Enterprise Ireland has appointed three consultancy firms to support an initiative to promote the uptake of research and development among firms.

The three successful bidders for the contract are the Galway-based firms BSM and TeamBDS, and a Dublin-based firm called Industry Research & Development. The companies will attend a series of regional briefings on research and development and act as mentors to client firms taking part in the initiative.

Enterprise Ireland will pay the three consultant firms €400,000 for their support in promoting the research and development awareness programme 2005/6. The objective of the briefings will be to demonstrate to firms the importance of research as a business function and the realities of undertaking research.

The consultancy firms can provide up to three days of consultancy in client firms that currently do not undertake research and development activities or are low to medium research firms - this is defined as spending €65,000 to €135,000 per year.

The consultancy work can help guide a company in establishing: the right strategy; identifying the right project; developing a project plan; connecting a firm to other support schemes, and problem-solving.

The objective of the consulting is to instil an understanding of the research and development process in senior management and to help to guide them through the process.

Companies who want to avail of the consultancy services must pay €320 plus Vat toward the daily cost. Enterprise Ireland will pay up to €580 per day extra to cover the cost of the consultants.