Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Research and Development.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

120 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her Department's medium-term strategy for encouraging research and development links between industry and third level educational research departments. [8168/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

A key element of Government industrial development policy is enhanced levels of investment in research, technological development and innovation, RTDI. By strategically increasing our spending in these key areas, this will increase future national competitiveness and lead to the creation of higher standards of living. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the Government has made provision for €1.5 billion in investment in RTDI for industrial development activities. This research and development investment is targeted at increasing innovation and raising the competitiveness levels within Irish companies in order to add economic value to their activities; increasing output and employment levels and moving up the business value chain. Underpinning many of the programmes being delivered by Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, is the promotion of closer co-operation and linkages between industry and Irish third level education institutions.

One example is the commercialisation fund, which seeks to facilitate high quality applied research aimed at the commercial exploitation of knowledge in third level colleges and other publicly funded research bodies. In addition, I announced funding of €24 million for a programme developing the infrastructure of 11 institutes of technology throughout the regions focusing on the provision of business incubation centres for high potential start-up campus enterprises. Other initiatives delivered by Enterprise Ireland, which also seek to promote linkages between industry and third level colleges, include the innovation partnerships, the innovation management initiative, the research technology and innovation, RTI, scheme and various industry focused college networks.

On the basic research side the overall vision and strategic direction for Science Foundation Ireland is to build and strengthen scientific and engineering research and its infrastructure in the areas of greatest strategic value to Ireland's long-term competitiveness. SFI continues to involve the academic and industrial community as it builds its awards and grants structure in the ICT and biotechnology areas. The SFI CSET programme – centres for science, engineering and technology – funds researchers who will build collaborative efforts developing internationally competitive research clusters allied to industry.