Impact Jersey Innovation Programme
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2025.09.30
4.8 Deputy A.F. Curtis of St. Clement of the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development regarding the Impact Jersey Innovation Programme (OQ.218/2025):
Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation and delivery of the Impact Jersey Innovation Programme, and outline any forthcoming initiatives to be delivered by the scheme?
Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity (The Minister for Sustainable
Economic Development):
Impact Jersey is a scheme run by Digital Jersey on behalf of the Government of Jersey. The fourth programme to which the Deputy refers is the innovation programme. Since its launch on 26th June this year, the innovation programme has received over 40 inquiries. Of these we are aware of 11 which are in the final stages of preparing their applications for the judging panel's review. Digital Jersey anticipates that at least 4 of these applications, totalling £800,000, will be ready for the next panel meeting in early October. They are unable to provide any information on the applications until that judging process has been completed
Deputy A.F. Curtis :
Is it possible if the Minister could answer the second part of the question about forthcoming initiatives to be delivered by the Impact Jersey scheme?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
I am unable to provide information on that at the moment because I am unaware of their forthcoming initiatives.
- Deputy A.F. Curtis :
The Minister highlighted the innovation programme as the fourth one. Has the Minister been in a position yet to evaluate with Digital Jersey the success of the first 3 programmes as they are currently either delivered or in delivery?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
The first 3 programmes which are the Open Programme 1, which Deputy Curtis is well aware of, the Customer Experience Technology and CareTech programmes have all taken place and £2 million of grants for 13 projects have been confirmed under those first 3 schemes. The innovation programme itself is a continuous programme allowing applications that meet any of the 8 strategic priorities as agreed by the Assembly but, as we know, they will be determined later this year. From that perspective, that is all I am able to update on here but it may be that I am able to provide further information outside of the Assembly.
- Deputy J. Renouf of St. Brelade :
Is it the case that the Impact Jersey programme is being slightly reduced by money being taken back from the programme to fund Government initiatives through the Budget process?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
I think the way I would put it, and I understand there will be a wry smile, I would call it better management of the funds. This started back in the previous Government as well when it was understood that by just putting £20 million into a fund and leaving it there basically denies that parts of that £20 million being used elsewhere in Government, so the intention has been to manage knowing at the same time that neither Digital Jersey nor the impact fund scheme could move £20 million in one year. The idea was that it would be better managed in that respect, which then does allow money to be made available to other purposes for public spending.
- Deputy J. Renouf :
If I understood that answer correctly, it is simply a case of reprofiling the £20 million. Can the Minister confirm that the full sum will be eventually made available through the Impact Jersey programme?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
It is my understanding that that is the case. I will check as the Deputy is now making me doubt that, but I will certainly check. I am picking up on some wording here, a revised spend profile of the £20 million was agreed in 2024 and a review in 2026 will assess the next phases of the programme, and what transfers to the technology fund are needed for those future phases. So my understanding is it is still a £20 million fund that has been, as the Deputy said, reprofiled. I will double-check though, because I do not want there to be any doubt.
- Deputy R.S. Kovacs of St. Saviour :
From the funding allocated so far to the Impact Jersey Innovation Programme, what measurable outcome or benefits have been achieved so far?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
My understanding is that we are still too early to see the exact overall outcomes, but I know, for instance, we have had drone technology that was funded in the first programme being used in rescues at sea. We have seen other technologies, such as, I believe, sensors being used to help people understand the use of utilities in their apartments being used as well. The actual assessment of each programme is ongoing. Because these programmes - all of them by their nature are young - none of the assessments, I believe, are yet completed but continue to be ongoing.
- Deputy R.S. Kovacs :
What steps are being taken to ensure the long-term impact of projects support their growth beyond their pilot stage, and maintain public accountability by sharing successes and lessons learned?
Deputy K.F. Morel :
I believe that is part of the ongoing nature of the fund, is to report on an annual basis and to maintain public understanding of its work through that reporting.