Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
331. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of research and development grants and other funds that are available to the State and persons from the European Union, under the headings of research, innovation and science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49778/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7), with a budget of over €50 billion for the period 2007 to 2013, is the EU’s main instrument for funding research and development in Europe. The EU Framework Programmes have been an important element in the internationalisation of Irish research, offering Ireland's SMEs, multinationals, and research institutions valuable opportunities to participate in high-calibre research collaborations with our European counterparts. FP7 is built largely around collaborative research (Cooperation) and mobility of researchers (People). However, it also contains a number of innovative elements, the most important of which is “Ideas” which provides the funding for the European Research Council.
In order for Ireland to extract the maximum benefit from the opportunities available within FP7, a National Support Network has been put in place, headed by a National Director for FP7 based in Enterprise Ireland who leads a team of national contact points for various elements of the Programme. This support structure ensures that a coordinated and coherent approach is adopted towards FP7 across all of the Government Departments, agencies and other organisations involved. Through this support structure, a mix of guidance, advice and financial assistance is available to encourage researchers and companies, large and small, to avail of the opportunities within the Programme.
In the period from the beginning of 2007 when the Seventh Framework Programme began to June this year, the latest period for which data is available, almost 6,000 applicants from Irish based organisations took part in FP7 proposals requesting European funding. Of these, almost 1400 applicants have been successful, giving an overall Irish success rate of over 23%. Funding awards to Irish participants to date is €438 million, covering a period of five and a half years.
Five areas account for 65% of the funding: Information & Communication Technologies (€89.5 million); Health (€64 million); Marie Curie (Mobility Programme) (€62 million); Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Materials & Production Processes (€38 million); and European Research Council (€34 million).
Agrifood (€28m), Research for the Benefit of SMEs (€26m), Security (€18m), Transport (€17m), Energy (€16.5m), Research Infrastructures (€16.5m), Environment (€14m), Science in Society (€7.5m), Space (€2.7m) and Socio-Economic Sciences & Humanities (€2.4m) follow, while other areas have resulted in funding of less than €1 million per area to date.
Based on recent national investment in research, Ireland is participating in the Framework Programme from a far stronger position than ever before. A critical mass of research activity has developed in both the public and private sectors, and the design of FP7 suits the needs of Irish researchers in many ways. It has been adapted to encourage industry participation, the application process has been simplified, industry-specific targets have been set and higher funding rates have been agreed. The high level of activity of Irish researchers (academic and industry) and the Irish success rate ahead of the overall EU average are very positive indications of our strong participation in FP7.
