Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

EU Funding

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which European Union grant support continues to be made available to indigenous companies in the manufacturing and services sectors in respect of innovation and technology in the past four years; the extent to which such support is expected to continue in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8924/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The availability of European research and innovation programmes provides Ireland with valuable mechanisms for firms - indigenous and multinational - to engage in high-level international research to further their innovativeness and competitiveness. These programmes are also a critical source of non-Exchequer funding for this important economic activity. The current EU Framework Programme for research and innovation, which is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe, is Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 has a budget of almost €75 billion and runs over the period 2014-2020. Irish companies who compete successfully for funding from Horizon 2020 will boost their innovative capability and competitiveness which in turn this will deliver strong national economic impacts.

In the first 23 months of Horizon 2020, 588 Irish applicants were successful in securing funding. For this period, Ireland's drawdown was €251 million, giving an overall Irish success rate of 14.62% (higher than the EU Member State average of 13.5%). Of this funding, over €72 million went to companies and €52 million of the €72 million went to SMEs.

Of the €251 million drawdown, over €9 million was for advanced manufacturing and processing. It is not possible to disaggregate the total figure for supports for the manufacturing and services sectors as they are included in other calls, such as the SME Instrument.

Ireland performed excellently in the previous Framework Programme, FP7, which ran over the period 2007- 2013. Ireland’s total drawdown in FP7 was €625 million. Of this funding, industry had a drawdown of €164 million and 72% of the industry total (€118.5 million) was drawn down by SMEs. The total figure for supports in the manufacturing and services sectors cannot be disaggregated from the total FP7 drawdown.

Ireland has an ambitious target of winning €1.25 billion under Horizon 2020, which we are on target to meet. Our strategy to achieve this target is being driven by the Horizon 2020 High Level Group, chaired by my Department. All Departments and Agencies engaged in research funding are represented on the High Level Group and particular attention is being given to maximising industry participation in Horizon 2020.

80% of the Horizon 2020 budget (€61 billion) is to be allocated between 2016 and 2020, which gives Irish companies the opportunity to continue to availing of these supports. Irish academics and companies will continue to be supported in their engagement with the opportunities available by the Horizon 2020 National Support System. The National Support System is coordinated by Enterprise Ireland and the National Director for Horizon 2020 leads a team comprised of representatives across the research funding departments and agencies.

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