Irish Regions Office Website

February 15, 2010

Kerry: 'European Entrepreneurial Region 2011'

County Kerry can justifiably call itself European Entrepreneurial Region of the year for 2011 after it was awarded the inaugural EER label at a ceremony in Brussels on 11 February. The pan-European pilot scheme, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and European Commission, is intended to allow local authority areas and regions of all scales to profile their collective sense of entrepreneurial vision building on local circumstances and potential and allied to a creative action plan through which to make economic development in SMEs a reality.

The Kerry application, which was jointly spearheaded by the Institute of Technology, Tralee and Shannon Development with support from the County Council and wider entrepreneurial community, was selected by a jury of representatives associated with the two EU institutions along with major European business organisations (BusinessEurope, UEAPME and Eurochambres). In particular, it was lauded for a forward-thinking initiative designed to cultivate real life business skills among second and third level students (ITT's Young Entrepreneur Programme) and for excellent business-academia linkages providing promising start-ups with access to a supportive environment of facilities and ongoing mentoring from outstanding entrepreneurs (the Endeavour Programme based at Kerry Technology Park).

The EER award scheme underlines that high-level EU goals to create jobs and growth are largely dependent on local and regional initiatives and plans. It is hoped that among the rewards attached to the award will be boosts to both local business confidence and inward investment prospects. Kerry, one of four nominees from Ireland alone, shares its award with Brandenburg and Murcia.

European Entrepreneurial Region (EER)

Meanwhile the Assembly of European Regions has recently launched its own 2010 Innovation Award which is open to all regions in Europe that have initiated, fostered and implemented innovation. The deadline for submitting applications is 1 June.
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Posted by iroronan at February 15, 2010 11:26 AM