THRIVE SME 6 month Innovation Programme

• Are you a Business Owner, Manager, Managing Director, or CEO of a small and medium sized business (SME)?
• Do you want to develop a new product, process, service, or business model for existing or new markets?
• Do you want to grow your business in new innovative ways but don’t know what to do or where to start?
• Do you want to build your network across the island of Ireland?
• Do you want to access Ireland’s leading research centres, expertise and the capabilities of four Irish universities? (in areas such as data analytics, deep tech, digitalisation, food, sustainability)

 
If so, then the THRIVE SME Innovation programme could be for you!
 
Overview
The Thrive SME Innovation Programme is an InterTradeIreland initiative, focused on supporting SMEs to grow and develop new network relationships with other businesses and university experts across the entire island of Ireland.  Delivered in collaboration with University College Cork, University of Galway, Queens University Belfast and Technological University Dublin, the THRIVE SME Innovation programme brings SME leaders through a structured innovation process for engaging in ways to generate, develop and plan to implement new innovative ideas for the SME through in-person workshops and one-to-one sessions.
Commitment
The Thrive programme requires a commitment from the SME leader for five in-person days across a six-month period (commencing in October 2024).  Additionally, businesses can nominate 1-2 members of their company to undertake the programme alongside the SME leader.  Each educational institution will deliver one-full day of the programme, allowing participants access to specific regional expertise and capabilities and additionally the opportunity to work with businesses from across the four provinces. 
 
Programme Benefits
Through completion of the programme, the business will be supported to develop the following:

1. An innovation audit of the business’s processes and gaps for implementing new ideas.

2. A future-looking review of the business’s competitive landscape.

3. Design of a growth roadmap, based on a new product, service, process or business model.

4. An implementation plan for the newly identified innovation project.

5. Access to Ireland’s leading research centres (such as APC Microbiome, Centre for Entrepreneurial Growth & Scaling,  Insight Centre and the Tyndall Institute)

6. Opportunity for SME leader to understand their own leadership and management capabilities.

7. Opportunities to access further InterTradeIreland supports (e.g. Innovation Boost).

How do I apply?
Please reach out if interested.
Applications are submitted via
https://intertradeireland.com/innovation/thrive-sme-innovation-programme  
Email thrive@intertradeireland.com or gillian.barrett@ucc.ie with any questions.