EU programme key to our future

I ORGANISED a conference in Brussels recently on how best Ireland can draw down funding and maximise opportunities that are available under the seventh EU Programme for Research and Technological Development.

There is €52 billion fund available under this programme and it is the stated objective of the Irish Government to seek to draw down more than €600 million of this fund over the next five years. Irish companies have already drawn down more than €80m to support 350 projects since the start of 2007.

Keynote speakers included Hans Gert Pottering, president of the European Parliament; Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Science and Research;