Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
274. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the implications of Brexit for European research and innovation funding; if the Government has conducted an analysis of the implications of Brexit on European research and innovation funding as it relates to Ireland; if so, the findings of the analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8801/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorizon 2020 is the current EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Funding is secured for the final work programme for Horizon 2020 which will run until the end of 2020. Brexit is therefore not expected to have a significant impact upon funding for Horizon 2020.
In terms of European research and innovation activities, the UK is one of a number of important collaborators for Ireland in Horizon 2020. In addition to the UK, Ireland has a diversified range of collaborative links with Member States, particularly Germany, Spain and France. An analysis of Ireland's collaborations under Horizon 2020 indicates that collaborations occur in multi partner projects and that Ireland is not overly-dependent on the UK for scientific collaboration in successful EU programmes.
My Department’s agencies, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, undertook analyses on the potential impact of Brexit following the UK vote in late 2016. In addition to ongoing review by officials from my Department, these analyses have been updated for presentation to inter-department groups on Innovation 2020 and Horizon 2020. The recent report published by my Department Building Stronger Business: Responding to Brexit by competing, innovating and trading identifies some of the potential opportunities (including research) for Ireland arising from Brexit as well as the actions which are being taken.
The successor to Horizon 2020, Framework Programme 9 (FP9), will be proposed by the European Commission later in 2018. Funding for this new European research and innovation programme will be allocated as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework. As discussions on this financial framework are ongoing, funding for FP9 is yet to be determined.
