Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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162. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding the Government contributes to medicines research and development annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46481/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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At present, 13 of the world’s top 15 medical technology companies have invested in Ireland, with a significant number of innovative, research-based, indigenous companies competing internationally.  Ireland’s MedTech industry has world-class capabilities in research, a flourishing indigenous base and the presence of world’s leading MNCs and specialised clinical capabilities.

Medical Technology (Medtech) encompasses a wide range of healthcare products that are used to diagnose, monitor and or intervene to treat diseases or medical conditions.  Such products are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive surgical or non-surgical intervention options and reductions in hospital stays and rehabilitation times.   Recent advances in medical technology have also focused on cost reduction.  The MedTech industry in Ireland employs 38,000 people in this sector, making Ireland – per capita- the largest Medtech employer in the EU.  There are over 348 medical technology companies in Ireland of which 234 are indigenous.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) has only a very small number of companies in the Drug/Medicines sector and these companies have not sought support under its RD&I schemes to date.  EI does provide support to the broader Medical Technology sector (Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Medical Sub Supply and Healthcare) through a number of its RD&I Schemes e.g. In Company RD&I, Commercialisation Fund, Innovation Vouchers, Innovation Partnerships, Technology Gateways, Technology Centres etc.

Specifically related to the research prioritisation area of Medical Devices in 2016, Enterprise Ireland paid just over €2m under Commercialisation Fund to fund research this area.  In addition, Enterprise Ireland funded almost €1.4m under the In-Company RD&I Fund for R&D projects in the Medical Technology sectors in client companies. Also, over €870k was paid under the Innovation Partnerships Programme to the Medical Technology sectors for collaborative projects where industry engage in research with Irish universities and Institutes of Technology to develop new products and services.

In 2016, Science Foundation Ireland invested €27.2 million in 152 awards related to medicines research and development. This investment includes €9.1 million in 22 new awards commencing in 2016. The awards cover areas directly and more remotely relevant to medicines research including drug/medicines discovery, but mostly synthesis, formulation, processing technologies, delivery. Significant awards in the medicine research and development areas include the SFI Research Centres, Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC), Cúram and the Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT).

In 2016, IDA Ireland paid a total of €44,765,000, in R&D grants to its clients to undertake R&D across a variety of sectors, including Technology, Life Sciences, Medical Technologies, Engineering.  IDA Ireland 2016 R&D payments to Pharma companies only total approximately €11,790,000.  Whilst some of this funding may be for drug research it is not possible to confirm that all the funding is used exclusively for that purpose.

In addition, companies that receive R&D grant support from IDA Ireland generate intellectual property and technical knowhow in Ireland.  As the Deputy will be aware, many of these R&D projects lead to manufacturing of new products which further embed the Company and increases the strategic importance of the Irish facility within the Global entity, which in turn contributes to  the potential to increase employment in Ireland.