At the Veterinary Surgeon Supply Company, participants on Lisburn City Council's innovation programme were Councillor Allan Ewart, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and Mr Norman McMordie, Managing Director of Veterinary Surgeon Supply Company.	Pictured at Bluescope Medical Technologies, participants on Lisburn Council's Innovation programme are Dr Peter Donnelly, CTO Bluescope Medical , Dr Andy O'Hara, Bluescope Medical Technologies demonstrate medical device developed with assistance from the programme, to Councillor Allan Ewart, Chairman of Economic Development Committee.

LISBURN City Council has been working with companies in the Lisburn City area to develop business innovation. Since the initiative was launched in 2006, 14 businesses have benefited from the programme. The companies recruited onto the programme received tailored support aimed to place innovation and research at the core of their business development, by helping to identify appropriate new technologies, new processes, new systems or products which would add value, assist business growth and improve overall business competitiveness.

The programme, funded by Lisburn City Council's Economic Development Unit, was delivered in partnership with the University of Ulster. Commenting on the programme, Councillor Allan Ewart, Chairman of the Council's Economic Development Committee said: "In the current economic environment, it is important for businesses to look at ways to improve performance and to create a culture of innovation, not just in product development, but also in the ways that they plan their businesses.'

"By creating a culture of innovation businesses can achieve competitive advantage; extend the shelf life of their products, create new products and increase profitability.

I would encourage more businesses to adopt a culture of innovation and welcome applications for our new 2008/2009 programme." Councillor Ewart continued.

Businesses that have benefited in very different ways from participating on the programme included Bluescope Medical Technologies Ltd and Veterinary Surgeons

Supply Company Bluescope Medical Technologies Ltd, with assistance of this programme, have developed a technology platform to deliver continuous lung assessment and respiratory analysis for various diseases and conditions.

The Veterinary Surgeon Supply Company benefited from the programme to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations through improved processes, systems and tools with a primary focus on front-end materials management. Anyone interested in finding out more about Council funded initiatives should contact Hazel King at the Councils Economic Development Office on tel: 02892509484 or by email at hazel.king@lisburn.gov.uk.

Ulster Star
29/08/2008