Scary, Speedy Summers

A sign of the times we live in? The recently blogged Innovation Vouchers Call from Enterprise Ireland that opened on Monday is now closed. With over 100 applications received in just three days, in the height of summer this has to be both scary and reassuring. Scary for those of us who support young, high-tech start-ups - the challenge is for us to marshall our resources so that we are in a position to respond in an accelerated fashion to their requirements. While resources of all types are scarce in a system that is largely public sector based - EI, CEBs, Incubation Centres, Colleges, FAS etc - we must also look to cut the red tape that can unnecessarily stretch and absorb these resources. On the upside it is reassuring that in the current economic climate a three day call throws up one hundred small businesses who are are actively seeking to commercially innovate - develop dramatically better products or processes. And these are all short-term projects with short to medium term results - we won't have to wait too long for their impact on Ireland Inc. Next call for Innovation Vouchers opens 1st September - watch www.innovationvouchers.ie for more info.