for such policies would reduce its terms of trade by requiring its residents to give up some of their income to foreign consumers and/or pay higher prices for foreign goods and services.
but will do little to boost competitiveness as electric utility services are not typically internationally traded.
and services will not only be cheaper but better. Spurring competitiveness is important as well. Without competitive sectors, a nation†s standard of living will be The lion†s share of productivity growth in most nations comes not from changing the sectoral mix to higher-productivity industries
State involvement in the delivery of mentoring services inevitably involves formal structures and procedures which would merely deter potential volunteers and delay the most beneficial forms of mentoring.
The Forum is of the view that State resources currently focused on the provision of one-to-one mentoring services should be scaled down
which contains relevant up-to-date information on services available, along with links to agencies relevant to establishing
and their myriad of new products and services. 1. 1 Importance of Entrepreneurship Recent research underpins the need for Irish policymakers to encourage entrepreneurship.
which in turn provides the taxation revenue that allows for the government provision of social and infrastructural services. 1. 4
We encourage our children to work in †guaranteed secure†jobs in high-paying areas like the public sector, in multinational corporations or in the professional services fields (eg. accountants, lawyers, doctors.
or higher compared to 27.1%of Irish nationals. 9 Immigrants are entitled to use the services of the various enterprise support agencies,
social groups and places of worship to promote the many services and supports available to any person wishing to-18-9 CSO (2012) Migration and Diversity. 10 GEM (2012) Entrepreneurship in Ireland recommendations recommendations recommendations establish a business
however many initiatives tend to provide once-off mentoring services paid for by the state.
and the resources currently focused on the provision of one-to-one mentoring services should be scaled down
Free web services to support this are available. 14 Industry efforts to create this national registry are already underway
or monthly basis for an â€oeoffice Hours†style programme. 25 Award winners alumni responded to this question. 14 Possibly using free or inexpensive off-the-shelf web services like http://ohours
the Forum proposes that the State should significantly reduce its role in providing one-to-one mentoring services to achieve a target of 80%unpaid mentoring through peer mentoring groups and 20%paid delivery of one-to-one mentoring.
If paid mentoring services continue to be delivered by State agencies the Forum recommends cutting the charge to unemployed people trying to start a business as a specific measure.
If paid mentoring services are delivered by State agencies, the Forum recommends cutting the charge as a specific measure to support unemployed people trying to start a business.
and speakers could offer their services free of charge. The Webinars could be attended live or people could watch the webinar at a later time
telecommunications services and interactive learning that were traditionally the preserve of large multinational companies. During the late 70s and 80s, a significant proportion of the third level graduates from engineering and science courses emigrated to join multinationals in mainland Europe and North america.
entrepreneurial community services are given almost always without charge or profit and a substantial proportion of entrepreneurs willingly share their time and advice with others.
such as the public sector financiers, universities, professional services organisations, etc. There are a number of highly engaged government agencies in Ireland with plugged-in
kitchen facilities and event space incorporated. •24hr access to the space. •An incorporated coffee shop or complimentary coffee break-out area. •Plug-and-play style services (internet
which contains relevant up-to-date information on services available along with links to agencies relevant to establishing
A variety of rates are charged for different types of services and products. To simplify the burden to business,
For florists, provide a brochure which illustrates the different tax rates between flowers as plants and flowers as cut flowers and performing services such as planting flowers, etc. recommendations 65.
social groups and places of worship to promote the many services and supports available to any person wishing to establish a business
If paid mentoring services are delivered by State agencies, the Forum recommends cutting the charge as a specific measure to support unemployed people trying to start a business. 3. 4 Webinars 23.
which contains relevant up-to-date information on services available along with links to agencies relevant to establishing
Dominated by microenterprises, over 90%of all startups were in the services, distribution and construction sectors.
5. 3 Distribution 2, 335 5. 4 Services 6, 429 7. 1 Finance & Tourism 372 6. 8 Total 11,
advisory & counselling services and education. In designing policies laws and regulations, the Government and its agents must adopt the best approaches possible, optimising opportunities for economic and social progress and minimising potential negative effects.
