Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2017
43. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the funding agencies that are active here to support research and development activities; the criteria that are applied to funding applications in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principal funding agencies for research and development operating under the aegis of my Department are Science Foundation Ireland (€162m grants budget in 2017) and Enterprise Ireland (€122m grants budget for RD&I activities in 2017). IDA Ireland also supports R&D activities as part of the grant support provided to its client base (approx. €60m annually in R&D grants).
Science Foundation Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national Foundation for research here in Ireland with a grants budget of €162m in 2017.
Science Foundation Ireland provides funding across the entire research career lifecycle ranging from early-stage researchers to mid-stage career researchers and from emerging research stars up to established highly-esteemed research leaders through the provision of individual and collaborative grant awards. All research funding decisions made by SFI are based on rigorous international peer review processes. This process ensures that the agency is not only funding research that is excellent at an Irish level, but that it is world leading as reviewed and agreed by international field specific leaders.
Science Foundation Ireland currently operates approximately 25 funding schemes, offering a balanced portfolio of programmes. Many of these programmes involve national and international collaborations incorporating small as well as large companies; charities; international funders as well as national funders such as Teagasc, the Marine Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, Health Research Board, etc. Each of the schemes have varying review and eligibility criteria attached to them and are based on the objective, award level and complexity of the programme. There are also a number of core applicant eligibility criteria applied to each programme. Each programme has a Call Document which outlines the eligibility criteria for that specific programme. Due to the large number of funding schemes and programmes operated by SFI, and the different eligibility criteria attached to each one, it has not been possible to represent this information here. The Deputy can however view all the information in relation to each Programme Call by accessing the following link at: www.sfi.ie/funding/funding-calls/.
Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland also provides Innovation supports to assist companies with product, process and service development. These supports position companies to deal with their key challenges from access to new technologies and skills to being better positioned to adapt to economic and market changes. This is done either by supporting companies to do RDI within the company, or by collaborating with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or by sourcing or licensing new technologies from HEIs which can provide a step change in their innovative capabilities. These supports all help companies to develop new and improved products and services which serve as the basis for sustainable economic growth.
Enterprise Ireland operates a range of supports to help companies at all stages of growth and sophistication to engage in RDI.
In general, Enterprise Ireland’s application processes include the following application criteria:
- Applicants must show evidence of a commercial market for the proposed product or service.
- Applicants must prove that they will develop a business that is built upon on a strong foundation of innovation and/or technology.
- Applicant companies must be Irish based manufacturing or internationally traded services company which can show adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project
I have set out in a separate Appendix provided to the Deputy a menu of the other supports available from Enterprise Ireland to companies. This is due to the large amount of information involved. This information includes details and eligibility criteria in relation to the following schemes or programmes including: In Company RD&I; Commercialisation Fund; Innovation Vouchers; Innovation Partnerships; Technology Gateways; Technology Centres; Campus Incubators; Horizon 2020; SME Instrument and High Potential Start-Up Support for Companies. I trust that this information will fully address the Deputy’s question.
