Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Departmental Reports

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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263. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to develop a status report on quantum technology and the risks and opportunities for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17755/19]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Quantum technologies use the properties of quantum effects – the interactions of molecules, atoms, and even smaller particles, known as quantum objects – to create practical applications in many different fields.

A status report on quantum technology including a review of the risks and opportunities associated with quantum technology is one which I will consider in the context of other future sectorial reviews.

Quantum technology is one of several areas of advanced technologies that holds the potential to impact many industry sectors and society.  It is clearly an area that our policy infrastructure and industry base needs to be prepared to deal with, both in terms of harnessing the expansive opportunities it presents but also in mitigating the potential risks.  

Many of the worlds’ leading ICT companies have significant operations in Ireland which will provide us with a leading edge in this field. My Department’s agencies are also active in this area:

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), a key agency of my Department is supporting a range of researchers working in diverse areas related to the field including quantum thermodynamics and quantum photonics.  There is also investment across a broad range of underpinning technologies right across our higher education system.  This research is often being co-funded by industry with companies and academics working together on specific projects.  SFI is currently drafting an ambitious new strategy for the period 2020-2025.  The strategy will include further mechanisms to support more future looking technologies like quantum technology.

In late 2018, SFI and University College Cork (UCC) also successfully recruited Professor Seamus Davis, one of the world’s leading quantum physicists to Ireland from the US under the SFI Research Professorship Programme to boost our academic capabilities in this area.  This leading academic has taken up a joint position at University College Cork and the University of Oxford.  The nature of his joint appointment will encourage knowledge flow and student mobility between the UK and Ireland at a time such channels for collaboration and partnership in research need to be embraced.

My Department also provides core funding to support the day-to-day operations of the Tyndall National Institute.  Based in Cork, Tyndall is a leading European research centre in integrated ICT hardware and systems. Tyndall has been pioneering Irish efforts in the quantum field, specifically on the actual realisation of Quantum Technologies. Quantum cryptography for secure communications and sources of quantum light for quantum information (quantum internet and quantum computation) have been important areas progressed by the Institute. Tyndall’s research teams have been investing in quantum materials and quantum-effect devices for over 15 years. 

SFI and Tyndall are also partners on the QuantERA in Quantum Technologies.  QuantERA is a network of 32 organisations from 26 countries, coordinated by the National Science Centre, Poland, supporting international research projects in the field of Quantum Technologies. 

In late 2018 Ireland became a founding member of the new European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) Joint Undertaking. EuroHPC seeks to invest in High Performance Computing infrastructure, applications, research and skills with a goal of developing a world class High Performance Computing capability in Europe.  Its longer-term aims include support for the first hybrid HPC / Quantum computing infrastructure in Europe.

Quantum technology is an area which is also being given significant support at European level, most significantly with the launch of the €1bn Quantum Flagship in 2018, funded under Horizon 2020, the current Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.  This support is expected to continue into the successor programme, Horizon Europe, where there will be significant funding available to researchers in this area of study.  The European Commission has supported quantum technologies over the last 20 years with a cumulative investment reaching around €550m to-date and it will remain an area with significant potential for Irish researchers. 

As the above activities show, we are building on our capabilities in the field of quantum technology.  One of our key objectives will be to nurture the growth of Quantum Technologies by translating science to innovation and by developing and attracting talent with quantum expertise in Ireland. Ireland’s policy of Research Prioritisation highlights ICT as a key enabler of technologies, bringing radical changes throughout almost every industry in manufacturing, production processes, services provision and across whole value chains and business support activities, as well as driving the development of new markets. While technologies continue to evolve rapidly and significantly, the importance of the Future Networks, Communications and Internet of Things area as an integral underlying component of business and enterprise has remained indisputable.

Future Jobs Ireland 2019 underlines the Government’s determination for our enterprises and workers to be well prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead in light of emerging and new technologies and sets out a range of priority deliverables in 2019 to position our economy accordingly.  One such priority is the development of a national strategy on Artificial Intelligence. It is my expectation that it will provide a high-level direction to the development and adoption of AI in Ireland based on international experience and activity including at the EU level and on foot of a broad consultation process with Irish stakeholders. 

My Department, in conjunction with its agencies, will continue to remain active in this very important area.

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