An Employer Pack, available on the Department of Social Protection†s website, contains more details on these supports and services.
which combines the full range of services in supporting the development of an entrepreneurial culture in Ireland.
It is notable that many of the countries with the fastest new business registration services
more online facilities and first stop shop services. 2. 4 Supports Ireland has developed an extensive range of supports for startups.
and potential entrepreneurs to access the wide range of services provided by the different government agencies.
including cultural tourism, audiovisual and digital technology, marine resources, niche manufacturing, food & beverages and creative language-based services.
Entrepreneurs need access to innovative ideas, products, processes and services. Equally, innovative products, processes and services need entrepreneurs who are prepared to take risks
and develop appropriate business strategies to bring ideas to market. Both entrepreneurship and innovation are associated with â€oedoing something newâ€
and resources they need to develop new and improved products, processes, services, and to generate new knowledge and know-how.
in order to conceive and develop new globally successful operating models, products and business services. Any gaps in the system will be identified
EI) The Innovation Services and Business Processes (ISBP) Advisory Group will address the recommendations made in the Forfã¡
s Review of Business Mentoring Services, July 2014 Entrepreneurial Networks & Mentoring National Policy Statement on Entrepreneurship in Ireland44 The most common are focused networks on women in business.
Volunteer mentors make up less than 10%of the total of mentoring services. The 2013 evaluation of mentoring made a number of recommendations that will be progressed by DJEI.
The objectives for developing early-stage mentoring services in Ireland are to: Improve the service quality, consistency and professionalism of all mentor service engagements Increase the scope of mentoring for established companies and the provision of specialist mentoring,
The BICS deploy services from the regional capital cities (Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway and Waterford), delivering the key enablers for job creation in the innovative startup and early stage SME market to an EC Accredited Quality Standard.
DJEI)- Broaden mentoring services to support the challenges of scaling and under-represented specialist expertise (sectoral, market, technical, internationalisation etc.).
and invest in the redevelopment of the existing portfolio of enterprise space to facilitate modern infrastructure and support services to build local capacity.
and services to address public sector challenges and needs in a market where there is not a ready-made appropriate solution available.
From the perspective of firms, SBIR programmes allow the development and piloting of new products and services.
Some sectors, such as travel, accommodation, electronic goods and services, have already been transformed by digital trading.
and continue to work to attract international buyers to Ireland to source Irish goods and services.
EI) Examine practical ways of highlighting the merits of the public procurement of innovative products and services.
s Review of Business Mentoring Services in Ireland. Need to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to implement recommendations of the Review. 490 one to one assignments;
s Review of Business Mentoring Services in Ireland. Need to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to implement recommendations of the Review. 490 one to one assignments;
Drives the commercialisation of research from higher education research institutions by supporting the development of innovations at all stages of the commercial pipeline to the point where they can be commercialised as new products, services and companies. 2011: 79 Projects 2011:
Drives the commercialisation of research from higher education research institutions by supporting the development of innovations at all stages of the commercial pipeline to the point where they can be commercialised as new products, services and companies. 2011: 79 Projects 2011:
from EI (number) n/a 30 EI Services Accessed Market research Centre (referral numbers) n/a 45 Overseas Office (referral numbers) n/a 26 Innovation Vouchers
and ultimately for generating products and services through applied research and commercialization. For this payoff to happen
software and services that make up the modern information age, spanning semiconductors, telecommunications, productivity or security software, computers, tablets and gaming.
and services but do not lead to increased future productivity). To distinguish between taxes and PAGE 4 THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOUNDATION JANUARY 2014 spending that support investment versus consumption,
or policy encourage organizations to produce more goods and services with fewer inputs? 6 ï Innovation:
or policy encourage organizations to create new products, services, processes, or business models that add value
the federal government will be able to provide the same services at a lower cost. Congress should therefore increase spending on federal IT infrastructure.
