Plan to attract researchers urged

A shortage of scientific researchers will force Ireland to search for graduates abroad, according to the expert group report. It urges the creation of a working group to help make the move to Ireland by researchers as smooth as possible.

The expert group noted the range of research initiatives supported by spending of £1.95 billion (€2.48 billion) in the National Development Plan (NDP). These activities alone will take up more than half of the national output of PhD graduates, which, in 1999, reached 417 in all disciplines.

It estimates that by 2003 about 600 post-graduate students per year will be receiving funding under the NDP research programmes. It recommends that national research policy should aim for a "substantial" increase in the output of PhDs in the science, engineering and technology sectors.

Even such a move will fail to meet demand, however, so the State will have to "plug the gap" from abroad, according to the report. It commissioned a study to examine methods used by five other countries to attract researchers from abroad. The report recommends the creation of a working group including Forfas and the Higher Education Authority to find ways to smooth the transfer of qualified researchers to Ireland.

The expert group did not advocate increasing university places for the life sciences but acknowledged a targeted review of skills needs in biotechnology and chemical engineering would be necessary given investment in this field.