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The Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, TD, welcomed today’s approval by the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of Horizon 2020, the European Union’s research and innovation funding programme for 2014-2020. The final vote in the European Parliament's plenary session will take place later this year once the EU's long-term budget for 2014-2020 has been finally approved.

“This is a major step towards the final adoption of the Horizon 2020 funding programme which will boost jobs and growth across the European Union and in Ireland. Following lengthy intensive negotiations during Ireland’s EU Presidency earlier this year, we secured political agreement on Horizon 2020, which was a key element of the Presidency’s designated theme of jobs and growth” said Minister Sherlock.

“I am delighted to see that the political agreement we reached with the Parliament’s negotiators has now been endorsed and I look forward to its final adoption by the Parliament later this year. Research and innovation are key drivers of growth and job creation. The strategic approach to research and innovation contained in Horizon 2020 will develop, diffuse and drive research across the European Union.”

“The new EU innovation indicator published last week, which classifies Ireland in the highest category of “top performers”, is a very positive indication of improvement in Ireland’s competitiveness in key areas of the economy”, said the Minister.

“We are on the right track to recovery and our innovation performance is playing a major role. I will ensure that we set ambitious targets to maximise our participation in Horizon 2020 and put that funding to best use for growth and jobs in Ireland “the Minister concluded.