State 'should focus' R&D efforts

IRELAND'S entire research spending is less than the budget of a major multinational company, according to the Higher Education Training Award Council chief executive Séamus Puirséil.

The importance of research has become something of a mantra in this country but few understand its importance, he said.

As the highly influential Roberts Report, Set for Success, pointed out: "Continuous innovation is key to the future survival and growth of businesses operating in what are increasingly competitive global markets".