Minister Seán Sherlock TD, the Minister for Research and Innovation today [Tuesday] warmly welcomed the Government’s ongoing commitment to support research funding programmes delivered through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This funding will support research, development and innovation activities delivered through Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Tyndall National Institute and the Higher Education Authority.
The Minister said “The Government is committed to the vision of using research and innovation to generate jobs and economic growth. Within the constraints of our economic circumstances, we are maximising the funding available for research, development and innovation and critically, maximising the impact of this investment on jobs and the economy.
The evidence shows our investment in this area is paying off. Ireland has just been ranked third in the EU, according to the new "Indicator of Innovation Output”, which measures the extent to which ideas from innovative sectors are able to reach the market, providing better jobs and making Europe more competitive. This proves that we are investing smartly in this area and that our investment is delivering jobs,” continued Minister Sherlock.
Highlights in 2014 will include:
· Establishment, by SFI, of 2- 3 new large-scale Research Centres, supporting 200-300 jobs, in areas of national strategic importance e.g. Medical Devices, Software, Diagnostics, Telecommunications, Smart Grids, Sustainable Food Production and Processing.
· Direct support to over 20 world-class research centres and to a cohort of circa. 2800 researchers who are connected to over 700 companies.
· 4-5 Research ‘Spokes’ to enable the addition of new industry and academic partners and projects to existing SFI Research Centres, to allow them to expand and develop in line with new priorities and opportunities.
· Enhanced commercialisation of previous research investments by SFI and EI.
· Support, through Enterprise Ireland, for 95 Innovative High Potential Start Up companies in 2014, with an associated 2,100 jobs, across a range of sectors, including Lifesciences, ICT, Food and Energy.
· Delivery, through the new central Technology Transfer Office, of a ‘one stop shop’ for companies to access the wealth of technology, skills and “know how” available in Ireland’s higher education system and to bring their ideas to market.
· Support over 400 projects through the Innovation Voucher Programme.
· Support, through the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) for 20 research infrastructure projects.
In 2014, SFI and Enterprise Ireland will continue to leverage EU and private sector funding for research programmes, building on successes to date. In 2012, Irish researchers across the country – both in industry and in the public research system - leveraged over €100m in funding from the EU's R&D Funding programme, the 7th Framework Programme, up from €93m in 2011. To date in 2013, over €86.5m has been leveraged from this funding source.
In the coming years, with the rollout of the European Union's next R&D funding programme Horizon 2020, with a total budget of over €70bn to 2020, our national research and development community is well placed to win significant funding from Horizon 2020, in the order of €1bn over the period to 2020, along with funding from other non-exchequer sources.
In addition, SFI funded researchers leverage over €31m in non-Exchequer, non-EU funding each year, while Enterprise Ireland funding leverages in the region of €15m from these sources.
“More and more, IDA Ireland’s foreign direct investment wins capacity is being underpinned by a strong research capability in various sectors. In 2013 to date, more than 45% of IDA jobs announcements so far have been in companies with links to SFI research teams. That’s over 3,700 jobs in companies linked to SFI funded researchers, proving a demonstrable link between research funding and job creation”, added Minister Sherlock.
The Minister concluded by saying “Continued implementation of Research Prioritisation in 2014 will result in more targeted investment in Science, Technology and Investment, which will enhance the effectiveness and impact of our research investment to deliver high quality, sustainable employment.”