Time to rethink how we educate young people

Funds must be redistributed from the university sector and towards vocational training if we are to have any hope of developing a true innovation economy, writes Finbarr Bradley.

Last month, some 900 scientists in Ireland and Irish scientists working abroad penned an open letter expressing deep concern about the Government’s research policies. They stated that innovation needs a strong core in basic research. They also wrote that a wealth of economic research shows that sustained investment in basic research pays huge dividends economically.

They are wrong on both counts.