ICE Project

Do you need assistance with developing new or improving existing products, processes or services?

Would you like in-company help to identify new market opportunities?

Have a look at ICE

Evidence from academics and businesses alike clearly shows that companies who innovate are much more likely to have higher productivity, and that higher productivity leads to greater prospects for long term growth and survival. ICE has been specifically designed with this in mind. Participating SME companies are offered an in-depth, hands-on, in-house support programme, designed to help them develop and sustain their potential for innovation. Over a period of up to a year, participating companies receive expert help in, and improve their capacity for, identifying new ideas, products or, processes that will have greatest impact on their competitiveness and profitability.

ICE offers a results-focused approach, which aims to improve a business’s bottom line. Participating companies will have access to up to 12 half days, or equivalent, of tailored, in-house support, from innovation experts Team BDS.Team BDS has a significant track record in working with a wide variety of businesses particularly SMEs to identify commercially viable ideas and subsequently turn these into reality and profit.

At the same time the ProjectTeam will work with participating companies to help them:

• Access additional specialist expertise and knowledge, for example from universities
• Access technology transfer & licensing opportunities, where appropriate
• Network with other participating companies from across the three regions
• Attend training opportunities designed by the programme team to support innovation implementation.

Eligible Companies

• Must be SMEs with between 10 and 250 employees (or full time equivalent).
• Have moved past early stage development into the growth phase of their lifecycle
• Be located in INTERREG IVA cooperation areas only. These are the six southern border counties of Ireland to include Counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, Northern Ireland. In the West of Scotland companies must normally be located in Ayrshire or Dumfries and Galloway.

Is there any financial cost?

The ICE programme is free to participating companies, although each must be prepared to give time and commitment to the programme as detailed.

Your commitment to ICE?

Owner Manager and Key Staff must commit:

• To participating in 12 in-house ½ day sessions over a 12 month period

• Time and resources to work through an innovation project

• To participating in 6 group networking sessions over the 12 month period

The Application and Selection Process

Companies who wish to be considered should contact the local ICE Project Manager who will provide further information, assist with programme application, and offer an opportunity to access an innovation evaluation. Places are limited, and a regional selection panel will assess company readiness to participate.

ICE is a joint collaboration of the University of Ulster, the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University and led by Dundalk Institute of Technology (The ICE Partnership).

For more information please download the ICE Overview and to apply for the ICE Innovation Learning Programme please download the ICE Application form.

Click here to link to the ICE website

Click here to link to the ICE application form

To speak with someone about ICE contact competitive enterprises (ICE)

Ireland

Kieran Fegan
Dundalk Institute ofTechnology
T: +353 (0) 87 417 4681
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Western Scotland

Janet Hamilton
Glasgow Caledonian University
T: +44 (0) 7702 729490
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Northern Ireland

Sean McCaul
University of Ulster
T: +44 (0) 7904 305337
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www.iceprogramme.com

The ICE project is part-financed by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body with match financial assistance from Scottish Enterprise.