Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
423. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the consultations that he has undertaken with other Departments and agencies concerning the terms of reference of a new science strategy statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/14]
View answer424. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the consultations he has undertaken with researchers and institutions concerning the drawing up of a new science strategy statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34461/14]
View answer425. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the process of drawing up a new science strategy statement will not be unduly influenced by a small number of funding agencies at the expense of a fair and open process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34462/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423 to 425, inclusive, together.
I recognise that consultation is an important component of best practice in policy-making. Policy development is an ongoing process and my Department has a range of mechanisms and processes to ensure continuous feedback on the efficiency and effectiveness of our Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) system, all of which will help to inform the next Strategy for STI.
The National Research Prioritisation Exercise was an inclusive process involving all stakeholders. The inception and development of the concept involved a cross sectoral Steering Group comprising members from academia, the research community, the enterprise sector and research funding Government Departments and agencies. The implementation phase involved all research funders in the development of the action plans which were then validated by stakeholders across the system. In addition, the identification of the fine-grained research needs of enterprise was validated by similar stakeholders. Furthermore, a panel of independent experts will be appointed shortly to conduct an external assessment of implementation of research prioritisation.
There are also a range of initiatives and specific studies underway which will feed into the new Strategy, each involving extensive stakeholder consultation in their own right. These include a number of studies being undertaken by the Strategic Policy Division in my Department e.g. the study into Medium Term Development of the Irish Market Focussed Element of the Irish Research Centre Landscape Ecosystem; and the study into Optimising Policy Intervention to Strengthen the Impacts of Enterprise RD&I in Ireland. Similarly, the Copyright Review Group Report, the Entrepreneurship Forum Report, the IP Protocol as well as the mechanisms which Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) has established to elicit views of stakeholders through the Industry Advisory Board and Stakeholder Forum all involve considerable stakeholder engagement.
In reality a key component element of a new national STI Strategy will have to be the drawdown targeted under the EU Research Funding Programme, HORIZON 2020, which, at €1.25 billion, is ambitious but crucial to our economic and societal development. In this regard, a broad based group of stakeholders meets every 4 to 6 weeks, under the chairmanship of my Department, to oversee the implementation and further development of the national strategy for HORIZON 2020. The group includes the Higher Education Sector (including the Irish Universities Association and the Institutes of Technology Ireland) as well as representatives of all Government Departments and research funders/agencies.
The views of the higher education system are a critical element in the development of our new Strategy and my colleague, the Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, T.D., intends to meet with the Presidents of the Higher Education Institutes along with their VPs/Deans of Research to hear their perspectives on their interaction with the innovation eco-system. The feedback from these meetings will be considered in the context of the development of the new Strategy. I am also informed that AMCHAM are developing their policy document for research and innovation which I look forward to receiving. I also intend to seek the inputs from other industry groups.
While much of the underpinning work is underway, drafting of the Strategy is still at an early stage. Once it has progressed sufficiently, I will consider the need to consult further with specific stakeholders on specific elements.
