Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the benefits for the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics, NUTS, 2 eastern and midland region arising from its recent regional innovation valley designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30030/24]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the benefits for the NUTS 2 northern and western region arising from its recent regional innovation valley designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30155/24]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the benefits for the NUTS 2 southern region arising from its recent regional innovation valley designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30016/24]

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister provide an update on the benefits of the NUTS 2 eastern and midland region project arising from its regional innovation valley status designation?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 18 and 23 together.

In June, the European Commission announced 151 regions, including Ireland’s three NUTS 2 regions, as designated regional innovation valleys, RIVs. I commend the regions and the respective assemblies on the hard work that was put in to successfully attaining this designation. The RIVs commit to enhance the co-ordination and direction of their research and innovation investment and policies. They also commit to collaborating on interregional innovation projects linked to key EU priorities such as reduced reliance on fossil fuels; global food security; digital transformation; improving healthcare; and achieving circularity. The designation follows an expression of interest call by the European Commission, which recognises their potential as hubs of innovation and economic growth within this cross-European network. The initiative has potential to unlock new European funding and international collaboration opportunities for the regions, so that innovation can be supported. The designation is in line with commitments in our White Paper on enterprise.

The European Commission will support RIVs through matchmaking events and targeted communication. Matchmaking aims to connect stakeholders with complementary strengths and objectives, including SMEs, researchers and public institutions, as well as matching projects with funding, expertise and potential investors. This seeks to drive joint innovation projects aimed at bolstering the overall productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of regional enterprise. With an overall commitment of up to €170 million for the RIV initiative, the first beneficiaries across 72 regions are to receive €116 million from the European innovation ecosystems work programme under Horizon Europe and the interregional innovation investments instrument under the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF. Further competitive calls are anticipated in the future.

In line with the ongoing implementation of Ireland’s smart specialisation strategy, our Department will continue to work closely with the three regional assemblies and the enterprise agencies to pursue future EU funding streams, which will emerge as part of this initiative. As the Minister will testify, the midlands in particular is in a very good place, through its midlands regional enterprise plan, to maximise the opportunities. The chair and director of that plan are fully attuned to the opportunities that are there.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. The RIV is a very welcome project and very worthwhile pan-European initiative, as it seeks to strengthen and advance a European-wide innovation ecosystem and connect all EU territories to address Europe's burning societal challenges and foster stronger cohesion. The midlands and north east were particularly fortunate to be included. As the Minister of State and the Minister rightly said, there is a nucleus of very strong businesses and a strong culture of innovation and enterprise in the region. It is a perfect fit for this initiative. The region as a whole is very excited about what this can deliver for us. The Minister of State indicated the funding that is in place. Will he elaborate on when that funding will start to reach the regions?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The midlands is ideally placed, through its regional enterprise plan, to maximise the opportunities. There is already a funding call through the European innovation ecosystems work programme, for which €116 million has been budgeted. There will be further competitive calls. I once again commend the regional assemblies involved on submitting the application and providing the information. These are best placed to brief the Deputy. I encourage every Member to be briefed on the potential. The regional assemblies are best placed to identify the funding opportunities and, most importantly, the businesses and institutions that can make the most value from those funding opportunities.

This is a competitive programme. With 151 regions, it will be intensely competitive. Those that are best prepared will best maximise the opportunities that are there. I have every confidence that the regional assemblies will be able to do that.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The RIVs are particularly beneficial for those regions, which probably have not evolved as fast, that can learn from the successes and good fortune of the more innovative regions. The concept of the RIV was never more welcome, especially as we face into an era of artificial intelligence and seek to look to a future that will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, increasing global food security and mastering the digital transformation, including cybersecurity. In that respect, the north east and the midlands have a major opportunity to share in this journey. I concur with the Minister of State that the midlands regional authority has played in a key role in this. It has been a very important stakeholder and has really driven this. Its members and management team need to be commended on bringing this project to the region.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The whole basis of asking for the RIV designation is that it is a kind of matchmaking process. In many ways, we are going back to the future and the European programmes of 20 years ago, when regions with complementary strengths and challenges were matched together across Europe. Some of the challenges the Deputy mentioned regarding transition and just transition are being experienced across Europe. We had the chance to do that through the RIV network. Digital transformation is obviously a major focus for our Department. Again, through the RIV, we will be able to find other regions that are in this space, align them with what is going on in the midlands and the north east, and ensure that everybody gets a win out of this.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I will have my Deputy Murnane O'Connor moment because I will cross Departments. The Minister of State will obviously be familiar with just transition, which is very important to the midlands and the north east. It is important that the RIV engages with the Department of the environment and sees the opportunities that are there for the midlands in just transition in respect of the climate challenge and how we try to move to a carbon-neutral environment, especially for business and industry. It is very important that there is an engagement with the Department of the environment.