New web portal gives boost to R&D in Ireland
A new research portal has been launched in Ireland in an effort to foster better links between business and academia, boost levels of international collaborative research and development activity, and ensure greater mobility for researchers. Launched on 1 July by the business and university communities of Ireland, the ExpertiseIreland portal provides a searchable database with up-to-date details of academic and commercial expertise, funding information, technology transfer and collaborative opportunities in Ireland. Uniquely, information for the database is sourced directly from the knowledge management systems of the country's research organisations. Speaking at the launch of the web portal, Minister for Trade and Commerce Michael Ahern noted the crucial role the portal will play: 'I believe that our ability to compete in Europe and the world rests on our ability to transform knowledge and ideas into marketable products. The portal will facilitate early access by industry to new technologies and will enhance the research being carried out in our universities and research organisations by linking partners interested in collaborative research and increasing awareness of and access to funding programmes. This I am confident will lead to increased innovation.' Not only is the portal designed to help build closer relationships between business and academia, it is also seen as influencing Ireland's participation in the EU framework programmes. The portal is expected to act as a single and effective interface for those seeking framework programme partners, thus encouraging international research collaboration, mobility, and the development of a European Research Area. The ExpertiseIreland portal will be formally launched in the rest of Europe during Ireland's presidency of the EU in the first half of 2004.
Kraje
Ireland