Moreover, with the move to an economy with many more jobs in the services sector, the availability of jobs that require limited physical exertion has grown.
female workers earned money that let them purchase goods and services, which generated further demand for What is certain is that the United states will be less prosperous
Reduced outlays normally come at a cost of reduced government services, funding or transfer payments. There are numerous ways to cut spending,
it would not raise the taxes on exported products and services. Another revenue source could be a small financial transaction tax (also known as a â€oetobin†tax)
which in turn, support a similar number in support services and related sectors. This is making a real impact all over the country.
and innovation and crucially, keeps ensuring that Government helps rather than hinders entrepreneurs from creating the jobs that deliver the tax revenues that allow us invest in vital services.
the numbers of people at work has grown by in agriculture 24,000 in accommodation and food services 23,000 OPEN in retail, construction, healthcare,
2. 0bn Services â 11. 3bn Services â 10. 4bn Services â 10. 0bn Materials â 2. 6bn APJ STRATEGIC
and services reached new record of â 18bn in 2014 (â 17. 1bn in 2013, â 16bn in 2012, â 15. 3bn in 2011) â 15. 3bn
2011 â 17. 1bn 2013 â 18bn 2014 â 6. 3bn on payroll â 10. 3bn on materials â 4. 4bn on services
management services, technologies and solutions, and drive energy efficiency in the public and private sectors to improve competitiveness.
The creation of new jobs in agency supported firms have important spillovers to other sectors of the economy through expenditure on Irish materials and services.
with services exports up 10 per cent in the first nine months of 2014 and goods exports up 2 per cent,
In relation to Enterprise Agency-supported employment, total permanent employment in EI and IDA Ireland assisted companies in the industrial and services sectors increased by 5 per cent to over 350,000 in 2014.
Employment growth within Enterprise Ireland supported companies will be fuelled by an increase in global demand for Irish products and services.
and ï§Key sectoral initiatives in high growth sectors such as food, manufacturing, software, internationally traded services and construction resulting in a more diversified trade portfolio for Enterprise Ireland clients,
Two of the key aspects of the IDA Ireland Horizon 2020 strategy were to drive company transformation to ensure higher levels of job retention and to focus particularly on the growth in employment intensive services,
For the first time in 2013, services exports exceeded goods exports, providing a more balanced portfolio of trade.
Purchases of Irish raw materials and services by overseas clients of EI IDA and à darã¡
the contribution of medium and high-tech product exports to the trade balance, exports of knowledge-intensive services, sales due to innovation activities and license and patent revenues from selling technologies abroad.
and further investment is planned in the provision of high speed fixed line and mobile broadband services.
ï§New Legal Services Regulatory authority to become operational; ï§â 39 million in Exchequer supports to further stimulate energy saving activity;
and Training Services Plan. 2015 Actions A Step Change in employer engagement to build skills for the New Economy. 1 Review the National Skills Strategy
and Training (FET) Services Plan that includes provision to meet the FET skills needs identified in various published EGFSN reports and sectoral studies.
s na Gaeltachta client companies in the Gaeltacht, including through supports for post-research/pre-commercialisation units in the Life sciences, Food and Business Support Services and Creative Enterprises sectors,
including cultural tourism, audiovisual and digital technology, marine resources, niche manufacturing, food & beverages and creative language-based services.
and there is a growing critical mass of players that could enable Ireland to develop a leading global position in the development of new energy services.
It is intended to provide clear access to services, to the research landscape and to regulatory solutions for innovators.
services and solutions and attracting FDI. It will bring visibility to Ireland's own progress in deploying new technologies
Ireland has a range of engineering, ICT and services skills, expertise and products developed in Ireland that are in increasing demand internationally;
and services and is a major advantage to smaller Irish based technology companies; and ï§Growing base of research, innovation and demonstrative activities in public research system
Among the products and services where Ireland can establish world leadership could include: ï§Technologies to allow large scale integration of renewable energy;
both ICT and energy, participating in demonstration activities and developing new products and services for international markets.
and entrepreneurs to the services suited to their needs. This will allow for genuine crosscutting collaboration among the range of agencies
SEAI, DCENR, DECLG) 62 Promote the use and application of energy efficient technologies and solutions in the manufacturing and services enterprises in Ireland,
to go to the market to identify solutions for the delivery of energy reduction services. DCENR, Public Bodies) 44 2. 4 Strategic Banking corporation of Ireland â 800 million extra in the next 24 months will be lent to SMES through the new SBCI.
