Science fund to focus on jobs potential

Science Foundation Ireland is to target most of its research funding at areas the Government has targeted as priorities for turning good ideas into jobs.

A report to Jobs Minister Richard Bruton in March set out 14 areas which should be the focus of the Government’s €500m annual scientific research budget, and those will be the priorities of SFI’s research funding over the next year in many of its programmes.

In its plans for 2013, being launched today, SFI says it will focus appropriate programmes on the priority areas, as the majority of public funds for research must be directed towards the 14 areas identified in the report.