Brendan Howlin
Ceist:54 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to encourage small and medium enterprises to access the EU fifth framework programme research budget. [26105/98]
Written Answers - Research Funding.
A final decision on the fifth EU research framework programme budget is likely to be made by the Council of Research Ministers at our next meeting planned for 22 and 23 December. It is expected that the Ministerial Council will endorse the budget of 14.96 billion ECU, which was finally agreed recently between the Council and the European Parliament, following a detailed conciliation process.
Science, technology and innovation policy is an important element of Ireland's broader industrial and economic policy. Research and development is an integral part of the company development approach, which is a foundation stone of policy for the development of a sustainable indigenous industry base.
Enterprise Ireland will play a key pro-active role in encouraging and helping small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the EU research framework programme, taking account of the particular needs of those enterprises and their stages of development and strategies. A network of experts will be put in place who will be clearly identified for all groups interested in undertaking research under the EU framework programme.