DJEI data indicates that currently 7 per cent of sales of indigenous firms is from new products and services,
products and services by giving them appropriate access to the health service to validate and refine products;
The services provided by Enterprise Ireland†s overseas offices to Irish companies are a critical aspect of the fully integrated holistic package of supports available to Irish companies to support international growth
tourism and investment and implement Local Market Plans in priority markets and to undertake targeted initiatives in sectors including international education services, engineering services, cultural services,
and commitment of additional staff in 2014, the focus has been on development of enhanced customer service (training, website, protocols with State bodies), seamless continuity of services (project supports/job creation, training
Companies providing goods and services need cash flow certainty and are entitled to expect that their payments will be made in a timely manner.
and the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund by facilitating links between local youth services and the Local Enterprise Offices/Microfinance Ireland.
Action ate level for oth training a Full and part cial services, entumskills . i ear. ill Lane Pi Momentum pr Despit Degre had be
and services from firms based in Ireland provide the revenue to ensure those businesses thrive,
and contribute to the revenue allocated by the State to deliver vital services to our citizens.
and services have risen to a record â 184 billion in 2013 and we have continued to run current account surpluses over recent years.
Our strong growth in goods and services exports are being driven by sectors which we have targeted specifically as part of the Action Plan for Jobs,
with an annual spend by the Government sector of â 8 billion on goods and services.
DPER) 166 Examine ways of improving the supply of innovative products and services, where appropriate, in public procurement.
Foras na Gaeilge) 175 Continue to support the expansion and development of an international aviation services centre at Shannon.
including Life sciences & Food as well as further property solutions for Business Support Services and Creative Enterprises.
The five industries will be those †strength in depth†sectors currently located in Ireland namely ICT, Medical Devices, Biopharma, Agri/Food and Business Services.
commercial attaches at embassies, professional services providers (accountants, lawyers, patent agents), innovation managers at large corporates, investors, State enterprise support agencies and mentor/angel investors).
the new e-services to be delivered for motor taxation and financial statements can improve almost 40,
DSP) New e-Services to Make Business Easier 221 Incorporate provision in the forthcoming Planning Bill to allow planning authorities and An Bord Pleanã¡
including the launch of the Energy efficiency Fund, the establishment of the National Energy Services Framework as well as a comprehensive suite of supports for commercial and public sector bodies.
In 2014, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural resources published Ireland's National Energy Services Framework (NESF) which supports the rollout of energy performance contracting (EPC) to public and commercial facilities across the country.
stimulating the development of a market for Energy Services Companies (ESCOS) and supporting sustainable employment in construction and professional services.
000 or more, to go to the market to identify solutions for the delivery of energy reduction services.
ï§Review and update the National Energy Services Framework; 106 ï§Further progress the Valuation (Amendment) Bill providing for, in certain circumstances, self-assessment of valuation by occupiers;
and ï§Place downward pressure on legal costs via the new Legal Services Regulatory authority. 2015 Actions Decreasing the cost of Doing Business 256 Encourage local authorities to exercise restraint in adopting the Annual rates on Valuation (ARVS) for 2015, a reserved
DCENR) 260 Review and update the National Energy Services Framework. DCENR) 261 Ensure swift progress of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill.
ï§Resume Report Stage of the Legal Services Bill in the Dáil; and ï§Complete legislation for the new Legal Services Regulatory authority to become operational.
