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Strategic Challenge for Researchers and Scientists in advancing Ireland’s Knowledge Economy

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Friday, 28 July, 2006
Strategic Challenge for Researchers and Scientists in advancing Ireland’s Knowledge Economy
“Next Step In A Journey Towards Excellence - Minister invites key stakeholders to join him in delivering new R&D Strategy”
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD, today (Wednesday 26th July 2006) delivered the details of the Government’s new Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-13 to key stakeholders from enterprise and academia, at an event held in Wyeth’s campus at Grange Castle. The audience comprised some of Ireland’s top researchers and our top research-performing firms, both national and multinational. All of the state’s research funding agencies and Departments were also represented.

Outlining the vision of Ireland as a leading knowledge economy by 2013, the Minister told stakeholders that the Strategy, which was prepared in a whole of Government manner and launched by the Taoiseach and five Cabinet colleagues on 18 June to wide support, is already delivering results, driving industrial policy by simplifying the R&D Grants Scheme and a providing a new IP Commercialisation Fund for Irish Universities, both being taken forward by his Department and agencies. The Strategy is pro-business, pro-education and pro-academia. “There will be no losers if all stakeholders sign up for the full delivery of this Strategy” the Minister said. “The impact on competitiveness and on the economy as a whole will be positive”.

“New in-company research and development initiatives will bring together for the first time, under a single heading within each Agency, financial supports for company-led research projects by the Agency clients, providing an integrated and unified approach capable of meeting their needs flexibly and efficiently,” the Minister stated and “ it is anticipated that, when these schemes are launched, they will not only facilitate companies in embedding a sustainable culture of innovation in their own organizations, through in-house R&D activity, but will, thereby, allow Ireland to reach its targets for increased R&D expenditure set out under the Strategy” he added.

The Minister also explained how “a scheme has been developed to strengthen Technology Transfer offices in our colleges and thereby facilitate greater take-up of IP and innovation by the industry base in Ireland. On May 29th, I launched a fund of €30 million to strengthen and build a stronger and more professional Technology Transfer function within Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. This funding, which will be provided through EI, should ensure that better economic returns are gained from R & D investment through the development of better systems, procedures and expertise in Technology Transfer Offices. EI issued the first call for proposals under this Scheme in June 2006 with a closing date at the end of this month and the first awards will be announced later this year.”

Reiterating his own long-standing commitment to the RTDI agenda, the Minister went on to invite stakeholders to join him in delivering on the RTDI agenda through the opportunities and challenges of the new STI Strategy, saying that “Excellence is what this is all about and we have already embarked on this journey towards excellence and I want to take this opportunity now to exhort you, the stakeholders, to drive this challenge. This Strategy is about more than government, it requires a concerted and focused effort across the whole national system of innovation. That is why we are here today. We are all part of this continually evolving endeavour, to advance Ireland’s knowledge economy, an economy with world-class people and enterprises, such as this one here at Wyeth, with the drive, the commitment and the resources to succeed. I invite you to join me in delivering on that vision.

The Minister was joined on the platform by Dr. Reg Shaw, Managing Director of Wyeth, Mary Cryan, Chair of the Advisory Science Council, which represents stakeholders, and by Professor Ferdinand Von Prondzynski, President of DCU, representing the Irish Universities Association, IUA. Their speeches were followed by a wide-ranging discussion of the Strategy with the stakeholder audience.

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