Irish government launches new R&D strategy
The Irish government has launched a new EUR 3.8 billion strategy plan for science, technology and innovation for the period 2006-2013, which it says will drive the country's economic growth. The strategy includes a wide range of mechanisms and sets out the overall resource levels required for the development of a 'world-class' research system. This is the first comprehensive strategy on science and technology to be developed in Ireland, involving a total of eight governmental departments. Of the total amount earmarked for the period 2006-2013, EUR 2.7 billion alone will be spent before the end of 2008. This is much more than the previous budget for science which was set at EUR 2.54 billion invested over six years. Targets outlined in the strategy include doubling the number of postgraduates by 2013 and enhancing postgraduate skills through a graduate schools mechanism, as well as upgrading existing infrastructures and developing new facilities to support public research. Furthermore, the strategy will seek to enhance the mobility of Irish researchers through the continued support of the European Mobility Networks, and the uptake of the 'scientific visa' for researchers from non-EU countries. With regard to improving the transfer of knowledge from research and higher education institutes into the market place, the strategy proposes strengthening the intellectual property/commercialisation functions within the country's higher institutes. The recently established EUR 30 million technology transfer fund is expected to provide the resources and support mechanism to improve performance in this area. The strategy also foresees the establishment of a virtual structure to be known as 'Technology Ireland', the mandate of which would be to encourage more industry-led research by simplifying grant support procedures and building in-company technology capabilities. Incentives such as the existing 20 per cent tax credit available to companies for qualifying incremental expenditure on research and development would also undergo review and modifications, if necessary. In the area of science education, the strategy underlines the need to stimulate an interest in science at a very early age and proposes the re-introduction of science into the country's primary school curriculum as well as a revised syllabus in secondary level education based on a more investigative approach. The strategy also envisages the development of a continual training structure and guidance materials for teachers. In addition to strengthening the national research infrastructure, the strategy highlights the need to continue to support Ireland's involvement in European-level initiatives such as EU Framework Programme, Eureka, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and internationally through science and technology agreements with China and the US. It is expected that the announced strategy will provide some of the framework needed to increase Ireland's research and development (R&D) spending, which is currently at 1.6 per cent of the gross national product (GNP), substantially lower than the target of three per cent as outlined in the Barcelona objective. The Irish government aims to reach 2.5 per cent of GNP by 2010, with two-thirds of the increase coming from enterprise. At the launch of the strategy on 18 June, Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, acknowledged the imperative of acting decisively in an increasingly global market place: 'The knowledge based society will offer new opportunities for employment and social advancement, tapping into Ireland's long tradition of creativity and our talent for communication. 'It will bring together researchers and innovators from all disciplines, including the physical and social sciences, arts and humanities, to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by an increasingly diverse world', he said.
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