D/Justice and Equality) 264 With the Film Board, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is continuing to work to create a more competitive environment to grow the film,
and ï§Develop the enabling infrastructure to translate RD&I into improved products and services, both public and private. 2015 Actions Increasing the levels of RD&I 266 Continue to drive implementation of Research Prioritisation through the Government†s Prioritisation Action Group
ï§Provide opportunities to develop new products and services, for example in the marine technology and biotechnology area;
Tourism is a services export, and in order to maximise this, the primary focus of the Government†s new Tourism Policy Statement †â€oepeople, Place and Policy †Growing Tourism to 2025†is on growing overseas tourism.
to produce products, services, solutions and systems to improve the quality of life of people aged 50 and over.
Legal and professional services firms offering support services are also a significant and valuable component of the industry.
efficiency and customer satisfaction of the services they deliver. Iot will generate huge volumes of data
and services in a sustainable way that reduce the impact on the environment. It includes activities in areas such as sustainable food production, tourism, green financial services, waste management, renewable energy, smart grids and energy efficiency.
and export innovative products and services. Many Irish companies have established already their credentials as world leaders in providing green goods and services internationally.
Ireland is ranked 11th in performance in the Global Green Economy Index 201410, but ranked only 33rd in terms of how it is perceived to perform.
and services available from Irish companies in the sector and to develop export opportunities for them.
which could support cleantech products and services. DJEI, EI, OGP) 362 In developing Regional Enterprise Strategies, explore the potential for the development of new employment opportunities in the Green Economy at regional level.
domestically-sourced supplies and services 2011 ï§IDA enterprises: â 19. 8bn. ï§EI enterprises:
=126.0 Warehousing Computer services Legal and Accounting Services 2011=100 2011=100 2011=100 Q3 2014=89.4 Q3 2014=106.3 Q3
2014=98.5 154 Architecture and engineering services Advertising Services 2011=100 2011=100 Q3 2014=97.6 Q3
Economic and Social Research Institute ETB Education and Training Board ESCOS Energy Services Companies FCF Food Competitiveness Fund FW Food Works FDI
NCC National Competitiveness Council NDS National Digital Strategy NESF National Energy Services Framework NFP New Frontiers Programme NGI National Gallery
social innovation can emerge from any sector (TEPSIE, 2014). 1. 1 Context and definitions Social innovations â€oeare new solutions (products, services, models, markets, processes etc.)
4) the development of new products, services and programmes; and, 5) a model of governance, empowerment and capacity building. 1 Our perspective on social innovation is guided in many ways by the work done by the FP7 project TEPSIE (http://www. tepsie. eu),
and individuals are seen not only as passive recipients of services anymore2; 5) Mutualism: Notion that individual and collective well-being is obtainable only by mutual dependence;
i) New products Assistive technologies developed for people with disabilities ii) New services Mobile banking iii) New processes Peer-to-peer collaboration
through the goods or services they offer, and through the organisation or production methods they resort to,
of the European commission that defines it as an instrument for developing new ideas, services and models to better address social issues5.
and services, enhancing transparency and decision-making processes of public administrations, the launch of a Social innovation community in 2015, support to the public sector observatory of the OECD, a new competition for the prize of the European capital of Innovation,
and ensure the delivery of necessary support services to those social innovations. 2. 2 Research projects in Europe Several EU-funded research projects are focusing on social innovation.
which provide incubator services, training for social economy, and access to international networks to nurture
Social Innovation in Europe ESDN Quarterly Report No. 36 22 (2) Social Innovation Academy SI Park provides on-site and on-line training to bring fresh ideas to services
Social innovations are defined as new solutions (products, services, models, markets, processes etc. that simultaneously meet a social need (more effectively than existing solutions) and lead to new or improved capabilities and relationships and better use of assets and resources.
and services 9. An illustration of an implementation of the smart grid is shown in Fig. 2. The U s. National Institute of Standards
4) provides ancillary services, supplying reactive power for voltage regulation; and 5) supports transmission-and-distribution (T&d) investment deferral.
