Scientists urged to push parameters in everyday research

SCIENCE researchers were yesterday encouraged to push the parameters of possibility in their everyday research.

Minster for Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Jimmy Devins said Ireland’s competitiveness is dependent on the output that research teams produce.

“Innovation is clearly about creativity and I know that researchers supported by SFI [Science Foundation Ireland] have the ability to come together, tackle questions and deliver innovative solutions which will bring economic and indeed, societal benefits,” he said.

Mr Devins was speaking at the SFI science summit in Lyrath Estate, Kilkenny yesterday.

“The gathering is a timely opportunity to both advance and embrace the concept of convergence and ensure that the research funded by SFI has an impact both directly and indirectly on the Irish economy.

“To successfully convert research discoveries and ingenuity into commercially viable products and processes, convergence is now essential.

“This entails challenging traditional scientific structures, creating a new dynamism, and forming what heretofore would perhaps have been considered unlikely partnerships between divergent disciplines,” said Dr Devins.

He added that the theme of this year’s summit was “relevant not only for those involved in pursuing scientific endeavours, but also has a broader resonance for us all in dealing with the challenges facing us as we move ahead into a changed economic context”.

Director general of SFI, Professor Frank Gannon, said SFI has anticipated the move towards convergent research and has been enthusiastically advocating cross-disciplinary research.

“I believe Ireland’s research community has a tremendous ability to excel in such an inter-disciplinary context, thinking in new ways and forging fresh alliances which are required to develop novel approaches to research and ensure the benefits flow to the Irish economy and society.

“I am pleased that industry is now also promoting convergence and this is evidenced by the increased engagement by companies with SFI research projects.

“SFI has also been independently assessed to have successfully attracted the highest quality research talent, domestically and internationally, as well as, significantly increasing its collaboration with industry. With an extended remit that now includes sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies, and a new SFI strategy document for 2009-2013 to be published shortly, we expect to see convergence move centre stage in our future activities, and look ahead with confidence and determination,” he said.

Other speakers at the summit included Prof Dan Nocera, an international expert in energy research, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Prof Robert Huber, Nobel Prize winner for structural biology.