Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the definition of basic research used by his Department in deciding allocations to different types of research. [17121/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research. My department provides SFI with its annual budget and SFI, in turn, invests in academic researchers and research teams most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and, ultimately, competitive enterprises that draw on skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In general SFI funding is allocated to research areas including the areas identified in the Government’s national research prioritisation exercise and not, per se, by research type.

In delivering its mandate SFI reviews its funding mechanisms on an ongoing basis against international benchmarking, in the context of its strategic priorities and technology foresight. The objective of this continuous assessment is to ensure that all SFI programmes continue to deliver Government policy and the strategic objectives of the Foundation and that the appropriate structures and opportunities are available for the Irish research community to support the delivery of excellent science with impact.

In support of this, SFI focuses on scientific excellence and its impact across a portfolio of programmes to support the Irish ecosystem at different levels of intervention. These programmes range from supports for young people at all stages of their careers (Starting Investigator, Career Development, etc.), through to support of outstanding individuals (Investigator, Research Professor, etc.), to large scale Research Centres, partnerships with industry and others (e.g. SFI/HRB/Wellcome Trust Partnership). This mixed portfolio approach supports a range of activities across the areas under SFI’s remit. Individual research projects selected for funding may often span across the areas of both oriented-basic and applied research.

The remit of SFI was extended in 2013 with the enactment of the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Act 2013 enabling it to fund applied as well as continuing to fund oriented basic research in strategic areas of opportunity for the State.

SFI enacting legislation defines oriented basic research as research that is carried out with the expectation that it will produce a broad base of knowledge that is likely to form the background to the solution of recognised or expected current or future problems or possibilities.