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EU to dole-out EUR16bn for tech research
Friday, July 12 2002
by Andrew McLindon


Irish organisations have been encouraged to compete for a slice of a new EUR16
billion fund for technology research.



Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, TD, said
on Friday that the Sixth EU Framework Programme (FP6) provided a unique
opportunity for Irish industry, third level institutions and research
organisations to win vital funding.





FP6 will run from 2003 to 2006 and will allocate over EUR16 billion for research
activities in technological areas such as nanotechnology, aeronautics,
e-government and information society technologies. At least 15 percent of the
fund is to be allocated to SMEs.





In order to help Irish bodies secure part of this funding, Enterprise Ireland has
set-up a dedicated unit to provide information and support services to potential
participants in FP6. The unit will also identify partners in other EU states that
could collaborate with Irish organisations.





The Tanaiste said that the government is determined that Ireland secures the
maximum benefits from FP6 over the next four years because of the importance of
previous EU Framework Programmes in growing Ireland's research base, particularly
in the third-level education sector.





"Our participation in EU Research Framework Programmes has helped to increase
the knowledge base and credibility of the Irish research community," said the
Tanaiste in a statement. "It has also contributed to the creation of a
well-educated, well-qualified and technologically aware workforce capable of
acting as a magnet to attract and retain the growing number of high technology
companies based in Ireland."





The Tanaiste added that funding received under FP6 would complement the
government's EUR2.5 billion investment in R&D under the National Development
Programme.





Martin Cronin, chief executive officer of Forfas, said that the introduction of
new EU research funding under FP6 offered substantial opportunities for Irish
researchers to participate with researchers in Europe and further afield in
developing cutting-edge technology.





As well as funding specific projects, EUR320 million is being made available to
develop the European Research Area (ERA). The EU is hoping that the establishment
of the ERA will enable researchers across Europe to collaborate more closely,
which would help it compete more effectively with the research efforts of the US
and Japan.