Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
471 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the progress for establishing new research centres in the area of pharmaceuticals production, medical devices and connected health, as set out in the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs. [19334/12]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a network of Technology Research Centres designed to accelerate the exploitation of new technologies and bridge the gap between research and technology commercialisation.
Technology centres are public-private research centres of excellence that connect industry to the higher education sector to increase the generation and availability of new, industrially relevant knowledge. The research agenda is driven and led by companies involved in the relevant sectors and leverages the strength of other previous academic research funding provided by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are undertaking preparatory actions, as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, through engagement with groups of companies relevant to the three research centres referred to. These company groups are in the process of defining their research needs and are being facilitated in documenting these needs. On the basis of a demonstrated industry requirement and demand the research needs identified will be formally submitted for external assessment by the end of June and, subject to the results of this assessment, will form the basis for a call for research provision later in 2012.
