Research: 14 areas to get €500m

Fourteen areas of research have been earmarked for €500m of funding as part of the Government’s attempts to turn research ideas into jobs.

Information communications technology, health, pharmaceutical and energy are the main sectors that the areas of research fall into.

These were earmarked by the Research Prioritisation Steering Group, which reported to the Government on Feb 21.

The decision to target specific sectors was taken due to the pressure on public finances. The research is now focusing on areas that are expected to be commercially viable in the medium term.

Another group, the Prioritisation Action Group, will now work to co-ordinate the nine Government agencies which are responsible for research budgets. This group will be chaired by Minister for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock.

He said: “We need to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of research programmes and structures and a vital element here will be measuring the impact on the priority areas — we need to have indicators that measure outcomes and impacts rather than just looking at inputs.”

IBEC welcomed the report, saying it would build on the country’s existing research strengths.

IBEC director of policy Brendan Butler said: “A better targeting of investment in R&D will boost our capacity to attract and imbed innovative, high-value activity in Ireland which will provide high-quality jobs. Almost 50% of companies in Ireland are now carrying out some form of innovative activities.

“Implementing the report’s recommendations can only benefit the Irish enterprise base further.”

The areas that have been targeted are: future networks and communications, data analytics, management, security and privacy, digital platforms, content and applications, connected health and independent living, medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, synthesis, formulation, processing and drug delivery, food for health, sustainable food production and processing, marine renewable energy, smart grids and smart cities, manufacturing competitiveness, processing technologies and novel materials and innovation in services and business processes.