Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
196. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the invention grants in renewable energy that exist for students, companies and individuals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45264/12]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), under the Renewable Energy Research, Demonstration & Development (RERD&D) Programme, supports research and development of renewable energy technologies and systems. Applications for funding under the scheme are invited on a regular basis. Information can be found at http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Renewable_Energy_RD_D .
I understand also that Enterprise Ireland operates a range of supports for Innovation & R&D which are applicable across a range of Science and Technology research areas, including renewable energy, as long as a strong commercial case can be made for the proposed project. For example, companies can avail of direct R&D grants in order to undertake in-company R&D or they can be supported to undertake collaborative research with the Third Level in areas such as renewable energy. Researchers in Higher Education Institutions can similarly avail of Commercialisation grants in order to turn their existing research into a more commercially relevant project.
