Minister launches new Collaborative Growth Programme

Date published: 13 December 2016

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has launched the Invest Northern Ireland Collaborative Growth Programme in Belfast today.

Minister launches new Collaborative Growth Programme
Minister launches new Collaborative Growth Programme

Invest Northern Ireland has allocated £5.7m funding over the next five years to help stimulate innovation among local businesses. One hundred per cent funding up to £25,000 is available to industry-led networks requiring facilitation support to scope innovative collaborative projects.  

Addressing over 150 delegates at the programme launch event in Titanic Belfast the Minister said: “Innovation is absolutely essential to wider economic growth and the Collaborative Growth Programme will support SMEs to combine expertise, funding and contacts to develop new products and services and open up new business opportunities worldwide.

“The practice of ‘open innovation’ is recognised as a significant driver of regional competitiveness so it’s important we leverage our unique selling points to maximise our strengths on the international stage.”

Previous programme success has included Kilkeel-based Sea Source who in the last 18 months secured £8million of new business as a result of the work by the Kilkeel Harbour Works network of 14 businesses.

The Minister added “The success Sea Source has achieved in the offshore renewable energy sector, demonstrates how collaboration can not only transform an industry but leverage the strengths of the region to attract significant contracts.”

Proving the keynote address at the launch was Christian Ketels, a leading economist and world renowned expert in clusters and competitiveness from Harvard Business School.

Speaking at the launch he said: “Value creation and innovation ultimately always occurs in companies. But we increasingly see that their success is not only a function of their internal strengths but depends also on the partners they are connected with and on the business environment in which they operate. Invest NI’s Collaborative Growth Programme is a promising piece in the puzzle to enhance the odds for Northern Ireland firms to succeed in competition, generating benefits both for them and for the Northern Ireland economy.”

Davey Hill from Sea Source, added: “It is crucial that we continue to build on the work that has already been done, to ensure that we deliver a sustainable future through diversification and maximisation of our assets and skills, and continue support our local community.’’

Notes to editors: 

  1. More information on Collaborative Growth Programme is available on the Invest NI website
  2. Applications for the Programme are particularly welcome from groups addressing challenges related to priority areas including Agrifood; Advanced Engineering; Advanced Materials; Digital ICT, Energy and Health and Life Sciences.
  3. Sea Source, is dedicated to promoting the fishing industry offering an extensive range of services and knowledge to the offshore sector, from onshore liaison to in depth knowledge of the seabed and fishing sector. The collaborative network has been set up to identify new business opportunities arising from the offshore energy sector.
  4. For media enquiries contact DFE Press Office on 028 9052 9604. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned.
  5. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI
  6. Photos are available to accompany this news release.

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