The contribution made by the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre to supporting emerging Clare businesses was recognised this week when the Centre received a Best Practice Certificate in the European Public Sector Awards (EPSA) 2013.
Ennis Innovate, which was nominated by Clare County Council, was the only Irish recipient of the award and one of only 47 across Europe.
Since its launch in 2007, the awards scheme has honoured more than 1,000 of the most innovative, efficient and best performers from the European public sector. All European public sector institutions, as well as public sector enterprises, agencies or public-private partnerships, are eligible to submit projects for the award.
230 submissions were entered for this year’s award scheme, which is managed by the European Institute of Public Administration. The 47 recipients of Best Practice Certificates will be visited by an international EPSA adjudication panel over the coming months with three projects being named overall EPSA winners in November.
Based at Ennis Information Age Park, the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre is funded by NUI Galway, UL, Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council and supported by partners Enterprise Ireland, Clare Local Development Company and Clare County Enterprise Board. The Centre provides practical support to entrepreneurs and start-up companies as they progress from business idea stage to commercialisation.
According to Gert O’Rourke, Director of Ennis Innovate: “We are honoured to receive an EPSA which is regarded across Europe as an award recognising outstanding administrative performance across all levels of the public sector. Since being established two years ago, Ennis Innovate has made great strides in terms of the range and quality of services and supports it provides for new and emerging local enterprises. This work is being carried out with the financial support and expertise of a number of agencies across the region.”
Ms. O’Rourke explained that the EPSA scheme is divided into three administrative categories namely European and National, Regional, and Supra-local and Local, the latter of which featured Ennis Innovate.
Between July and September, an international jury representing EPSA will conduct site visits of a soon-to-be-announced shortlist drawn from the 47 Best Practice certificates before deciding on the winners of each of the three administrative categories. The prize winners and nominees will be presented during a three-day high-level final event and award ceremony in Maastricht (Netherlands) from 25-27 November, 2013.
Gerard Dollard, Chair of Ennis Innovate and Director of Clare County Development Board commented: “Ennis Innovate is an excellent example of interagency collaboration and cooperation. It is built on a local enterprise model actively supported by agencies and third level institutions. It is great to see such an innovative model recognised at European level.”
Further information on the European Public Sector Awards (EPSA) is available from www.epsa2013.eu. Visit www.ennisinnovate.ie for more on the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre.
Ennis Innovate, which was nominated by Clare County Council, was the only Irish recipient of the award and one of only 47 across Europe.
Since its launch in 2007, the awards scheme has honoured more than 1,000 of the most innovative, efficient and best performers from the European public sector. All European public sector institutions, as well as public sector enterprises, agencies or public-private partnerships, are eligible to submit projects for the award.
230 submissions were entered for this year’s award scheme, which is managed by the European Institute of Public Administration. The 47 recipients of Best Practice Certificates will be visited by an international EPSA adjudication panel over the coming months with three projects being named overall EPSA winners in November.
Based at Ennis Information Age Park, the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre is funded by NUI Galway, UL, Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council and supported by partners Enterprise Ireland, Clare Local Development Company and Clare County Enterprise Board. The Centre provides practical support to entrepreneurs and start-up companies as they progress from business idea stage to commercialisation.
According to Gert O’Rourke, Director of Ennis Innovate: “We are honoured to receive an EPSA which is regarded across Europe as an award recognising outstanding administrative performance across all levels of the public sector. Since being established two years ago, Ennis Innovate has made great strides in terms of the range and quality of services and supports it provides for new and emerging local enterprises. This work is being carried out with the financial support and expertise of a number of agencies across the region.”
Ms. O’Rourke explained that the EPSA scheme is divided into three administrative categories namely European and National, Regional, and Supra-local and Local, the latter of which featured Ennis Innovate.
Between July and September, an international jury representing EPSA will conduct site visits of a soon-to-be-announced shortlist drawn from the 47 Best Practice certificates before deciding on the winners of each of the three administrative categories. The prize winners and nominees will be presented during a three-day high-level final event and award ceremony in Maastricht (Netherlands) from 25-27 November, 2013.
Gerard Dollard, Chair of Ennis Innovate and Director of Clare County Development Board commented: “Ennis Innovate is an excellent example of interagency collaboration and cooperation. It is built on a local enterprise model actively supported by agencies and third level institutions. It is great to see such an innovative model recognised at European level.”
Further information on the European Public Sector Awards (EPSA) is available from www.epsa2013.eu. Visit www.ennisinnovate.ie for more on the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre.
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