and marketing services. It also mandated the creation of independent system operators, eventually making possible the creation of an open-access same-time information system†a Web-based secure database of transmission-system-related information.
email services (hotmail, gmail, yahoo, etc. A more complete definition, however, offered by the European commission,
or infrastructure that enables the execution of services and applications in a managed and elastic fashion (European commission 2010c).
to enable European SMES to make the most of cloud computing. Making an informed choice Cloud computing requires careful consideration by an SME owner of the kind of services the firm is able to buy, the interoperability of these with current software, the pricing of bolt
-on services, the differences between providers and the risk behind each option. Ensuring that small business owners are able to make these informed choices will involve a coordinated approach from the industry,
comparable and relevant information when choosing services and providers. This is especially pertinent in light of the fact that some 60%of UK small firms recently surveyed admit that they do not know what cloud computing is (Blundel and Gray 2011.
are engaged in this debate will be crucial in ensuring that SMES are represented better in their use of cloud services.
and confidence Increasing awareness of and confidence in cloud services among the SME sector is an
improving the general knowledge of the cloud services available while at the same time building confidence in the services on offer.
The survey reveals that over one-third of ACCA€ s members already feel that they have a good understanding of cloud services
32 4 Eco-innovate products and services...36 4. 1 Research and development...38 4. 2 Design...
develop new products, technologies or services, or improve production processes. The aim is to summarise key business issues,
and coaching services to SMES. This guide is one of many publications and information sources developed by the Eco-Innovation Observatory (EIO).
Incremental eco-innovation focuses on improving existing goods and services, whereas disruptive eco-innovation is about thinking outside of the box
and delivering new services, but it also encompasses reducing environmental impacts in the way products are designed,
but creating new services and introducing organisational changes are just as important. At its core, eco-innovation is about creating business models that are both competitive
and respect the environment by reducing resource intensity of products and services. Sustainable management of natural resources•Tackling climate change•Improving biodiversity and ecosystems•Saving material and energy costs•New products and services:
new markets•New business models•Enhancing quality of life•Creating new and sustainable jobs•â€oematerial security†•Resource justice•economy environment society politics Figure 2:
and value propositions by reconsidering novel ways of delivering their services. Alternative approaches to delivering services (e g. functional sales) can both reduce resource intensity,
bring about new market opportunities and make business more resilient in the face of market trends, notably fluctuating commodity prices.
services and technologies are motivated by the opportunity to access new markets and customer segments. A clear incentive here is maintaining
anticipation of new standards Cost saving Material and energy cost savings due to efficiency gains Resilient business models Creating business models focussed on delivering services
and services Comply with and anticipate new regulations (including eco-design) •Distribution Reduce impacts, for example through:
•land and water Cause less pollution and waste•Shift to selling services from products
services can meet their needs, perhaps even better. Consider concepts like leasing or sharing for your business.
Revisit your business model Measuring environmental performance Ecological rucksacks are the resource requirements of producing products or services.
For services, it is the sum of the shares of the rucksacks of the technical means (â€oeservice delivery machinesâ€) employed (for example, vehicles, buildings, etc.
or services in terms of their material or energy requirements. www. factor10-institute. org/terms. html The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth†s ecosystems.
and delivery of waste treatment and transport lca. jrc. ec. europa. eu/lcainfohub/datasetarea. vm Guide to PAS 2050†How to assess the carbon footprint of goods and services shop
and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business. www. waterfootprint. org Eco-innovate!
and delivery of products and services. 3. 1 Waste and emissions Key challenges for your business Dealing with waste.
and quantity of materials are consumed †throughout the lifecycle of our products and services? What measures can we take to reduce the •use of materials, energy, water and other resources?
Substitute resource-intensive materials •and products with new materials, products or services that also improve the functionality of the end product.
requirements of functionally comparable goods or services. The Wuppertal Institute has developed a stepwise guide to how to perform MIPS. www. wupperinst. org/en/publications/entnd/index. html?
