asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any downstream industries have been developed, or are in the pipeline, from the State investment in the National Micro-electronics Centre; if there are such industries, if he will give details of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Development of Downstream Industries.
36.
The objectives of the National Micro-electronics Research Centre are primarily directed to the provision, for industry and for other third-level institutions, of a specialised research and development facility at the leading edge of micro-electronics technology. The centre also participates in the teaching of under-graduate students of University College, Cork.
Thus, State funding for the centre comes from two sources, namely my Department and the Higher Education Authority.
The contribution of the centre to the development of downstream industries arises in the following ways:
(1) through new product and process development resulting from its research activities; an example of this is the recent development of a new industrial material resulting from cooperative research between NMRC and a Dublin based manufacturing company. The production of this material in Ireland would lead to new markets and new jobs;
(2) its services are recognised both by electronics companies already established in Ireland and by potential new investors to be a necessary and very significant element of the infrastructure to support the establishment and continuing development of advanced electronics manufacturing projects; the availability of the services provided by the centre is important to the State promotional agencies for their marketing purposes;
(3) along with other third-level institutions, the centre provides a pool of highly qualified graduates for management positions in existing or newly established electronics companies; these graduates are keenly sought by and widely placed in such companies in Ireland; an example of this has been the establishment of a software firm set up recently by two ex-NMRC staff. This company now employs about 30 people and expects to double its size in the coming years.