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Research and Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2021

Wednesday, 13 October 2021

Questions (78)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

78. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of development of the next national research and innovation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49814/21]

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Written answers

The development of a new national strategy for research and innovation (R&I) is a key commitment in the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which sets out the “dual ambition of placing research, development and innovation at the heart of addressing Ireland’s economic and societal challenges, and building capacity and capability across the research and innovation system to move R&I up the value chain.”

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is leading the development of this new national strategy, in consultation with key Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders. This new Department has been established with a clear mandate to work with stakeholders to strengthen Ireland’s R&I ecosystem, drive reform and collaboration, and enhance outcomes which contribute to meeting societal, economic and global challenges.

This new strategy will support this mandate. It will identify the reforms necessary to develop an R&I system that has the right capacity and capabilities, and which is supported by coherent policies and structures for national coordination, collaboration and governance across the national R&I landscape.

Public consultation on the strategy was held in June & July earlier this year. In total, we received over 115 submissions to the online public consultation from a range of stakeholders.

In June, my Department hosted an online stakeholder event where a wide range of stakeholders from across Ireland’s R&I system came together to discuss the issues raised in a consultation paper and inform the strategy.

My department has also held a number of targeted meetings with key stakeholders over recent months.

The strategy will build on the lessons learned and progress made in implementing the previous national strategy, Innovation 2020. The overarching vision in Innovation 2020 was for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader, driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society. Within this was a focus on excellence, talent and impact. The Mid-term Review of Innovation 2020 found that, while it has been challenging to meet some of the key targets of Innovation 2020 , much progress has been made and the overall vision of becoming a Global Innovation Leader remains valid. While renewed targets will need to be identified and agreed during the development of the next strategy, the Government’s ambition for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader has not diminished.

It is the intention that the next strategy will set a vision and ambition for Ireland’s R&I system that all relevant actors will identify with and contribute to, with ambitious national strategic goals and objectives out to 2027. The high level strategy will be delivered through action-led Work Programmes that will map out specific deliverables over shorter timescales. This will enable agility and responsiveness over the full period of the strategy and a strong focus on delivery and reform.

I look forward to bringing the strategy to Cabinet later this year.

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