Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the publication of Innovation 2020, when the first meeting of the implementation body will take place; the number of meetings planned in 2016; the mechanism in place to review progress and ensure targets in the strategy are being met on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45522/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The first meeting of the Innovation 2020 Implementation Group is to take place in early 2016. The Group will meet in three formations with smart agenda setting:

- A primary formation will drive and track implementation of the strategy at an overall level.

- The second formation will mirror the Research Prioritisation Action Group and will have a role in driving and reporting on implementation of various strands of the strategy at a more granular level – this group will identify what needs to be done by which funder/agency/department to deliver on higher level actions in this strategy.

- The third formation will deal with EU issues, incorporating both the role of the Horizon 2020 High Level Group, and broader EU research issues, such as opportunities arising from the European Fund for Strategic Investment.

An implementation plan is being drafted in which the number of meetings of the Group to take place in 2016 will be determined.

A number of high-level national indicators with associated targets to 2020 have been selected to measure success in implementing the strategy. The Innovation 2020 Implementation Group will report annually to the Cabinet Committee on progress in achieving high-level targets and delivering on actions. Monitoring and reporting on key actions will also be delivered through the annual Action Plan for Jobs process.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the publication of Innovation 2020, when scientists engaged in basic research will be able to apply for funding; the provisional deadline for applications in 2016; the spend allocated for basic research in 2016 and for each year thereafter; the scientific disciplines which will be accommodated for grant funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45523/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Innovation 2020 contains a commitment to supporting the full continuum of research from frontier (basic) research to the creation and development of research-informed innovative products, processes and services. Funding for research is awarded according to the criteria, of which excellence is key, set out in the various funding programmes operated by research funders irrespective of whether the research is basic or applied. The most recent survey of R&D performed in the higher education sector (HERD survey published July 2015) shows that basic research accounted for 51% or €320m of that expenditure in 2012/13.

Under Innovation 2020, a competitive fund to support qualified researchers to undertake project-based frontier research is being developed. Funding will be awarded on the basis of the excellence of the research proposals and assessed through a rigorous and international peer-review process. The parameters for this programme will be determined by the Irish Research Council in 2016.