Science research funding up 22%

FUNDING allocated to Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) will increase by 22% this year to almost €150 million.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin made the announcement yesterday when he addressed the SFI Board in Cork.

Since it was established in 2000, SFI has awarded funding of over €550m to 830 projects, comprised of more than 1,200 individuals, research teams, centres and visiting researchers.

It has given over €43m in funding to research investment in University College Cork and €7m to Cork Institute of Technology.

At the Cork meeting, the SFI board examined its research investment portfolio and set out key strategies for future investment.

Mr Martin said: “Through the new Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation for 2006-2013, the Government wants to accelerate Ireland’s progress towards being a key player in the knowledge economy.

“The essence of the strategy is to harness all the change agents in a synergistic way to support that transition,” he added.

Mr Martin said the new strategy can only be delivered with a shared effort based on common goals.

“In that context, SFI has a major role to play in delivering the strategy through its own efforts and in acting as an advocate for change in the fields it touches upon.

“It is important that SFI balances these two elements and that it maintains its strategic focus on supporting research excellence.

SFI must continue its mission of fostering world class research culture by investing in superb individual researchers and their teams,” he said.

SFI, a sub-board of Forfás, was established to administer Ireland’s Technology Foresight Fund.

The foundation provides awards to support scientists and engineers working in biotechnology and information and communications technology development.