This, coupled with five years of financial and other support to date from Enterprise Ireland, means the programme is fully enabled to assist University College Dublin (UCD) researchers and academics who are seeking to establish and develop new knowledgeintensive businesses. The funding is expected to help reduce the lead-in time associated with setting up a business and provide the skills necessary to transform ideas into commercially feasible ventures.

Now in its 11th year, the programme has helped 120 companies develop their business. Previous CCDP winners include AV Edge, BiancaMed, ChangingWorlds and Lightwave Technologies.

The 2006 programme will offer 12 small businesses the opportunity to bring their ideas from grassroots intellectual concepts to fully developed, sound commercial enterprises.

The CCDP is a ninemonth, part-time programme designed to suit the busy timetable of researchers and academics. It offers a mix of monthly workshops, mentoring and one-to-one consultancy and is delivered by NovaUCD staff, with support from the NovaUCD sponsors, BT Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, as well as other experts.

Anne O'Leary, head of business enterprise, BT Ireland, commends NovaUCD. "There is exceptional talent and innovation generated in this environment that may not otherwise develop into commercial entities, " she says.

The programme addresses the fact that many of the most innovative new ventures originate in a university environment and many university-based entrepreneurs require assistance in defining and developing their ideas, building multidisciplinary teams and preparing and implementing detailed business plans.

Participants on the programme also have the opportunity to access NovaUCD's desk space, incubation facilities and associated services including financial support and information.