Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the increased support given to companies since December 2008 to undertake research, development and innovation activity, as outlined in the Building Ireland's Smart Economy report. [43134/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Since December 2008, my Department has provided support through the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland to enable and encourage companies to undertake Research, Development and Innovation activity in line with the Smart Economy Report.

Enterprise Ireland's programme of company R&D supports are designed to provide support for research, development and technological innovation relevant at all stages of company development, and support companies in their progress from an initial research project to higher level innovation and R&D activities. During 2009, funding for programmes of R&D activity in enterprise is projected to reach an investment level of €61m for companies, representing an increase of approximately 13% on 2008.

Enterprise Ireland also operates a range of supports to help companies to undertake collaborative research for the benefit of the company. This can range from initial small-scale collaborations to larger collaborative research projects involving groups of companies. These supports include the popular Innovation Vouchers which provides up to €5,000 for an individual item of research. To mid-November 2009 360 Innovation Vouchers have been redeemed – 75% more than in the year 2008. Further, Enterprise Ireland's Campus Incubation Programme also supports over 230 new companies located in Business Incubation Centres employing over 1,000 people. In addition, the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centres provides support and a location for 735 companies employing over 3,600 people.

A stream of Industry Led Research Programmes is also providing an increased level of support in 2009 with a budgeted €29m investment. Under this category of supports the new EI/IDA Competence Centre initiative allow industry groups to set a commercial and industry-led research agenda which will be delivered on through collaboration with academics in the higher education sector.

Complementary to the supports provided through Enterprise Ireland, my Department is also providing significant funding of €165.4m in 2009 to Science foundation Ireland which will enable it to support 29 world-class research centres across the Irish universities and Institutes of Technology. Currently over 125 leading multi-nationals and indigenous firms are formally connected to these SFI funded centres with many more having informal interactions with them indirectly supporting the employment of over 56,000 people in Ireland. The 29 SFI centres, comprise 10 Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology and 19 Strategic Research Clusters, act as magnets of attraction that significantly enhances IDA Ireland's capacity to win research-intensive investments to Ireland.

Growth in researcher capacity, coupled with the enhanced R&D tax credit, continues to be a major attraction for overseas investors, and is resulting in a series of significant industrial R&D investments in Ireland by IDA supported companies. Over 40% of IDA investments in 2008 were in area of Research, Development and Innovation and accounted for approx. €420 millions in total investment.