Cutting edge research projects are to get an €8.5 million funding boost, creating jobs and training places for 105 researchers and contributing to the "smart" economy.
Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe announced the funding today, which will go to 47 projects in a range of areas including cystic fibrosis, genetics, environmental monitoring and streaming media over wireless networks.
The investment is expected to eventually create high-value jobs, and is part of Science Foundation Ireland's Research Frontiers Programme. The researchers will be mainly PhD students.
"By helping researchers at a relatively early stage in their work, the programme is targeting our most promising scientists in building their research teams and track records and enhancing our competitiveness," Mr O'Keeffe said.
The awards are made over a three to four-year period.
Last year, the programme aided 88 collaborations with 83 companies, 715 academic collaborations, and 537 scientific papers.
"The programme has contributed to Ireland's rapid ascent in the ranking of scientific output, rising from 36th place in 2003 to recently breaking into the top 20," said SFI's director general Professor Frank Gannon.
The 2010 programme will see 11 research bodies receive funding, including University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin NUI Galway, University College Cork, Dublin City University, NUI Maynooth, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Limerick, Tyndall National Institute, Cork, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, and Institute of Technology Tallaght.
