Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1409. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funding paid out by an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years from 2007 to 2016 respectively, in tabular form; the projects this money was spent on; the way the annual spend was broken down by each project; the technology readiness level of each of those projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19650/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraScience Foundation Ireland (SFI) supports approximately 500 award holders across its portfolio of research programmes. The portfolio includes both investigator initiated and thematic calls, project grants and large-scale Research Centre awards, short and long-term funding, support for early career researchers, emerging and established research leaders, individual and collaborative awards.
Data on SFI awards by programme, year, budget, awardee and topic is available as part of the Government’s Open Data initiative. The full dataset of all STEM research and ancillary projects funded by the agency can be viewed here https://data.gov.ie/dataset/science-foundation-ireland-grant-commitments.
The Table provides a breakdown of annual grant payments by SFI.
|
Year |
Amount €000s |
|
2016 |
184,026 |
|
2015 |
162,706 |
|
2014 |
153,544 |
|
2013 |
152,310 |
|
2012 |
156,927 |
|
2011 |
154,029 |
|
2010 |
150,135 |
|
2009 |
173,550 |
|
2008 |
160,138 |
|
2007 |
156.622 |
In 2016 SFI mapped its active award portfolio against TRL levels. This indicated that most of Science Foundation Ireland’s portfolio of investment - more than 80% - was in TRL 1 and 2.
With time and given Science Foundation Ireland’s expanded remit, it would be expected to see investments moving to span the TRL levels including into mid-high TRL activity. While SFI’s mid-high TRL investments will grow in the future, most of SFI’s investment will continue to be in the lower TRLs, in line with the mandate of the organisation.
Appendix I - a graphic analysis of TRL Level of portfolio at end 2015 - has been forwarded separately to the Deputy.
Definition of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL):
TRL 1 Basic principles observed
TRL 2 Technology concept formulated
TRL 3 Experimental proof of concept
TRL 4 Technology validated in lab
TRL 5 Technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 6 Technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in operational environment
TRL 8 System complete and qualified
TRL 9 Actual system proven in operational environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space.
