SUCCESS THROUGH COMPETITIVENESS

Welcome to this, DETI’s first edition of “Success through Competitiveness” - the official newsletter of the European SustainableCompetitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland 2007 – 2013.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) is the Managing Authority responsible for taking forward this Programme for Northern Ireland. This short edition is designed to give you a brief overview of the Competitiveness Programme and a sample of thevarious Projects throughout Northern Ireland benefitting from the Programme. The Programme, with a total potential fund of €613.7m, 50% of which derives from the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF), has 3 main priorities:

• Sustainable Competitiveness and Innovation • Sustainable Enterprise and Entrepreneurship; and• Improving Accessibility and Protecting and Enhancing the Environment.

Schemes and Projects within each of the above Priorities are being taken forward by Invest NI, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB);DETI through our Energy Division, Telecoms Policy Unit and European Programmes (through the Local Councils) and by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

Through the “Success through Competitiveness” Newsletter, DETI aims to highlight & promote to the Northern Ireland public and beyond, the role played by the European Union, and particularly through the Competitiveness Programme in supporting Projects within Northern Ireland and boosting the Northern Ireland economy. In essence, without this vital EU funding, DETI’s contribution and the many Implementing Bodies and Project Promoters working tirelessly throughout NI to implement and manage Projects under the Programme, many of these Projects would be significantly scaled back or would not start at all.

I hope that you find this publication of interest and look forward in the coming months to bringing you more details of the very tangiblebenefits that this Programme is continuing to deliver for the benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland.

Paul Brush Head of European Programmes Division DETI

FOREWORD

Priority 1 Competitiveness and Innovation

Funding has been awarded to Almac Drug Discovery “Centre of Excellence” in Craigavon.

The Innovative Centre will focus on pioneering drug development for the treatment of

progressive diseases, particularly cancer. Funding for projects such as Almac presents the

opportunity to highlight Northern Ireland’s excellent reputation in relation to research and

development; leading to job opportunities and boosting the local economy; an imperative

In the present economic climate.

DETI Minister Arlene Foster, MLA, pictured above at the official opening of the

Centre in April 2009.

Priority 1 Competitiveness and Innovation

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional Policy (DG Regio) Desk Officer forthe UK and Ireland, Stephen Langley, during a recent visit to Northern Ireland, visited Munster Simms Engineering Limited to see at first hand an example of the very positive impact of the NI Sustainable Competitiveness Programme on local businesses.

Munster Simms is engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and selling of water systemsworldwide, targeted at the Marine and Caravan/Recreational Leisure markets, Shower Drain and niche Industrial/Commercial markets. The Programme is supporting Munster Simms in a range ofactivities from Business Improvement Training and Professional Development through to vital Research & Development.

Priority 2 Enterprise and Entrepreurship

Invest NI has launched the “Go For It” campaign with a range of advertising on Billboards, Television and other media. The aim of the Programme is to encourage anyone with an idea for starting their own business to take that vital first step. There are 32 advice centres across Northern Ireland making the Programme readily accessible to all. Interested?

Check out the details at www.goforitni.com

Priority 2 Enterprise and Entrepreurship-Local Economic Development

Stephen Langley recently paid a visit to The Blick Studios Incubation project funded under Priority 2 LocalEconomic Development. This project is aimed at developing a creative incubation unit in Belfast to help seed theCreative Industries and promote education, innovation and entrepreneurship. The incubation is based in the Blick shared studio space on the Malone Road.

Blick shared studio space was set up to provide affordable incubation space for cross discipline companies in thecreative industries. It is an initiative designed to support embryonic creative enterprises within Belfast. The aim ofthe project is to create self-sustaining, competitive companies in the creative industries which are capable of long-term viability through establishing a Creative Incubation Unit in Belfast, an area designated for cultural regeneration and enterprise.

Priority 2 Enterprise and Entrepreurship

Tourism projects are being offered a share of the new £2m “Tourism Innovation Fund” which is aimed at helping individual and unique projects develop, with the objective of improving the visitor experience and increasing the Tourism industry in Northern Ireland

DETI Minister Arlene Foster, MLA, is pictured with Howard Hastings, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, in front of the CS Lewis Statue, Belfast at the official Launch of the Fund in June 2009

Priority 3 Improving Accessibility and Protecting and Enhancing the Environment

Launch of logon-ni.co.uk

This £3.9m project aims to give impartial free advice to businesses on how best to utilise broadband and the internet to enhance business opportunities. The service also extends to give advice on any business related IT issues.

The logon-ni mobile unit will be touring Northern Ireland and may be in your area in the near future.

For more information visit the website at www.logon-ni.co.uk

Managing Authority/Member State Activity

Over-arching publicity activities have been undertaken by the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) in its Member State role. Included in these was a promotional event held at the Balmoral Show in May.

In addition, the Managing Authority held an EU promotional day within DETI headquarters to celebrate Europe Day, including the flying of the EU flag.

The ‘Successful Beneficiaries Website’ hosted by the Member State is now automatically populated with all projects with a confirmed letter of offer and is now accessible via the Managing Authority website.