Sustainable supply chain management requires the management of environmental, social and economic impacts†and the encouragement of good governance practices†throughout the life-cycle of goods and services. 12 11 Council of Supply
and services and can take the form of a reuse, buy-back, or recycling programme.
recycling and remarketing Shields Environmental is based a UK company that provides support services to the telecommunication sector, mainly accompanying companies with environmental management solutions and recycling.
Procure eco-efficient products and services. •According to the Carbon Disclosure Project, 39%of its members and 28%of their suppliers witnessed cost savings after introducing a sustainable procurement approach13.
adhesion to the company and its products and services. 13 See Accenture, 2012: www. accenture. com/us-en/outlook/Pages/outlook-journal-2012-why-sustainable-supply-chain-is-good-business. aspx Eco-innovate production processes Eco-innovate!
and services 38 eco-innovation observatory Eco-innovate products and services Key questions Does our company have the skills,
time and •money to pursue relevant R&d? Who has the research and technical skills to •undertake eco-innovative R&d internally or externally?
services •and technologies may mean fundamental changes to existing designs, which may be costly in the short term but beneficial in the long term.
and services Map life-cycle environmental impacts of •products, identify any â€oematerial and energy use hotspotsâ€
toys etc. www. tecnaro. de Eco-innovate products and services Trulstech: biodegradable flame retardant The science behind natural fire protection known as the Molecular Heat Eater led to Swedish inventor Mats Nilsson founding Trulstech.
and services Eco-innovate! A guide to eco-innovation for SMES and business coaches. 42 eco-innovation observatory Eco-innovate products
and services Key questions What product design options are there to •improve the environmental performance of products?
and services. For example, Philips†as an electronics company†explores opportunities to improve product-related environmental performance in six focal areas:
and services Eco-innovate! A guide to eco-innovation for SMES and business coaches. 44 eco-innovation observatory What problems can arise in the distribution of the product to the customer?
and services How does the product system actually fulfil customer needs? Dematerialisation  Shared use of the product  Integration of functions  Functional optimisation of product (components) Â
and services Quick wins Creative approaches and focused improv-•ment strategies help identify potential design improvement.
A guide to eco-innovation for SMES and business coaches. 46 eco-innovation observatory Eco-innovate products and services Granta Design,
and checklists. www. ecodesign. at/pilot/ONLINE/ENGLISH/INFO/SITEMAP. HTM Eco-innovate products and services Figure 7:
and services Key challenges for your business Customers†whether they are end consum-•ers
Market research may highlight important •areas of environmental or social interest, improvement or concern related to existing or new eco-innovative products, services or technologies.
Today†s customers buy greener products, services or technologies because they work better, save money or enhance health.
Awareness†how do we raise awareness •about products and services? Evaluation†how do we help people evalu-•ate greener value propositions?
Purchase†how do customers purchase •products and services? Delivery†how do we deliver a greener •value proposition to customers?
and services Eco-innovate! A guide to eco-innovation for SMES and business coaches. 50 eco-innovation observatory Eco-innovate products
and services Quick wins Determining the extent of customers and •other stakeholders environmental awareness and understanding may help to reveal business opportunities or threats.
and services that have reduced a •environmental impact. It is a voluntary label used following certification through independent compliance checks
and services Eco-innovate! A guide to eco-innovation for SMES and business coaches. 5 Get your eco-innovation idea off the ground 54 eco-innovation observatory Get your eco-innovation idea off the ground:
service or technology compared to competitive products and services? What are relative benefits of your product compared to competitive offers?
access services and financial partners and become visible internationally. www. europe-innova. eu/ecolink Examples of European projects on eco-innovation Eco-innovate!
It is also also building a European network of key collaborators with privileges such as the testing of all platform services,
offer of full platform services to their members and ambassador of the platform in their country. www. ecoweb-project. eu A number of INTERREG programmes and projects offer interesting good practices in eco-innovative solutions
Overtext Web Module V3.0 Alpha
Copyright Semantic-Knowledge, 1994-2011