Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The objective of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-13, SSTI, and the National Development Plan 2007-13 is to make a transition to a knowledge economy to enable Ireland to compete in a highly competitive global market. In December 2008, the Government reinforced the importance of this investment in a document, entitled Building Ireland's Smart Economy – A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, which prioritised continued investment in science and engineering infrastructure and research.

The infrastructure investment underpinning the SSTI is central to economic recovery. The commercialisation of our research investment and the creation of a successful track record in the area of higher education research, as well as output of quality graduates at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, will be an important aspect of building a sustainable enterprise base underpinned by productive innovation activity across the economy.

I am confident that there have already been achievements arising from the strategy. The recently published report, Science, Technology and Innovation – Delivering the Smart Economy, confirms that, overall, substantial progress has been made in the achievement of SSTI objectives. We are building strong linkages to ensure diffusion and commercialisation of an increased flow of new ideas and knowledge to produce innovative products and services that will win export markets and create much needed sustainable employment.

Innovation, through better products, processes and business models, supported by near-to-market research and collaboration with knowledge providers, is the primary way for Ireland to gain a competitive advantage and secure export growth. With regard to the commercialisation of research, Enterprise Ireland, EI, offers a suite of supports to academics and institutions to commercialise their research and build the commercialisation system. These include funding provided through the €25 million commercialisation fund as well as funding and support for effective technology transfer offices in university campuses, commercially relevant research centres in institutes of technology and campus incubation facilities to support new technology companies in their formative years. This programme to realise the commercial potential of Ireland's research community is supported in 2009 by a projected level of investment of €36 million. As at November 2009, the EI-supported technology transfer offices facilitated the creation of 20 start-up companies, 339 invention disclosures, 97 priority patents filed and 47 technology licence transfers between companies.

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