Business development consultancy services

Tender description

The Fusion programme is the flagship project within InterTradeIreland's Innovation portfolio. Fusion seeks to embed innovation capability within businesses through collaboration with knowledge centres and the development of graduates. The expected Contractor targets are: To conduct 180 Fusion Readiness Assessments per annum (900 in total), 10 percent of these will be conducted by ITI staff; To support at least 7 companies in year 1 and 15 companies per annum thereafter (67 in total) to complete successful applications for small scale consultancy; To develop and support sufficient partnerships (allowing for drop off) to ultimately complete: 15 x 12 month project partnerships per annum (75 in total); and 30 x 18 month project partnerships per annum (150 in total). These projects must be supported through to completion. Following award of the contract, delivery and costing schedules will be agreed with ITI. Please note that budget availability, constraints will determine the actual number of projects which can be delivered. The targets quoted above are realistic but are subject to change and may be altered resulting in either more or less activity. In addition to meeting the Smart targets above, InterTradeIreland and therefore the contractor must ensure that the programme is well balanced and achieves a good overall outcome. The projects supported should represent the best prospects across the island, while ensuring that the following targets are met. Ensure that approximately 2-3rds of projects are from ROI-based businesses and 1-3rd from NI-based businesses; Ensure that approximately 2-3rds of projects fall within the New Product, Service, Process Development category; Ensure that a minimum of 40 percent of participating SMEs have not participated on other Public Sector funded R and D Programmes with academia on a cross-border basis; Achieve sustainable employment for a minimum of 60 percent of graduates within the participant businesses; and Achieve a Return on Expenditure on InterTradeIreland's investment of 9:1.