11/07/2012

Foster Launches New Economic Research Programme

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has today published the DETI Research Agenda 2012-15, which sets out the priorities of DETI over the next three years.

Commenting on the Research Agenda, the Minister said: "Economic research is vital to ensure that my Department has a strong evidence base available to inform the policy decisions it makes.

"The previous DETI Research Agenda, which ran from 2008-11, focused on global best practice in small open economies and provided many lessons and insights that helped shape our new Economic Strategy."

Other recent projects included a review of Northern Ireland’s competitiveness for attracting higher value Foreign Direct Investment and a comparative assessment of management skills.

Looking forward to new opportunities for learning the Minister continued: "The Research Agenda will continue to support the Economic Strategy by delivering a number of economic research projects focusing on the themes of stimulating innovation & R&D, competing in the global economy and encouraging business growth.

"Many of the projects outlined in the research programme will be on topical economic issues relevant for policy makers, economic stakeholders and local businesses. These include identifying how local firms can grow and diversify exports into new markets, exploring the current issues that are constraining the availability of finance for Small to Medium Enterprises and assessing the size and potential for growth of the social economy and wider third sector."

(CD)

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