Investment of €10million in industry-led manufacturing research and energy efficiency centres will ensure new businesses are created and established businesses create more jobsMinister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD today [Friday] launched technology centres in manufacturing research and energy efficiency focused on helping to turn good R&D ideas into good jobs.
The €10million investment in industry-led technology centres follows Minister Bruton’s announcement last week of €55 million in investments in commercialisation initiatives, including a €5million technology centre in cloud computing.
Making the launch today, the Minister said:
“I have consistently said that if we are going to get the economy growing and create jobs we have to focus on three things:
· reducing business costs
· improving access to finance and
· encouraging innovation and improving commercialisation of research ideas.
“If we are to develop the companies of the future in Ireland, both indigenous and multinational, we must not only fund high tech research in our universities but also crucially ensure that the research ideas we have developed can be put into action in industry. In this way, new businesses can be created and established companies can expand and create more jobs.
“The Programme for Government commits to addressing that gap through establishing technology centres in order to develop good ideas into workable businesses so as to create the jobs of the future and get the economy growing again.
“In Ireland we are fortunate to have both a strong research capability and many of the world’s leading technology companies across a range of sectors. I am determined to ensure that we take advantage of the knowledge and expertise that exists in these companies for the benefit both of the companies themselves and of the Irish economy.
“The centres I am launching today are advanced industry-led institutions which represent international best practice in partnering researchers with high-tech industry, allowing them together to improve productivity, develop innovative practices and commercialise research ideas leading to expansion and jobs.
Welcoming the announcement Frank Ryan, CEO Enterprise Ireland said: ‘Industry-led technology centres are regarded as one of the most sophisticated R&D vehicles internationally. It is a model that experience shows works and can deliver real results – for the companies, for the research community and ultimately, for Ireland, giving us the opportunity to excel in key industrial and economic sectors. Their impact will be significant, supporting a more innovative, efficient and competitive Irish economy’.
Welcoming the announcement Barry O’Leary, CEO IDA Ireland said: ‘Creating employment through knowledge and innovation in our client companies is a key Government priority. These two centres will use collaborative research to address the challenges of making Irish advanced manufacturing more competitive, and exploit the opportunities in the growing Energy, Green Technologies Life Sciences and ICT sectors. Bringing together companies with similar research needs and teaming them with highly-qualified researchers to produce marketable products and services is a highly efficient way of conducting industrial research. This collaborative approach will not only benefit the companies involved but will deliver a competitive advantage to Irish industry, reinforcing Ireland’s reputation as a flexible and innovative country’.