Urgent need for research funding says minister

ENTERPRISE Minister Micheál Martin has commissioned two major reports to help realise Government targets for private and public investment in research.

Mr Martin sent a clear message to Irish industry yesterday that not enough businesses are doing research, nor is enough being done by those with research and development (R&D) programs.

He has asked a funders’ group, including representatives of principal agencies running research programs, be set up urgently and report to the Government within three months with a response to targets set in the recent action plan for promoting investment in R&D by 2010.