Following the release of the Government’s Infrastructure and Capital programme launched earlier today (Thursday) the Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr Sean Sherlock TD commented: "The plan reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the research and innovation agenda"
Commenting specifically on the 2012 capital allocations being made available to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to support the research and innovation agenda Minister Sherlock said
"I am very pleased that the allocations to support research effort via Enterprise Ireland, the Tyndall National Institute and the Programme for Research in Third-level Institutions (PRTLI) are all being maintained at 2011 levels" [ EI €132m, PRTLI €27m, Tyndall €3m].
Responding to Fianna Fail comments earlier that the capital programme announcement will result in researchers leaving the country Minister Sherlock said.
" Whilst there is a small reduction of €4.8m to the Science Foundation Ireland budget, from €160.8m to €156m, I am pleased to be able to say that this level of significant funding will still allow SFI to continue to fund its enterprise facing research teams and 28 major research centres"
The Minister added "Crucially this level of funding will also ensure that in 2012 SFI can maintain its direct support to its current funded research community of 3,000 or so top-class researchers. We are maintaining the critical investment in the necessary human capital that feeds into the wider enterprise engine via EI and IDA." SFI funded researchers are currently working with over 530 industry partners, who directly employ 90,000 people in Ireland.
In terms of the Enterprise Ireland research effort and the supports to the PRTLI programme Minister Sherlock added "Its not just about maintenance. In 2012 I am pleased to say that we will also see new technology centres in Cloud, E-learning and Financial Services being commenced amongst a host of EI led research initiatives."
He concluded by saying "Also I am pleased that the €27m capital investment being provided for the Programme for Research in Third-level Institutions will allow for continued support to and progression on 18 capital projects in a range of strategic areas such as Marine Energy, the Biosciences, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, Food and Health, and Nanotechnology. "
The €132m to Enterprise Ireland to support research initiatives will allow EI to:
· Continue to drive the innovation performance of indigenous industry and commercialisation of research.
· Increase the number of HPSUs supported from 85 in 2011 to 95 in 2012 and 100 in 2013.
· Maintain the Innovation Voucher Programme at its current level.
· Drive Technology Transfer and an average of 35 spinouts per annum for 4 years.
· Increase the number of Innovation Partnerships supported from 50 to 60 in 2012.