THEME A: STIMULATING INNOVATION, R&D AND CREATIVITY No. Objective Action Responsible Organisation Timescale A1 Increase Levels of Business Expenditure on Research & Development (BERD) by incentivising businesses to increase their capability and capacity to undertake R&D Maximise returns from the grant for R&D programme by securing £300m investment in R&D (with at least 20% from SMEs). DETI/Invest NI March 2015 A2 Support 500 businesses to undertake R&D for the first time. 2015 A3 Secure 120 Collaborative Projects in R&D. 2015 A4 Secure up to £5.6m additional investment in agri-food R&D (50% from SMEs/industry organisations and 50% from DARD) by implementing further tranches of the DARD Agri-food Research Challenge Fund. DARD March 2015 A5 Increase innovation in SMEs through joint projects with the Higher and Further Education sectors Expand the Innovation Voucher Scheme by delivering 800 Innovation Voucher projects to stimulate increased levels of innovation within small enterprises (with less than 50 employees). DETI/Invest NI March 2015 A6 Support the HE and FE sectors to undertake 120 Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects on behalf of local businesses. DETI/Invest NI March 2015
A7 Support our universities and FE colleges to undertake 155 knowledge transfer projects on behalf of local businesses DEL By 2014 A8 Introduce an enhanced Proof of Concept (PoC) scheme to support 40 PoC projects (University or Health and Social Care (HSC) based). DETI/Invest NI 2015 A9 Support business to develop their capabilities, improve business competitiveness and maximise efficiencies Support SMEs to increase productivity through improved efficiencies by identifying £60m of resource and waste prevention savings. DETI/Invest NI March 2015 A10 Support 600 E-business projects to assist SMEs to increase innovation and productivity. March 2015 A11 Improve awareness and understanding of Intellectual Property and the commercialisation of products and services and deliver 440 Technical Projects to assist commercialisation. March 2015 A12 Maximise participation with Invest NI’s Design Service to encourage 1,200 companies to utilise design as a key driver and enabler of innovation. 2015 A13 Incentivise business-led local and international collaboration in pursuit of more open innovation Increase the commercialisation of knowledge by establishing 4 Competence Centres. DETI/Invest NI 2015 A14 Expand the Collaborative Network Programme, targeting the future market opportunities identified by MATRIX, to support establishment of 25 networks. March 2015 A15 Promote awareness of and support businesses and academia to for national and EU funding / programmes Increase engagement between NI companies and researchers to: Encourage NI companies/researchers to engage with INI Collaborative Support Service leading to 100 applications for transnational R&D funding; and Secure 36 Transnational Technology Transfer Agreements through the Enterprise Europe Network. DETI/Invest NI 2015
A22 Support 200 innovation projects through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund. March 2015 A23 To deliver a Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Programme to the agri-food sector Develop, demonstrate and encourage adoption of the latest technologies to the agri-food sector with a target of at least 1500 technologies adopted on an annual basis. DARD March 2015 A24 Ensure that publicly funded research promoted by DARD is aligned with the policy priorities set out in the DARD Evidence and Innovation Strategy Provide funding for up to £3m per annum for new R&D projects through the and Biosciences Institute Research Work Programme. DARD/AFBI March 2015 A25 Significantly increase cross-border innovation and trade activity Increase the number of businesses involved in cross-border innovation and trade activity by 10,000, through access to, and exploitation of, IntertradeIreland information, advice services and business support programmes. DETI/IntertradeIreland March 2013 A26 Complete a study on the innovation ecosystem that will identify opportunities and remove barriers. March 2013 A27 Develop a programme to deliver enhanced innovation capability leading to transformational change – the Innovation Challenge Programme. 2013 A28 Increase North/South participation in EU Research & Development programmes. March 2013 A29 Provide support for wider North/South research connections. 2013 A30 Facilitate the expansion of the US Ireland R&D Partnership. March 2013 food
