We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
IRELAND IS PRODUCING better innovation than many other European countries, according to a new study which found we are above average in the EU.
Excellent research systems and good human resources were particular strengths highlighted in the Innovation Union Scoreboard report on all 27 EU member states.
However, the report noted a “strong decline” in small businesses introducing innovative products, and said entrepreneurship was a weakness overall.
The availability of finance was also cited as a drawback. Organisations representing small and medium enterprises have repeatedly highlighted difficulties in securing credit from banks.
Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Finland topped the EU chart, qualifying as “innovation leaders” with performance well above average.
Ireland was part of a larger group dubbed “innovation followers”, just above the average mark. Ireland came just behind Luxembourg and the UK, and just ahead of France.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
At least we beat France at something
However, the report noted a “strong decline” in small businesses introducing innovative products, and said entrepreneurship was a weakness overall.
This situation could be tackled if Banks would lend money to SMEs. Transport and logistic costs are ridiculously high in this country (fuel and tax costs). Brain drain (young highly skilled people leaving the country).
So…. We’re followers, just above average. Not what you’d really call good news, is it?
We should be higher up the table. Our education system rewards learning things off, not creativity.
Also, a lot of our courses & supports are for the buzzword ‘entrepreneur’. Innovation & invention are precursors to entrepreneurship. I’ve never seen a sample business plan that mentions the cost of patents/product development/trademarks. The majority of help is only setup to help basic straightforward entrepreneurship like opening a clothes shop or hairdressers. Why are Engineer students given virtually no business training, these are the innovative students. At some point in education all students should learn how to set up a business.
I recall Tom Cruise in Risky Business where he was in high school doing a project for an entrepreneur class. That film is 30 years old. We are sooo far behind the curve.
good post!
I did a year in NCI studying my first year of a Bsc in Computing, I found it to be a great course with plenty of business and entrepreneurship modules. It’s a good example of how to do it right IMO.
Excellent lecturers too.
You’re right though – this stuff should be taught in secondary school, along with things like software engineering and programming.
So we’re just ok.
This is great news but, as always, we should strive to do better. We should aim to be first in Europe.
Not its not like that . Good at innovation , bad at administration
No its not
We’ll never have strong innovation and start ups if the governmentt keeps pandering to multinationals
have your say