Summary of ideas submitted in the Innovation category…

• To encourage more collaboration of businesses with third level institutions on research & development the institution should not automatically be the owner of the intellectual property developed.
• The Irish government should provide an institute of innovation/design in connection with third level colleges where people can go with their ideas and obtain solutions as to where they can find qualified people to undertake the development of their ‘concept’.
• Business people should commit - as much or little of their time as they can afford - to mentoring others.
• The government should set up a web site where people could submit their inventions and they would then be evaluated and given the financial support necessary to patent them and get them off the ground! In return the government could become a shareholder and so have revenue from numerous inventions coming back into the economy.
• For times of emergency, set up a 999 number which can be texted in as opposed to making a phone call. Measures would have to be put in place to combat abuse of this system. This could be linked to a tracking system in order to determine location.
• Set up a website with a database of skills which people could access and see if they have a skill that could be bartered for a skill they need.
• Individuals involved in Human Resources (HR)/Learning and Development/Business Development with particular experience of business coaching should gift a certain amount of time/resources to work with individuals and organisations affected by the downturn.
• More street lighting and road sign lighting should be run on solar power
• Enterprise Boards and Enterprise Ireland should provide business mentors (could be retired business people or college lecturers) to help convert innovative thoughts into grant applications, assisting in writing a business plan with the person and also providing market research and patent searches.
• Install a timer device that would shut off all electricity when it’s not needed (similar to central heating). This would stop appliances which are plugged in but not in use, using up electricity unnecessarily.
• Unemployed skilled professionals should be encouraged to provide their services to start up R&D companies free of charge without it having any detrimental effect on their social welfare entitlements.
• Ireland could become the first country to migrate to a totally cash-less society. By completely eliminating all forms of cash, we would encourage the development of technologies to replace coins and notes.
• Deregulate certain industries and keep out of the way to let local solutions emerge and then support them when they do emerge . Focus on re-skilling and local empowerment.
• Business and Government should jointly set up creativity and innovation centres in the cities and major towns of Ireland.
• A programme should be launched whereby people can voluntarily take a sabbatical from their job in order to set up a new business. They should receive seed money to get the business off the ground while the employer guarantees the persons position for up to 3-4 years.
• A group of business people could volunteer their time around the country to create panels that would listen to ideas, evaluate them and perhaps provide investment for the good ones - similar to the Dragons Den but on a wider scale.
• Turn empty factories into community workshops for unemployed people, particularly those with a specific idea, who could use mentoring throughout their R&D stage
• Build and manage a carbon neutral Business area in an attempt to encourage MNC locate in Ireland.
• Design an engine which can run on air.
• Establish a board that will review peoples innovative ideas and put them in contact with people who can provide further support in order to get the idea off the ground.
• Set up a website where researchers or the general public could contribute case studies of how similar problems have been solved in other countries or organisations.
• Start a “Buy Irish” campaign.
• Provide grants in order to encourage people to grow fruit and vegetables in the green space of urban areas.
• University academics can get €90,000 for a proof of concept which allows a principal investigator and research assistants develop a concept. A similar grant process should be put in place to allow individuals to undertake such research also.
• Establish “Laid-off Camps” similar to those in the US where free, ad-hoc gatherings of unemployed and non traditionally employed people-including freelancers and entrepreneurs-who want to share ideas and learn from each other.
• We should aim to unlock the expertise in the civil and public services and encourage them to act as innovation partners by procuring innovation from small companies at the cutting edge of research. For example compel all agencies in receipt of public R&D funds to spend 2.5% of their budgets procuring research projects from small innovative businesses.
• The mobile phone sector presents massive opportunities for both attracting Mobile Network Code (MNC’s) and promoting new ways of doing business. For example the Irish market represents an ideal market for testing new mobile products. In addition the banks could develop mobile banking or Government could provide notices via text messages as opposed to letters.
• Irish companies should be encouraged to engage with Irish universities in an attempt to bring a commercial aspect to the R&D carried out by the Universities.
• Scan the world for technologies at market-entry point and via “License Deals” market these technologies from Ireland to the world.
• Reduce the cost and complexity of patenting - or actively support and subsidise it. This would encourage established and budding inventors/entrepreneurs ultimately developing the creative economy.
• Introduce a mentoring/volunteering or training type role for highly qualified unemployed individuals to new start up companies that require many of these services IT, Sales, accounting. People can then get extra credit/benefits in exchange for the services provided.
• A website should be set up where people can register ideas for new products/services that they don’t want to run with them themselves. Entrepreneurs could have free access to this information to help them diversify their business.
• The Local authorities or Chamber of Commerce could offer workshops for local entrepreneurs to stress test their ideas and invite a representative group from the local community to express their views.
• Make galoshes again.
• Establish a FAS scheme for small businesses.
• We should purchase small companies abroad in order to gain knowledge and future patents.
• Make the next decade the “Decade of Innovation”.
• Rather than pay people the dole, the government should pay companies the equivalent amount in order to help them retain their workers.
• A number of zones could be set up around the country where tax rates are very low to allow various industries to set up and people to work who can provide these services and to hub the creative arts together.
• Provide grants to individuals with business ideas in order to allow them develop the idea.
• Fund research to develop a battery for electric cars which will go for 100km at a time.