end 2014 from a baseline of 3.3m and £529m in 2009 Opening of Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience; 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s; and The opening of the Crumlin Road Gaol visitor and conference centre. C21 Host the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) to attract 10,000 competitors and 15,000 visitors from outside NI; 180,000 bed nights over the 10 days of the 2013 WPFG. DCAL 2013 C22 Provide financial and other support across government to maximise the tourism opportunities presented by Derry/Londonderry being City of Culture 2013 including: Develop a Creative industries hub at Ebrington; Support to double visitor numbers to the City and visitor spend in 2013/14; and As a legacy of the City of Culture host a significant international event by 2015 OFMDFM/DCAL/DSD/ DETI / NITB /TI 2013/14 C23 Successfully host the 2012 Irish Open DETI/NITB July 2012 C24 Support the skills needs of the tourism and hospitality sector by designating it as a priority area and providing £255,000 to assist 1500 staff in hospitality and tourism achieve the Level 2 World Host qualification. DEL 2011/12 C25 Modernise the planning system Legislate to reorganise government including the transfer of planning powers to councils. DOE 2013 C26 Publish a single, strategic planning policy document will clearly address how economic considerations should be taken into account within the planning system along with social and environmental considerations. DOE 2013
E20 Develop regional Sports Stadiums as agreed with the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby. DCAL 2015 E21 Developing Economic Infrastructure Prepare and adopt a marine spatial plan for our waters that will promote more efficient use of marine resources and provide greater certainty of outcomes for investors. DOE 2014 E22 Invest to improve the transport infrastructure and do so in a smarter and more sustainable way. DRD Ongoing E23 Overhaul our energy infrastructure to ensure it will be fit for purpose through to 2050 by: Encouraging long term investment in the electricity grid; Exploring prospects for further development of the natural gas network; Encouraging proposals aimed at increasing the security of our energy supply; and Underscoring our commitment to further integration of EU gas and electricity markets. DETI Ongoing E24 Continue to make targeted interventions in telecommunications infrastructure to ensure that we keep ahead of our competitors. Ongoing E25 Continue to explore options for further investment in our tourist / cultural amenities, including a fully integrated conference and exhibition facility, development of a new links Golf Course, upgrading our museums and cultural assets and creating efficient visitor friendly gateways. DETI/NITB and other Departments By 2015 E26 Invest £55m in HE infrastructure and £8m in FE infrastructure to ensure the provision of modern, fit for purpose, teaching and research facilities. DEL 2015 F: REBUILDING IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYABILITY, PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT
No. Objective Action Responsible Organisation Timescale F1 Promote 6,300 jobs, 4,000 to be created by March 2014 Secure total investment of £225m through the Jobs Fund. DETI/Invest NI March 2015 F2 Provide Employment Grant support to promote 4,030 additional new jobs across a range of business sectors by March 2015, with 1,730 new jobs to be created by March 2014 and 150 new jobs created through a new “Business Growth Programme”. March 2015 F3 Provide a Business Start Grant leading to the creation of 1,500 jobs for residents of Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (NRA) and 280 jobs for young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) who have completed an Invest NI approved business plan. 2014 F4 Create 340 new jobs through a range of measures aimed at strengthening the Social economy sector including development and implementation of a new “Social Economy Franchising Programme” March 2014 F5 Help the Construction Sector Help the Construction sector by delivering approximately 8,000 social and affordable homes over the budget period. DSD March 2015 F6 Help the Construction sector by delivering key road and rail projects including phase 2 of the upgrade to the Coleraine to Derry/Londonderry railway line, and investing to maintain our roads infrastructure. DRD March 2015 F7 Help the Construction sector by substantially completing the construction of the new Police, Prison and Fire Service Training College, utilising at least 70% of the programme capital budget by 2015. DOJ March 2015 F8 Employment & Employability Move 114,000 working age benefit clients into employment by March 2015. DEL March 2015 F9 Stimulate 1,150 new employment opportunities in areas under the Rural Development Fund by 2015. DARD March 2015 F10 Under the Steps to Work programme, offer a period of supported self-employment for those who have an interest in running their own business. DEL Ongoing F11 Take an Area Approach by replicating examples of good practice within the social economy sector in areas where the sector is not working as effectively, in line with Social Investment Fund priorities. DETI/ Invest NI 2014