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EU Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 November 2013

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Ceisteanna (96, 97)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which enterprises here have been in a position to obtain grant aid from the research, innovation and science Commission in the EU in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51084/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of enterprises here deemed to fall within the category for aid from the EU Commission for research, innovation and science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51085/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.

The primary EU supports for research and innovation are delivered under the EU Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013), which has a budget of €55 billion over its 7 year timeframe. This programme offers valuable opportunities to researchers and companies based in Ireland to participate in high-quality research collaborations with their European counterparts, with the support of EU funding. All companies, micro, small, medium, large, profit/non-profit making, public-private partnerships and service providers can participate in almost all Framework Programme 7 activities and are actively encouraged to do so.

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish agency responsible for helping Irish companies and researchers to participate in FP7. Due to the nature of the ongoing application, evaluation, award and contract negotiation stages of the FP7 process it is not practicable to give an annual breakdown of the number of enterprises receiving support. In the period from commencement of FP7 in January 2007 to July 2013, over 2000 applications from Irish-based companies took part in FP7 proposals requesting European funding. From these submissions, and through Enterprise Ireland’s facilitation and financial support, over 500 applications have been successful with awards amounting to €149 million accounting for 26% of all funding to Irish researchers from FP7. Ireland’s total drawdown in FP7 (as of July this year for which latest figures are available) currently stands at €572m and we are on course to achieve our national target of €600m from this important source of non-Exchequer funding. It should be noted that funding under FP7 is awarded on a competitive basis.

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