Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by the Science Foundation Ireland; and the cost per jobs supported by the Science Foundation. [42376/12]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is not a direct job-supporting agency in the same way as its sister enterprise agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

SFI is specifically mandated to focus excellence in research investments through the higher educational sector in the areas of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), Biotechnology and Sustainable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies through which SFI is aiding the development and competitiveness of Irish based industry.

The SFI funding of top-class research through Ireland’s higher education institutions is playing a crucial role in underpinning the efforts of the enterprise agency partners as part of the Government’s overall economic recovery strategy.

SFI invests in assembling world-class research teams, thereby increasing the number of high quality researchers in Ireland. Resulting gains encompass new scientific knowledge, increased commercial opportunities, and a larger pool of available talent to the Irish workforce – all of which can contribute to efficiency, competitiveness and employment gains across the economy.

At present SFI is directly supporting 2,995 researchers in Ireland who are interacting with over 600 companies here. These companies employ in the region of 85,000 people in Ireland. Through these collaborations with SFI funded researchers, the Irish based companies can often avail of new ideas, implement new processes to develop new products and increase employment opportunities as they look to enhance their respective operations. The numerous examples of the businesses connected to SFI researchers/teams and how SFI funded research is delivering for Irish enterprise are highlighted on

A major impact attributable to SFI has been, and continues to be, its underpinning role for the enterprise and job creation activities of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Over the past decade SFI has led a transformational change in Ireland’s research landscape. It has helped develop a truly credible and internationally recognised scientific research base in Ireland. SFI researchers are now collaborating across 60 countries globally which is helping to maintain Ireland’s position amongst the top-twenty research performing countries globally.

SFI’s activities are helping to create magnets of attraction for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland as well as maintaining FDI jobs here. In 2011 IDA had one of its best ever years for FDI wins with value of new client wins with a research, development and innovation component amounting to €700m. This is nearly a six-fold increase on 2003/04 levels of €120m. 2011 levels were also up by €200m on the 2010 and 2009 levels.

So far in 2012, SFI has links to 61%* (3,975 of the 5,701) new jobs announced by IDA Ireland.

(*data accurate as at 17^th August 2012).