INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

John Glynn

Údarás na Gaeltachta

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

SME Support Schemes

Promotion Campaigns

Investment in Broadband Networks

Concentrated in Urban Centres

Rural SMEs disadvantages

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

There is a low involvement of e-Business by SMEs at the

lower end of the scale

Involvement needs to improve if they are to remain

competitive or survive as viable companies.

Unfocused advice by suppliers with vested interest.

Structure Support Schemes are necessary

IT experience and Training of Staff critical

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

There is a need to Differentiate between e-Business and e-Commerce

There is a need to differentiate between e-Business / e-Commerce requirements as they

relate to SMEs of different size

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Set clear objective at the outset

Allow adequate preparation time

Let the business drive the project - not technology

All plans must have Senior Management support

‘One size’ does not fit all - each solution will be unique

Build flexibility into the plan The Project Team might need

to be relieved of other duties

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

The IT Department alone does not make a Project Team

The project might cost more than expected

The project will take longer than expected

Do allow for the loss of key staff involved in the project

Don’t over estimate what can be outsourced to an IT

company

Don’t depend entirely on key staff or consultants - work

with a team

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Front-end Back-end

Bandwidth ADSL

POP Service provider

Domain names Intranets

Extranets FTP

HTML B2B

B2C eProcurement

Terminology can be very confusing for non-technical staff

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

KM - Knowledge Management

ERP - Enterprise Resources Development

CRM - Customer Relations Management

JIT

Firewalls

LAN

WAN

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Integrated IT Systems Internet Access Email Web site On-line Brochure Business Purchases on-line On-line Payments Electronic Banking Intranet/Extranet

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

On-line Marketing On-line Sales On-line Product display On-line ordering Secure transactions Inventory Management Electronic exchange of business documents Including purchase orders, invoices etc.

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Technology Planning

Innovation Planning

Business Advice

All independent of suppliers or products

The TESIS Project is designed to fulfil this

need for small SMEs

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Technology Supported Innovation & E-Business in the Information

Society

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

SMEs have low understanding of the potential and the benefits of technology, innovation and broadband

Significant investments made in developing broadband infrastructure in urban areas

Need to motivate the development of broadband infrastructures in rural areas

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

To implement an integrated ICT, Business and Innovation strategy in selected SMEs to stimulate economic expansion and development

To develop and implement a programme of activities to support companies in fulfilling their strategic objectives through the use of IT, innovation and telecommunications in their companies

To establish transnational clusters of SMEs

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Commencement expected July 2003

Completion Date late 2005

Budget 1.35 MEuro

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Gaeltacht Region, Ireland

Údarás na Gaeltachta Gcom Teoranta Westbic iTeams

Gelderland Region, The NetherlandsEskan 

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Antwerp-Waasland Region, Belgium Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Antwerp-Waasland  Brainwin

Carmarthenshire Region, Wales

 Carmarthenshire County Council

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Four stage selection process for SMEsStage 1& 2 -Target 600 SMEs and select 160 SMEs to prepare an

ICT Audit and Innovation Benchmarking

Stage 3 - Select 120 SMEs to prepare a Detailed IT Strategy and Innovation plan specific to their needs and modify their

Business Plans to accommodate the introduction of ICT systems

Stage 4 - Select 48 SMEs for implementation of the Detailed ICT Plan & Innovation Plan

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Assessment of Claim will involve full review of purchases and payments to ensure full ownership and use in accordance with the agreed plans.

On receipt of the agreed grant payment for the NWE Secretariat the relevant grant amount will be paid to the SMEs at the appropriate percentages.

Implementation of this grant procedure will involve the signing of a Grant Agreement between the Regional Partners and each of the 48 SMEs individually.

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Revised Project Proposal approved by INTERREG IIIB NWE Secretariat

Partner Agreement signed

Implementation structure of project agreed

Project Report Forms designed

Awaiting Grant Agreement from NWE Secretariat

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Commencement expected July 2003

Completion Date late 2005

Budget €1.35m

INIERREG IIIB NWE Seminar Cork June 2003

Contact

John GlynnÚdarás na Gaeltachta Na ForbachaGalway

Tel: 091-503100Fax: 092-503101Email: s.macgloinn@udaras.ie