John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We provide Enterprise Ireland with targets to reach every year on collaboration and investment. As the Deputy knows, collaborations vary across industries, institutes of technology and, of course, universities. At all times, however, there is a drive to hit targets and go above them. Every year, we set specific targets with the money that is provided. More research and more collaboration is what we are about. We are aiming to get more research centres. There are eight dedicated research centres which are recognised across Europe as the best in the world. Our objective over the next few years is to develop more research centres which will obviously lead to more collaboration with industry. Science Foundation Ireland has an annual census of its supported research in all of these areas. The latest data from SFI's census on research will be available in April.