Vol. 415 No. 4
124 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the number of products that have been introduced to the market place as a result of research carried out by the universities in the 1987-91 framework programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The major aim of the Community framework programmes is to strengthen the scientific and technological level of European industry and encourage it to become more competitive at international level (Title VI of the Single European Act). The research carried out is pre-competitive in nature, implying that further research of a product development nature is required to generate products in the market-place.
I have no information readily available to me on what products, if any, have been introduced into the marketplace as a result of these research programmes. Indeed, the limited relevance to Irish industry of the framework programmes as currently structured is an issue which I have repeatedly pointed out in Community discussions and I propose to press this point further.
125 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the institutions which successfully tendered for research contracts under the EC framework of research (1987-91); if he will give details of (1) the area of research and (2) the amount of money involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A list of the Irish institutions which successfully tendered under the second framework programme (1987-91) is set out in the following statement.
An estimate of the total amount accruing to Irish institutions from the second framework programme is 75 MECU (IR£57 million approximately). I am not in a position to give details of the amount received by the individual contractors.
The main areas of research covered include: information and communications technologies; modernisation of industrial sectors; biological research (including agricultural and food research); marine resources; energy and health and environment.
2nd Framework Programme
List of Irish participants
Organisation
Allied Irish Banks
BHP Laboratories
BioResearch Ireland
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
