The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland’s official Internet address .ie, is to expand its Optimise e-commerce Website development fund for 2013.
Next year the fund will provide 20 companies (double the number since it commenced in 2011) with €150,000 worth of support services.
The announcement was made at a ceremony addressed by the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, who presented this year’s winners with their graduation certificates.
The competition – which seeks to help companies upgrade to their website in terms of e-commerce capability and functionality – is open to all Irish SMEs and micro-businesses with a .ie website.
THis year’s Optimise winners included companies in the design, technology and travel sectors.
Speaking at the event today, Minister Rabbitte, said: "Today, e-commerce capability is central to competitiveness for all types of businesses. With the support of initiatives like the Optimise fund, companies around Ireland can ensure that they have the systems and skills in place to compete and succeed against their competitors worldwide. The OPTIMISE Fund is a worthwhile and practical demonstration of what is possible, and the fact that the IEDR are increasing the fund to enable more Irish companies to benefit is commendable."
Announcing the expansion, David Curtin, chief executive of the IE Domain Registry, said: "After two hugely successful years of the Optimise fund, we are delighted to be in a position to expand the scheme to include additional support services and participants. Ireland has undergone significant growth in online activity over the past few years and a recent report identified that 2.6 million online shoppers will spend €3.7 billion in 2012, rising to €5.7 billion in 2016… Ireland is on the cusp of an e-commerce boom which can truly impact our economy and businesses. Through OPTIMISE, the IEDR encourages business owners to take the next steps to transform and develop their online presence using e-commerce technologies."
Details for the application process for OPTIMISE 2013 will be announced early next year.
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