Centre of Applied Marine Biotechnology

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CAMBio awarded EI Innovation Vouchers (March 2008)

The small enterprise sector has a valuable role to play in the development of Ireland’s knowledge based economy. The ability of small companies to adapt quickly to market changes means they are often in an ideal position to take on new ideas. Following consideration of the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland by the Small Business Forum, established in 2005 by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, it was recommended that Innovation Vouchers be made available to small businesses in every sector.

The objective of these so-called Innovation Vouchers was to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers and small businesses and thus create a cultural shift in the small business community's approach to innovation. The Innovation Voucher would allow the company to concentrate on running the business while knowledge providers addressed a solution that could take the business to the next level. For the purpose of this Initiative, small companies were described as Registered Companies with less than 50 employees and an annual turnover and/or balance sheet not exceeding €10 million. Knowledge providers were defined as any Institute of Technology, University or publicly-funded research organisation that had agreed to participate in the Innovation Voucher Initiative.

Each Innovation Voucher valued at €5,000 can be exchanged for advice, expertise and information from accredited knowledge providers for projects which require an innovative solution, provide additional value for the business and provide on-going benefits. The application process for companies is very straight-forward and involves completion of a simple form including 100 words on the question that the enterprise needs to have addressed.

CAMBio researchers were recently awarded their first EI Innovation Voucher. This followed discussion between Cartron Point Shellfish Ltd. and CAMBio research staff regarding the testing of mussels to confirm that the mussel broodstock used for seed mussel production were Mytilus edulis and not Mytilus galloprovincialis or the hybrid Mytilus edulis/galloprovincialis.

A project that would support the company in selecting broodstock for hatchery production was agreed prior to the application. Since authorisation for the export of seed mussels to one of the company’s customers required that the seed be M. edulis, selecting appropriate broodstock became a critically important factor in attaining authorisation for export. Completion of the Application Form demanded less than 30 minutes and since applications are appraised every two-months, turnaround time from submission to approval was rapid.

Consumables to support the practical work have now been ordered and the practical work to be undertaken in the CAMBio laboratories will commence shortly.