asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the Government's policy regarding technology transfer, and the number of such agreements agreed in each year from 1984 to 1987 inclusive, as a percentage of all start-ups by foreign companies in this country.
Written Answers. - Technology Transfer Policy.
34.
The aim of this Government is to encourage and assist, by every means possible, the growth and development of indigenous industry. An integral element in achieving that aim is the promotion of industry's technological development. The technology transfer programme, administered by the Industrial Development Authority, is one of the primary means of assisting that technological development.
Under the programme companies are assisted in finding joint venture or licence partners overseas as a means of gaining access to new products or markets. The programme which commenced in 1984 assists both small and large companies in initial research, partner identification, making contracts overseas, project assessment, as well as financial assistance towards the cost of acquiring new product and process technology. There is no direct correlation between technology transfer agreements and start-ups by foreign industry. However, I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that the number of such agreements signed and the number of foreign start ups for each of the years in question were as follows:
|
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
|
Agreements Signed |
29 |
50 |
62 |
70 |
|
Start-ups by foreign companies |
48 |
60 |
64 |
39 |
The advent of EOLAS, The Irish Science and Technology Agency, will serve to enhance our prospects in this area by virtue of the technical expertise it will bring to bear in its policy advisory role.