€1.7m jobs fund launched

A €1.7m Government investment aims to turn 20 good research ideas into jobs with Irish and multinational employers.

Among the research areas being funded under the first Science Foundation Ireland Industry Fellowship Programme are animal health, smart grid, marine, solar energy, transport and mobility studies, and diagnostics in oncology.

The successful academic-industry partnerships announced by Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Richard Bruton will see individual researchers funded to work directly in a commercial environment. However, it will also provide industry with access to highly specialised researchers from academic institutions.