Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to join you today to officially open the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.
I would like to thank the Provost Dr. John Hegarty for his kind introduction.
I believe this is one of John’s last major public events as Provost – so I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your contribution, not only to Trinity but also to the country as a whole.
You have overseen and led a lot of change – not least by championing the Trinity-UCD Innovation Alliance.
It is a proud moment for you, for the University, the Government and indeed for our country as we open this wonderful new Institute today.
This €131 million Institute will help sustain our position as an international leader in biomedical research.
It consolidates activities across the University – ensuring the collaboration between disciplines necessary to for cutting edge 21st century biomedical research.
I am highly impressed by the enormous contribution Trinity’s bioscience researchers have already made to the improvement of human health.
Their achievements include:
- delivering the technologies that underpinned the nicotine patch;
- identifying new genes for major diseases such as childhood eczema;
- discovering the causes as to why some people are more prone to malaria or lung cancer than others.
They have developed our understanding of how diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and arthritis work.
I am certain that this Institute will be at the heart of further groundbreaking discoveries, with national and global impacts.
This prestigious Institute reflects the huge achievements of Ireland in the area of life sciences, and in biomedical research in particular.
We are now in the top 20 in the world for the quality and relevance of our scientific research.
More specifically, Ireland is currently ranked:
- 1st in the world in the area of genetics and genomics;
- 3rd in the world for the quality of research in Immunology; and
- 8th in the world for the quality of research in Materials Science
Credit is due to those of you here this morning from the academic and scientific community– not only for helping to secure these high rankings, but also for increasing the level of research collaboration with other countries and with industry.
Credit must also go to Science Foundation Ireland which has cultivated and nurtured this sector.
Collaborations with industry
Due to these efforts, we are now the number one location in Europe for Lifesciences projects. And this strength is reflected in terms of multinational investment, exports and jobs:
We have eight of the world’s top ten medical technology companies located here;
We are the world’s largest net exporter of pharmaceuticals;
In 2010 the indigenous lifesciences sector had combined sales of €1 billion, exports of € 770 million and employment of over 6,000 people; and
The lifesciences sector employs 50,000 people directly in Ireland in total with an equivalent number employed in service provision.Economic Challenges
As we are all too aware, these are very difficult times for our economy and our people.
On occasion there has been criticism of investment in research and development at a time of cutbacks and scarce resources.
However, my Government recognises that investment in research plays an important role in driving economic development.
Our priority now is to ensure that our investment in research and development has an ever increasing impact in terms of economic growth and job creation.Jobs Initiative
Yesterday marked the important milestone of 100 days in government.
The top priority of my Government has been to restore economic growth, protect and create jobs and to rebuild confidence at home and abroad.
The recent Jobs Initiative was an important step in tackling the jobs crisis and in stimulating confidence.
As part of that Initiative, the Government announced investments in Science Technology and Innovation totalling more than €55 million, including funding for Industry-focussed Technology Centres.
Over the coming months, a number of additional Technology Centres will be developed, including one in the area of ‘Drug Production Technologies’.
Through Innovation Fund Ireland, we are bringing leading international Venture Capitalists here - to support the growth of world-leading high technology companies in Ireland. I expect to see more announcements under the Fund in the coming weeks.
Based on our innovative strengths of the biomed/biopharma sector, it is likely that this area will be one of the principal industries to benefit from the Fund.
This will help to ensure that we translate investment in R&D into new companies and jobs – which is a key theme of the Programme for Government.
Contribution of Trinity’s Biomedical Sciences Institute to local area
I know that this Institute will also be of great benefit to Pearse Street – providing a new public entrance to the Train Station and significant ground floor retail shopping space.
This should help build links between Pearse Street and Trinity College - which got great international exposure during the recent visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty's visit marked a major milestone not only in the history of our two nations, but also in the history of Trinity College itself.
I would like to congratulate everyone involved in that visit for making it such a resounding success.
Today, with the official opening of the Biomedical Sciences Institute we gather to celebrate another significant chapter in the history of Ireland’s oldest university.
Conclusion
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to conclude by extending my very best wishes to all those involved in this new Biomedical Sciences Institute.
As the famous physicist Lord Kelvin said "Science is bound, by the everlasting vow of honour, to face fearlessly every problem which can be fairly presented to it."
The research conducted here has the power to save millions of lives.
It can also play an important role in the economic future of this country.
Mindful of this incredible potential, let us fully grasp this opportunity.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.