Enterprise Ireland is seeking a provider to evaluate three industry technology centres to ensure the projects still represent value for money for state investment.

According to tender documents submitted by Enterprise Ireland, which is led by CEO Leo Clancy, the three technology centres to be evaluated include artificial intelligence centre CeADAR, Food for Health Ireland and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre.

The appraisals will verify that investments in the centres add value to the economy and support job creation. They will also assess how they influence the ongoing competitiveness of members and the sector.

The reviews will ultimately come up with recommendations for each technology centre. These include winding down the operation with immediate effect, the centre continuing with its original funding to the end of the current funding cycle, the centre receiving an extension of funding subject to agreements, and any bespoke recommendations.

Each review will inform Enterprise Ireland’s decision to issue invitations to the centres to submit a business plan to seek another five years’ funding.

An Enterprise Ireland spokesman said centres are routinely evaluated during their five-year funding phases to measure performance and short-, medium- and long-term impact.

“These evaluations aim to ensure value for money for state investment and that the centres and the overall programme are continuously improving and evolving to meet the needs of Irish industry,” he said.

He said Enterprise Ireland felt it should indicate to tenderers a scale of recommendations that may be appropriate, which is not unusual. He said the potential range of recommendations did not reflect on the “operations of any of the centres”.

The Technology Centre Programme was launched in 2007. It allows Irish firms and multinationals to work jointly on market-focused research and development projects in collaboration with research institutions.

Reporting: The Irish Independent