Written Answers. - Joint Scientific Programmes.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
74
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the participation the Government has in joint scientific programmes with other countries; the fields in which participation in such programmes exist; the way in which they are managed and reported on; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14799/02]
My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has responsibility for the following joint scientific programmes. The EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is the main European instrument for funding international collaborative research activities; the Sixth Framework Programme, which will run from 2003-06, will allocate more than €16 billion for research activities over a wide range of areas which includes genomics and biotechnology for health, including research to combat major diseases; and information society technologies, nanotechnologies and nanosciences, food quality and safety, sustainable development, global change and ecosystems. A fundamental aim of the programme is to enhance EU competitiveness over the next four to five years. It also aims to contribute to the establishment of a European research area which would effectively compete with the significant research effort of the USA and Japan. The framework programme operates on the basis of an open call for proposals which are then assessed on a competitive basis by an international panel of experts.
The Office of Science and Technology appoints national delegates to the management committees which oversee the framework programme. These national delegates also promote Irish interest and encourage Irish participation in their respective programme areas.
COST or Co-operation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research is a Europe-wide network comprising more than 30 countries. It encourages co-operation between nationally funded basic research activities from participating countries to address common research goals. Irish researchers are involved in approximately 80 of the 150 ongoing COST actions in a wide range of research domains including the following: telecommunications; transport; materials; meteorology; social sciences; urban civil engineering; chemistry; forests and forestry product; agriculture and biotechnology; information science and technology; environment; medicine and health; and nanosciences. Irish participation in these action programmes is managed by Enterprise Ireland.
With regard to the European Space Agency, its objective is to develop and commercialise space related activities. To this end ESA frames and implements long-term European space policy and recommends space objectives to its 15 member countries. It also co-ordinates their policies with regard to other national and international organisations and institutions to ensure that Europe remains competent in all areas of space technologies and thus independent from others. It devises and implements activities and programmes, notably on the development of application satellites. ESA operates a system ofjuste retour whereby the greater part of a member state's contribution is returned in the form of contracts to its industry. Irish industry has benefited from technology transfer in this highly specialised space sector. This has benefited participating firms resulting in new products and services, increased sales and exports, increased employment and royalty payments.
The ESA programmes in which Ireland participates include the mandatory ESA science programme and ESA optional programmes in telecommunications, launchers, satellite navigation, general technology support and the life and physical sciences programme.
Ireland's participation in ESA is jointly managed by the Office of Science and Technology within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and by Enterprise Ireland. Ireland's membership is reported on in annual reports of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland.
EUREKA is a Europe-wide network promoting market driven research and development in fields of advanced technology. Its aim is to strengthen the productivity and worldwide competitiveness of European companies by promoting cross-border co-operation in the research and development of products, processes and services aiming at the world market.
The network does not contribute financially to the research costs of participants who can, if necessary, seek financial support towards their costs from their respective governments. In Ireland's case companies wishing to obtain financial support to finance their involvement in a EUREKA project can apply for assistance under the research, technology and innovation initiative operated by the industrial development agencies as part of the national development plan. In order to encourage more companies to enjoy the benefits of collaborating in EUREKA projects, research proposals involving collaboration are eligible for increased grant levels.
Ireland's participation in EUREKA is jointly managed by the Office of Science and Technology within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and by Enterprise Ireland.
INTAS is an independent association which was established in June 1993 as a European initiative to promote the valuable scientific potential of the new independent states of the former Soviet Union. It supports scientific research activities in the NIS and East-West scientific co-operation by funding joint high quality research projects which aim to advance scientific knowledge for the mutual benefit of NIS and INTAS member states. The Office of Science and Technology is represented on the general assembly of INTAS which takes decisions on research projects submitted to it for funding.
With regard to international science and technology agreements, the agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Ireland in the field of industrial scientific research and technological development was signed in Dublin on 27 October 1999 and entered into force on 23 July 2001.
The agreement provides for the possibility of co-operation between companies and between companies and colleges, especially with a focus on support through the EU framework programme. Enterprise Ireland has earmarked an initial small fund from its international collaboration budget to support a number of exploratory visits by academic researchers in colleges in Ireland to equivalent organisations in Israel.
An Agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-operation between the Governments of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Ireland was signed by the Tánaiste in September 2000 and approved by the Dáil in March 2001. Science Foundation Ireland will visit China in July to explore what practical arrangements can be made for the exchange of top class scientists in the context of both SFI objectives and the overall science and technology agreement.
