Ireland to target €57bn EU research fund

RESEARCHERS are being offered almost €7 billion to invent ways for Europe to escape its economic mire and create jobs and to build a better life for the future.

The sum should create 178,000 jobs in the short term and up to half a million longer-term, and generate €80bn of wealth over the next 15 years.

Ireland is targeting a sizeable chunk of the money, the latest tranche on offer from the EU’s €57bn research fund — the single biggest in the world.