The EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7) is the largest public good research programme in the world. It is playing a very significant role in strengthening the scientific and technological base of European industry and in encouraging international competitiveness while also promoting research that supports EU policies. FP7 provides a major opportunity for Irish research institutions and companies, including SMEs, across all sectors to not only attract external funding in these challenging budgetary times but also to benefit from collaborating with other high ranking scientists from across Europe and beyond.
Ireland's success rate in winning FP7 funding is steadily improving thanks partly to the encouragement, guidance and assistance provided to Irish researchers by the National Delegates and Contact Points that form part of the Irish FP Network co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland. I am particularly pleased at the €8.5m secured under the Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (FAFB) Thematic area for which officers in my Department act as Delegate and Contact Point. I was delighted to be in a position recently to launch a booklet outlining Irish successes under the FAFB Theme at a well attended conference in our Backweston Campus aimed at further raising awareness of FP7 opportunities among the agri-food research and industry community.
This FP7 funding, which of course is allocated on a competitive basis, is secure up to 2013. In fact, the €50bn funding stream is backloaded resulting in increased opportunities over the remaining years of the programme. I am confident that with the continued help of the National Delegate and Contact Point, Irish agri-food & marine researchers from both academia and industry will continue to secure an ever-increasing share of this funding and that this in turn will play a major role in the Government's strategy for the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy.
