NETWORK COLLABORATION In association with InterTradeIreland

Liam Nellis, Chief Executive, InterTradeIreland

New All Island Business networks forum meets

Collaborative business networks can help companies to achieve competitive advantage faster, cheaper and with less risk and disruption to their operations than they could if they were to continue to act alone.

That was the key message at the first ever Business Networks Forum held at the end of January at Farmleigh House in Dublin.

Stimulating Economic Growth

The event, which was a recommendation of the British- Irish Inter Governmental Conference, was organised by the five enterprise development agencies on the island of Ireland - InterTradeIreland, Enterprise Ireland, Forfás, IDA and Invest Northern Ireland and was attended by 150 business leaders, researchers and business support agency representatives.

The conference was opened by Southern Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin and Northern Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Maria Eagle, demonstrating the importance both Governments place on building business networks on the island of Ireland. Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment, Maria Eagle MP said, “technological advances and global market pressures will continue to create a competitive environment for businesses North and South. If we are to secure a positive economic and commercial future then we must work together to create the best environment for business success.” She added, “collaborative business networks and clusters on the island of Ireland offer significant opportunities for businesses to stimulate and sustain regional economic growth. Economic co-operation can achieve mutual benefits for companies by gaining better access to suppliers, increase levels of expertise, stimulate innovation and provide a pool of experienced labour.”

Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Micheál Martin, TD said, “this Forum highlights the potential business and economic benefits of collaboration across the whole island of Ireland. Over the coming years, well-developed business networks will become increasingly important mechanisms for driving success, at a time of increasing global competition and innovation which is leading to higher levels of business collaboration.” “Since 1999 InterTradeIreland, the all-island trade and business development body has shown the benefits of all-island collaboration,” he said.

Ms Maria Eagle MP Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment, Mr Micheál Martin TD Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment

Enterprising Networks Can Sell Fresh Air!

The conference’s keynote speaker, Emiliano Duch, founding chairman of The Competitiveness Institute and an international advisor on improving the competitiveness of regions had a very clear message for businesses in Ireland.

“The impact on company profitability is significant in areas where the business environment and enterprise policies promote networks and clusters. The ability to enter new markets, increase market share, invest in research and development, develop skills and even reduce costs are all vastly increased and contribute to real competitive advantage when networks are at their best,” he said. One example he gave was of the small rural Cadore Region in the north of Italy. With almost no indigenous industry it now controls more than 35% of the world’s manufacture of eyewear. A large cluster of 900 companies and workshops all collaborate to provide the training and skills needed for every element of production.

Another example was the recognition of ventilation manufacturers in Sweden who had to change the nature of their businesses if they were to survive. In working together they re-engineered and re-branded to sell ‘fresh air’ by providing a full service of manufacture and installation of systems to ‘take out what should not be in your air and put back in what should.’ The opportunities for even the most rural areas of Ireland were clear he maintained, so long as we realised we had to rethink how we conducted our traditional business.

Emiliano Duch Founding Chairman, The Competitiveness Institute and International Advisor on improving the competitiveness of regions

Achieving Commercial Success

This message is not lost on those driving policy as the recognition that business networks can help companies to achieve commercial success and to become more globally competitive has been gathering momentum.

As a result of the work of the Economic Development Forum in the North, the Head of the Curve Report in the South and InterTradeIreland’s Report on Business Networks on the Island of Ireland the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference(BIIGC) recommended that an all Island conference be held, as a first step, to highlight the potential business and economic benefits of collaboration and how the best conditions and services can be put in place to assist firms in collaboration.

The development of networks on the island of Ireland was mapped by the InterTradeIreland Report on Business Networks led by Gerry Doyle of the Impact Measurement Centre and Skillnets. “In our research we found that real progress was being made in areas such as R&D collaboration, market development, skills development, the supply chain and cross island and cross functional activities,” he told the conference.

“The establishment of this Business Network Forum not only highlights some successful examples of networks in each of these areas but it also provides real motivation to other businesses to become involved.”

OPTIMISING RESOURCES

NEW BUSINESS NETWORK FUNDING CALL IMMINENT WRITES AIDAN GOUGH Pictured at the launch of the first Business Networks Forum at Farmleigh in Dublin recently are, Martin Cronin CEO Forfas, Leslie Morrison CEO Invest NI, Liam Nellis CEO InterTradeIreland, Sean Doran CEO IDA Ireland, Frank Ryan CEO Enterprise Ireland The Business Networks Forum launch was a landmark event in bringing all five of the enterprise development agencies on the island together and represents a fundamental step forward in highlighting the level of policy and financial support required on an all-island basis to make a real impact in the development of business networks. The development of all-island business networks is central to the work of InterTradeIreland as we seek to build the cross-border relationships that will optimise the island’s economic resources in support of a globally competitive economy. We are currently developing networks in bio-pharma and medical devices, software and polymers and plastics sectors. Without doubt there is growing global economic evidence that collaboration can help businesses: - Enter new markets and/or increase market share - Co-operate in R&D to create new products/services - Come together to develop people and skills - Maximise expertise and share staff - Jointly manage the Supply Chain and tender to win large contracts - Reduce costs through bulk purchasing For that reason we will shortly be seeking proposals for additional all-island networks which will lead to new market opportunities, new research possibilities and new training solutions. InterTradeIreland will work closely with our sister agencies both North and South to encourage the growth of new networks and ensure competitive success for all involved