The Government is firmly committed to improving research and development and is confident that the State can secure maximum funds from the new EU €17.5 billion Framework Programme, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, has said.
At the launch of the EU's sixth framework programme, the Tánaiste said the State needed a strong research base if it was to build a knowledge-based economy capable of sustaining economic growth and providing better quality jobs.
The framework programme would complement the Government's initial investment of €2.5 billion in research through the National Development Programme, she added.
The EU funds are distributed to research bodies on a competitive basis and Irish institutes face direct competition from other applicant countries. Figures from the previous framework programme showed that Irish organisations managed to secure only €125 million compared with €180 million from the fourth programme.
The director of science and technology at the Tánaiste's office, Mr Martin Shanagher, said Irish researchers in the past tended to concentrate on receiving funding from the Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) and were essentially unaware that there was other funding available. Mr Shanagher said the support and information services were in place to allow universities and company researchers to present their projects to the EU.
The EU is determined to increase the research drive throughout the member-states as investment still lags behind the US and Japan.
Ms Harney admitted that the Government faced a "high challenge" if it was to meet the quoted 3 per cent of GDP figure by 2010. The research investment level currently stands at 1.9 per cent of GDP. Research and development promoters Forfás estimates that the State will be in a position to receive up to €200 million from the EU over the next four years. In addition, the SFI already contributes funds to Irish research to the tune of €35 million per annum but this is expected to rise to €100 million from next year. SFI administers the technology foresight fund of more than €635 million.
Specialised agencies in areas such as marine, health and energy will assist Irish organisations to secure funds from the EU.
Forfás chief executive Mr Martin Cronin said that economists' estimations varied between a 20 to 60 per cent return for the influence of research and development on the economy.
He added: "This framework document offers substantial opportunities for Irish researchers to work with other European researchers in developing cutting-edge technology."
