Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the drawdown by Ireland of Horizon 2020 funding; the status of same in relation to nationally set targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26104/19]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Horizon 2020 is the EU’s programme for research and innovation with a budget of just under €80 billion and covering the period 2014 to 2020.

Horizon 2020 is a core part of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area. Awards under Horizon 2020 assist investment in future jobs and growth, address people’s concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment and strengthen the EU’s global position in research, innovation and technology.

As of May 2019, Irish researchers and companies continue to perform strongly in competing for this funding, and have been successful in winning €709.6m in funding. This secured funding is broadly in line with achievement of our national target of €1.25 billion.

Ireland’s €709.6m of secured funding equates to €11.3m per month or €2.5m per week - compared to €1m per week in the early stages of FP7. It accounts for 1.73% of the total allocated Horizon 2020 budget; the national target in this framework programme was 1.56% (juste retour: 1.2%).

As of May 2019, Irish Higher Education Institutions have secured a total funding of €390.5m. Private companies have secured funding of €237.4m of which SMEs have secured €147.1m.