€16bn scheme will lead to wide range of research
TÁNAISTE and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said the new 16 billion euro Sixth EU Framework Programme (FP6) will benefit a wide range of research in Ireland.
It will facilitate the development of a knowledge-based economy by providing badly-needed funding for research and technological development.
“The Government is determined that Ireland secures the maximum benefits from FP6 over the next four years. The Framework Programme will complement the Government’s investment of the 2.5 billion in research, technological development and innovation through the National Development Programme,” she said. In the past, EU framework programmes have been crucial in building the research base in the economy.
This was particularly the case at Third Level, where significant results were achieved across a wide range of institutions.
Research and all kinds of new knowledge are crucial to the continuing growth of the economy, Ms Harney said. This research has to be used to the mutual benefit of all and “this is the very basis on which the EU Framework Programmes has helped increase the knowledge base and credibility of the Irish research
community.”
Richard Esquitt, director, DG Research, EU commission, addressing the conference in Dublin after the Tánaiste launched the research programme, said research and technological development was a top priority in Europe. And the latest programme represented a “quantum leap beyond simply funding projects and the programme has an important role in making a reality of the European Research Area.
Forfás chief executive Martin Cronin said the latest launch of FP6 offered “substantial opportunities for researchers to participate with researchers in Europe and further afield in developing cutting-edge technology.”
