Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

106. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the local contact points for the Horizon 2020 programme. [15830/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With a budget of just under €80 billion and covering the period 2014 to 2020, Horizon 2020 is the EU's new programme for research and innovation. Horizon 2020 is a core part of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area and is responding to the economic crisis by investing in future jobs and growth, addressing people's concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment and strengthening the EU's global position in research, innovation and technology.

Ireland is well positioned to benefit from Horizon 2020, building on our excellent performance in Horizon 2020's predecessor - Framework Programme Seven - from which we obtained €600 million in funding to researchers in Ireland. The Government has set an ambitious target of €1.25 billion in funding to Ireland over the lifetime of Horizon 2020.

A national support network, coordinated by Enterprise Ireland, has been established, comprising knowledgeable and experienced practitioners who are charged with helping companies and academics access the funding opportunities presented by Horizon 2020. The following table includes contact details of all the Irish national contact points for Horizon 2020. An information brochure providing further details of the national contact points for the programme can be found at the following link: