Press Release
1 September 2004

BUSINESSES MUST BE MORE INNOVATIVE SAYS ECONOMIC FORUM

Local businesses must rise to the innovation challenge to make Northern Ireland more competitive.  That was the clear message emerging from today’s meeting of the Economic Development Forum (EDF).

Economy Minister, Barry Gardiner, Chairman of the Forum, said:  “Innovation in Northern Ireland is a key priority for the Forum.  We must develop a more dynamic approach to innovation.  We must create and commercialise new knowledge, foster enterprise and improve our R&D and skills base to guarantee a more competitive Northern Ireland.  Innovation must be embedded into the culture of every organisation through immediate action, supported by long-term planning”.

At today’s meeting, members considered DETI’s Regional Innovation Strategy and discussed proposals to take the Strategy forward, over the next two years.

Raymond Mullan, Director of Newry & Kilkeel Institute, said: “The further and higher education sectors in Northern Ireland have a pivotal role to play in developing an innovation economy.  Universities and colleges have a responsibility to provide world class R&D and high-quality knowledge and technology transfer to industry.  But perhaps above all else, the education sector must strive to deliver high quality graduates and the technically skilled workforce necessary to underpin Northern Ireland’s ambitious modern economic development strategy”.

Bob Barbour, Chief Executive of the Centre for Competitiveness, now based at the Science Park, said, “Innovation and R&D are the means by which Northern Ireland businesses can remain competitive in the future.  All firms need to embrace new ideas and exploit them to their full potential.  Particular emphasis should be placed on promoting innovation among the SME sector, which forms the basis of the local economy.  Innovation is more than just R&D – important though that is – and smaller companies must learn that incremental innovation, through their day-to-day product and service delivery processes, is essential to prosper in the modern economic climate.”