national

Entrepreneurship Policy Review to take place

Sligo Senator Marc MacSharry recently headed an international delegation of entrepreneurship policy  researchers in a meeting with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade  and Employment Mary Coughlan.

Together with Senator MacSharry, the  delegation consisted of Prof Anders Lundstrom (Sweden), Prof David  Storey  (UK)  and Dr Thomas Cooney (Ireland), and the purpose of the meeting was to secure the Minister’s support for a detailed analysis of how money  on  entrepreneurship  policy  is  being  spent by various government departments and agencies.

Each year countries and regions in the European Union spend billions of Euros on innovation and  entrepreneurship policies. Such policies, if effective, could  play a major role in stimulating enterprise  and innovation, so enhancing productivity which, in turn, leads to wealth and job creation.

IPREG, the Innovative Policy Research for Economic Growth, a network of European researchers,  policy-makers, service providers and entrepreneurs has  identified  that  policy-making and implementation in Entrepreneurship lacks both an explicit strategy and reliable evidence of effectiveness.

“As we strive to find ways of saving across all government departments and agencies, I welcome  the Tánaiste’s support in endorsing a review of how much  we  spend  on  our innovation and entrepreneurship policies” said the Senator.

The  policy review will be conducted under the terms of reference by IPREG.

The review will:
     quantify the total budget devoted to entrepreneurship and innovation
     policy
     will map the expenditure, policy focus and perceived impact within
     these policy areas
     will link policy input to impact in terms of enhancing
     entrepreneurial vitality in Ireland

‘The review to be conducted in Ireland and in 13 other European countries will  reap  many benefits for the country as we look to save money but also to  identify  the best methods to develop a common, powerful innovation and entrepreneurship  strategy  to  guide  us  into  the  future’ concluded the Senator.