Written Answers. - Research Funding.
Nora Owen
Ceist:
132
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the methodology being used for the allocation of the £500 million fund for biotechnology and information technology projects; the number of applications made since the announcement of this fund; if there is a limit on the amount of funding for which individual projects can qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12867/00]
The £560 million technology foresight fund was established in response to the increasingly important link between technological development and the future competitiveness of Irish based industry. The new fund will be used to establish Ireland as a location for world class research excellence in niche areas within information and communications technologies and biotechnology.
A dedicated foundation, operating under the aegis of Forfás, is in the process of being established to manage, allocate, disburse and evaluate expenditure from the fund. A high level implementation group has also been established to advise on the arrangements and decisions required to ensure the smooth launch of the foundation. The implementation group will hold its second meeting this week and will report to the Tánaiste and me after it has fully completed its deliberations and work, in about two months.
Given that the foundation is only in its initial stage of establishment, no applications for funding have been received to date.
However, the Deputy will wish to be aware that Forfás, with the assistance of the implementation group to which I have already referred, is making appropriate arrangements for a first call for proposals from the fund. These arrangements will be in accordance with accepted best international practice. Applicants will compete for funding and will be assessed by international peer review involving panels of independent experts. The call will provide details of the scale of funding available and the areas to be funded within biotechnology and ICTs.
A workshop organised by Forfás took place last week to assist in defining the areas which may be funded for the first call. The work-shop was attended by some 130 representatives of the research community in Ireland and abroad and is regarded as having been exceptionally useful. Once the new arrangements are in place it is envisaged that there will be a period of at least two months for submissions of proposals during which the proposed call will be promoted both nationally and internationally.
The precise allocation to any individual successful proposal will be a matter for the foundation to decide when it has been established. I should point out that the overall objective of the fund is to ensure world class research excellence in the selected niche areas and only proposals which meet the criteria set down by the foundation will be funded.
