Europe must embrace science and innovation says Harney

If Europe is to become the most knowledge based, dynamic economy in the world by 2010, we must embrace science and innovation much more enthusiastically over the next number of years than we did in the past.

This was the message from Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Mary Harney who addressed international delegates attending the BioIreland 2004 conference at the University of Ulster in Coleraine.

Speaking to the audience of 200 Irish and international scientists and policy influencers at this week's conference, the Tanaiste revealed that 400,000 science and engineering graduates from the EU have emigrated to the USA, and that 90,000 of them are working in innovation.

“These statistics highlight that we in the EU have a major issue as far as innovation and research is concerned," the Tanaiste said. "Yet it is not simply about money: in money terms, the gap is not that wide – but it widens when you compare the amount of money invested by the private sector.

“We must educate the political system as well as the wider public system about the importance of science and research for our economies. In the context of globalisation, our economies can only succeed if we genuinely embrace knowledge and all that that entails."

In her closing remarks, the Tanaiste called for increased cross border co-operation to enable Ireland to punch its true weight in the world's biotechnology sector.

(MB)