13/02/2007

Minister Martin Launches R&D Roadshows At UCC

Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin, at University College Cork launched a series of regional roadshows aimed at encouraging industry/academic R&D collaborations in order to create opportunities for entrepreneurial leadership in Ireland.

Hosted by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the roadshows will focus on ground-breaking work being conducted at seven Government-supported Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSETs), and how it can be commercially exploited. Seven leading scientists will illustrate how the multi-disciplinary teams, funded by the SFI CSET Programme, conduct cutting-edge scientific research, in close collaboration with indigenous and multi-national industry, foster a culture of innovation and, hence, develop Ireland’s knowledge economy. The Minister confirmed that Ireland plans to spend €8.2billion (NDP 2007-2013) on research in the next seven years. A sum of €2.6billion from this amount is to be allocated by his Department. The seminars offer the opportunity to learn more about how industry and academia can combine to make Ireland a world-leader in Biotechnology and ICT research.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Martin said: "Such industrial-academic collaborations are central to the Government's long-term economic strategy. The Government stands fully behind the CSET programme. These centres support a powerful synergy of the most important resource of any country‚ talented people. By bringing together researchers from Irish third-level institutions with their counterparts in indigenous and multinational companies‚ these centres create a force for knowledge and innovation that is greater than the sum of its parts."

Measures such as the CSET Programme, in conjunction with the wide range of programmes operated by all of the research funding agencies in Ireland, provide the opportunity of re-shaping Ireland’s economy through science and provide a framework for entrepreneurial leadership.

Funded by grants of up to €25 million from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), CSETs link scientists and engineers in partnerships across academia and industry. The seven established centres foster new and existing Irish-based technology companies and attract industry that could make an important contribution to Ireland and its economy.

"Through the CSET Programme‚ Ireland has a powerful agent for linking indigenous and multi-national companies with researchers in Ireland's institutions of higher learning. We want this seminar to be a catalyst for new partnerships which can be developed in the context of our ambitious national strategic objectives," continued Minister Martin.

"Ireland’s sustained economic growth and prosperity depends upon establishing a culture of scientific and technological innovation‚ a high level of research and development‚ and a globally competitive knowledge-based economy," he added

Attendees comprised leading businessmen, academics, politicians and industry bodies from Cork and the surrounding region.

(CD)

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