scheme.  Good progress on this target has been made to date, with €68.5m drawn down by 56 North South partnerships by March of this year.

Commenting, InterTradeIreland’s Science, Technology and Innovation Manager, Karen McCallion said: “ InterTradeIreland is keen to continue raising awareness of the joint drawdown target set by both governments to ensure the island of Ireland continues to be at the forefront of research and innovation.  We want researchers to be aware of this programme as a viable source of funding as well as the suite of targeted supports that InterTradeIreland can provide to them such as bespoke training initiatives, which focus on the sectors in which both Ireland and Northern Ireland have complementary strengths.”   

One project that has been successful is the collaboration between Ulster University, Dublin City University and SME, Analytics Engines. The joint venture is using big data to transform decisions around health care policy. 

You can see the impact of H2020 funding

To give you a sense of the spectrum of SMEs that have accessed assistance, here are just a couple of examples of the more unusual types of businesses; a horse breeder, a  business making luxury goods and a high-end guitar maker that has a two year waiting list for its finished instrument. Brexit is clearly not sector specific.

Hundreds of businesses have now applied for £/€2K of support. One of them was Ferm Engineering in Donegal. Jim McCabe from Ferm Engineering says taking the steps to plan for Brexit has had wider implications for his company. "Funding turned our Brexit planning into an opportunity to invigorate our business."

Jim's point is a good one. Availing of support from a consultant means that someone is coming to help your business with fresh eyes and even ideas. In other words, Brexit planning is not just about preparing for potential changes to tariffs etc. It's about preparing your business for Brexit and beyond.

If you are interested in joining the wide range of SMEs that have  accessed £/€2K of support you can download a form here.

or you can email  Mark.Sterritt@InterTradeIreland.com