Companies that invest in innovation demonstrate three-times the turnover and almost six-times the export sales figures as ones that don’t.
A new partnership between Skillnet Ireland and IRDG will is aimed at equipping businesses to compete in an era of rapid change by embracing innovation.
The partnership will see IRDG work with companies who take part in the IRDG Innovation Skillnet and enable them to learn tools, frameworks and best practices to respond effectively to their business skills needs.
“Strengthening our innovation capabilities is crucial for maintaining our competitive edge in an increasingly lean, green, and digital landscape”
In short, this initiative will tackle a number of challenges facing Irish businesses highlighted in the recent OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Report widely reported on by Irish media.
EU Year of Skills
“Strengthening our innovation capabilities is crucial for maintaining our competitive edge in an increasingly lean, green, and digital landscape,” said Dave Flynn, director of Business Networks at Skillnet Ireland. “We are pleased to partner with IRDG on this national imperative in this, the EU Year of Skills,”
The IRDG Innovation Skillnet will facilitate training programmes and knowledge-building in research and innovation for companies of all sectors to raise the level of technical education, skills and knowledge around innovation. Companies that invest in innovation demonstrate three-times the turnover and almost six-times the export sales figures as ones that don’t.
The IRDG Innovation Skillnet will work with businesses to;
- Develop world-class innovation capabilities and resilience to change
- Deliver innovation strategies effectively and create cultures of innovation
- Navigate uncertainty and reduce the risk involved in innovation
- Rise to the challenges of digitalisation and sustainability
“We will help organisations establish the leadership, internal culture and support required to successfully make innovation an ongoing activity that produces results – rather than leaving it to pockets of work or to chance inspiration,” explained Dermot Casey, CEO of IRDG.
“Globally we expect we’ll see an emerging profession of Innovation Management over the next decade and through the IRDG Innovation Skillnet and we look forward to being at the forefront of that progression.”
The new initative was welcomed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, TD. “IRDG Innovation Skillnet’s mission is to raise the level of technical education in innovation, to develop and to deliver world-class training for existing and emerging leaders. It will support the adoption of ISO innovation management frameworks within businesses across the country to redefine effective innovation practices and equip industries with the skills to continually renew their business in a world of permanent change and flux.”
Main image at top: Dermot Casey, CEO, IRDG; Dave Flynn, director of Business Networks at Skillnet Ireland; Bernadette McGahon, Research & Innovation Services manager, IRDG; Anna Coyle, IRDG; and Innovation Skillnet chair Peter Lennox
