Jim Higgins
Ceist:39 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of industries which have their own research and development facilities which have received grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Aid to Industry.
In 1993 and 1994, a total of 265 companies received research and development grant-aid under the old IDA R & D scheme and the industry R & D Initiative.
The criteria used in assessing applications for funding include the technical content; value for money and commercial viability of individual R & D projects. The question of whether the project fits in with the company's overall business strategy (i.e. whether the company can afford the cost of the project) is a major factor in deciding whether or not to grant-aid.
As such, the question of whether companies themselves have formal R & D departments, would not be a criteria as companies may contract-out some of the work involved. However, a survey carried out by Forfás S & T Unit in 1992 shows that approx 8 per cent of manufacturing companies have formal R & D departments.