Success you can vouch for

Research and Development:WHEN ENTERPRISE Ireland introduced its innovation vouchers in 2007 they were dismissed by some as another well-intentioned initiatve that would gather dust. The cynics wondered if small companies saw innovation as relevant to them and if they would bother applying for the relatively small voucher value of €5,000. The answer to both questions was yes.

The initiative has now attracted interest from over 1,000 small companies and those who have used it say it works because it provides practical help with a minimum of red tape. “It was quick, straightforward, hassle-free and produced results,” according to Bernard Flynn, founder of Mullingar Crystal which availed of the scheme in 2008.

The vouchers are aimed at companies with a turnover of €10 million or under and which employ less than 50 people. To qualify, a company must have a specific business-development issue it needs solved. This can be drawn from any aspect of its operation – from new product or process development to building a new business model or introducing a new service.

If approved a company receives a €5,000 voucher which it can spend in any of 38 third-level institutions in the 32 counties. In essence, the company provides the problem and the institution draws on its brightest and best to provide the solution. The vouchers were first introduced in 2007 and since then over a thousand have been issued and 212 projects fully completed.

“I was sceptical initially because it sounded too good to be true but I was bowled over by the enthusiasm and commitment of Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, who took on Our project which involved research into the US market,” says Flynn.

Dr Patrick Lynch of Waterford Institute of Technology is an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative from the research side. “I think this is one of the best initiatives ever,” he says. “For us it’s not about money. It’s about the very practical interaction with companies on real issues as they affect their business here and now. Is is a genuine transfer of knowledge on both sides and helps develop longer-term relationships between us and the business community.”

The innovation vouchers scheme has been expanded recently to include an option for companies to pool their vouchers on a common project. Pooled vouchers have been used to fund research on issues such as preventing fungus growing on animal feed, reducing packaging in the food sector and surviving as an independent retailer in the current economic and competitive climate. Companies can bolster research funds with their own cash and can apply for more than one voucher. If a company already knows which institution it would like to work with there is a fast-track applications process, which means a company can have its voucher within three weeks.

See innovationvouchers.iefor an application form.

Island Seafoods -Added-value seafood products

THINGS HAVE changed a lot in the fishing industry since Michael O’Donnell set up Island Seafoods in 1986. Originally the primary business of his company, based in Killybegs, has been processing mackerel and herring. Now, due to the fall in the volumes of fish being landed, O’Donnell needs added-value products to keep the business growing. In particular he would like to supply supermarket chains both here and in Europe.

During discussions with supermarket contacts in Germany, O’Donnell discovered the Germans were interested in new product ideas such as smoked mackerel with stuffing and honey-smoked mackerel. He subsequently applied for an innovation voucher to conduct research into potential new products.

The application was approved and O’Donnell used it at St Angela’s College in Sligo to look at a new range of glazes for smoked mackerel products and at new packaging that would help prolong its shelf-life. “The voucher scheme is very easy to apply for – and when you’re busy, not having to attend meetings or fill out reams of paperwork is a major advantage,” says O’Donnell, who has plans to apply for a second voucher to look at ways of composting waste and managing waste water at his plant.

Mullingar Crystal- Awards crystal

BERNARD FLYNN is a serial entrepreneur. To date he has set-up and sold four businesses and his latest project is Mullingar Crystal, which is just over two years old.

Flynn is a golfer and served his time as the committee member in charge of buying prizes.

“Guys would come in with their products and you’d choose something only to discover it was going to cost extra to get it engraved or to put your logo on it,” he says. “They didn’t seem to get the fact that you had a set budget and it was frustrating trying to do business with them.”

Flynn’s solution was to set up a company that specialises in awards crystal sold directly to the end user at an all-in price. Flynn assumed this would appeal to the Irish golf market but quickly discovered most clubs are conservative and generally buy from people they know.

Undeterred, he cast his net beyond sports clubs into the general corporate gifts arena and set his sights on developing a presence in the UK and US. Flynn used his innovation voucher at the Blanchardstown IT to tease out how best to enter the US market.

“Blanchardstown were really excellent,” he says. “They came back with very interesting information about the structure of the US market and as a result we have changed our focus from sporting awards to so-called recognition awards.

“This market is worth at least $750 million (€565 million) a year and we are preparing to enter the US market in May of this year. From my perspective the innovation voucher was excellent and gave great value for money.”

Realview Innovations- 3D screens

EAMONN ANSBRO has spent most of his working life in industrial optics. His most recent research has been into 3D screen technology and, if all goes according to plan, this Roscommon-based company is about to hit the big time.

Ansbro has come up with a screen technology that makes games, films and sport on the small screen look more realistic, thereby making users feel more engaged and connected to what’s going on.

The beauty of the development is that it is easy to use and works with existing hardware and software. So far there has been major interest from Japan and China and Realview is in the early stages of negotiating a licensing agreement with a large Japanese corporation.

The company is also looking at manufacturing the product itself and has a pipeline of other new products ready to roll.

“We used the innovation voucher at Athlone Institute of Technology to get an improved prototype of our 3D screen that looked closer to a final product and also incorporated recent technical breakthroughs,” says Catherine Ansbro. “Having the prototype allowed us to go to Asia to show our technology to prospective buyers and partners.

“The new product-development department at the IT also worked on and gave us advice on materials for prototyping and on locating companies capable of doing the work.

“Having a good prototype has definitely helped us attract investment funding from the US and Ireland and in the last three months we have raised over €500,000 in new private-equity investment.

“The voucher gave us the nudge we needed to develop what has turned out to be an excellent collaboration with Athlone IT.”

Propaving- Drainage

PATRICK MCKEOWN has been in the paving business for over 20 years, both in Ireland and the UK. Originally from Scotland he settled in Mullingar six years ago and set up ProPaving.

McKeown originally trained in textiles and design and has always been interested in designing things.

He used his innovation voucher at the Athlone Institute of Technology to develop prototypes of a drainage system he hopes will have applications in both domestic and commercial settings.

“As far back as 10 years ago I felt there were big problems ahead of us with water both in terms of usage/conservation and flooding,” he says. “These problems have already materialised and are going to become more acute.”

McKeown has come up with a simple, low-maintenance drainage system that diverts surface water into garden borders or planted containers.

“Athlone IT were fantastic,” he says. “They did CAD work on my designs and made up models and put prototypes together. “I didn’t need a huge amount of development money – just enough to get the idea into a form that one could show potential customers or investors.”

McKeown hopes to bring his product to the market shortly and says the innovation voucher provided the support necessary to bring his idea from paper to reality.