John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The research funded through Science Foundation Ireland and the strategic direction that the agency provides is central to achieving many of the Government’s national strategic priorities as outlined across a range of policies and strategies Project Ireland 2040 and Innovation 2020.

Science Foundation Ireland's funding of scientific excellence with economic impact is also crucial to many aspects of the Government’s Future Jobs strategy. Future Jobs Ireland 2019, launched on 10 March last, is the first in a series of annual reports as part of a new multi-annual framework to ensure that our enterprises and workers are resilient and prepared for future challenges and opportunities. This is a whole-of-Government approach that will form a key part of Ireland’s economic agenda over the medium term.

As one of the major agencies of my Department, representatives from which I meet regularly, Science Foundation Ireland was allocated €206.61 million in funding in 2019.One of its key priorities for this year is the development of the network of 17 research centres to provide world-leading capacity in strategically important areas of research for the economy. Last week, the second phase funding for six of the original 2012 centres was announced, involving an investment of €230 million and match funding from industry of another €230 million, bringing the total amount involved to €460 million.

In March 2019, an additional €15.5 million in dedicated funding was announced for PhD and research masters enrolment through new six centres for researcher training. The centres will train 700 postgraduate students in areas of nationally and internationally identified future skills needs of digital, data and ICT. The first student intake will be in September. This new programme will the subject of an investment of over €100 million from the Government over an eight-year period. The six centres are in the areas of machine learning, digitally enhanced reality, advanced networks for sustainable societies, foundations of data science and artificial intelligence.

This new programme is a direct response to the action in innovation 2020 to increase PhD and research masters output in areas aligned to enterprise needs.

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Ireland needs to take a proactive approach to supporting its research and innovation sector in the light of Brexit, one which focuses on maximising the opportunities as well as mitigating the risks. Science Foundation Ireland is targeting globally-renowned researchers to relocate their research operations to Irish universities, benefitting Ireland but also offering these researchers certain access to EU funding.

Science Foundation Ireland has recently undertaken a widespread consultation as part of preparing the new strategy for the period 2020 to 2025. This new ambitious plan will be brought to Government for agreement and published by the end of the year.

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