Address by Mr Noel Treacy, T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce. at the RDS/UK Foundation for Science and Technology Symposium and Dinner Discussion 28th October, 1998 at the RDS

I am delighted to have this opportunity to address all of the participants of this symposium on building closer Irish/UK Collaboration in the Fifth EU Research Framework Programme. In particular, I offer a warm welcome to our UK colleagues to this distinguished venue, where on 25th June 1731, the Royal Dublin Society was formed for the advancement of agriculture, and other branches of industry, science and art within Ireland.

The Society's show-grounds are the venue for the world-famous Kerrygold Dublin Horse Show and where Sir Harvey Smith and Mr. Eddie Macken experienced many competitive and exciting show jumping moments which could not be described as building closer Irish and UK collaboration, at least in the arena!

I would like to congratulate you for your choice of topic. The next two months will be important ones - there remains a lot of work to be done in finalising the fifth Framework Programme but in the meantime, we need to alert researchers to the opportunities which will be available. Over the course of the afternoon, you will hear more on this from the various speakers.

We have had fourteen years experience of EU Framework Programmes. Under the first Framework Programme (1984-1987) the Research and Technological Development (RTD) activities of the Union were, for the first time, co-ordinated as part of a single, structured framework. All Framework Programmes since then have built on this. The fifth Framework Programme will build even further.

The Community's research and development activity has the clear economic objective of underpinning the competitiveness of European business.

The Programmes are intended to promote co-operation not only between companies, but also between companies and third level institutions and research organisations, in order to achieve a critical mass enabling Europe to compete globally.

The Programmes emphasise pre-competitive research covering priority topics, which are better tackled collaboratively than individually, given their complexity and cost.

The funding provided by the Framework Programmes, is a very modest 4% of the EU budget. Nevertheless, such funding is very important.

In terms of support for scientific and technical jobs, I have seen a figure which illustrates that 8% of total R&D staff in the 15 EU member states are involved in various projects under the Framework Programme.

In terms of networking between research players, in the 8 year period up to 1995, EU measures have helped to create over 150,000 international co-operative links between large enterprises, SMEs, universities and research centres.

There are clear opportunities presented to business, both big and small and the Framework Programme is a positive stimulus to both the European and our respective National systems of innovation.

There are many practical results that have been achieved by those who have participated. Among them, are world firsts, such as the complete sequencing of a chromosome of a living organism achieved under the Biotechnology Programme as a result of 147 scientists being mobilised within a network of thirty five laboratories. Over and above the immediate application in the food industry, this research should make it possible to understand how living cells function and, in particular, the ageing and cancer mechanisms and; the production of thermonuclear fusion reactions. The hope is, that one day, fusion energy can be harnessed for electricity production. From my limited knowledge, I believe, that someday it will be achieved.

Under the current Framework Programme, UK and Irish researchers have been partners in many project consortia. In fact, approximately 20% of all the links created by Ireland with other countries under the FP4 are with the UK.

Examples of the programmes where the highest number of Ireland/UK linkages occurred are:

Industrial & Materials Technologies - 273 links (of which one was with Northern Ireland) Telematics - 266 links (of which four were with Northern Ireland) Agriculture and Fisheries - 226 (of which nine were with Northern Ireland) Information Technologies - 140 (three of which were with Northern Ireland)

These are the sectoral areas and the numbers which can be built upon in the future and every effort must be made by all of us to achieve this.

As I have already indicated, this is the year in which we expect that negotiations on the 5th Framework Programme to cover European research and demonstration activities for the years 1998-2002 will be concluded. In this regard, a conciliation procedure between the Council and the European Parliament is underway, with a view to reconciling the positions of both sides.

This is not an easy task and time is not on our side. However, we are all agreed on the importance of arriving at a conclusion, so that the process of the publication of calls for proposals and the submission of applications can commence as soon as possible.

Shortly, Ireland, like other Member States, will appoint its National Delegates to each of the FP5 Programme Management Committees. These delegates will play a crucial role in representing the national view in Brussels, in promoting the programmes at home, in maximising the benefits of these programmes to Ireland, and by acting as a source of advice for potential participants, particularly small and medium sized industries.

A chart, listing these delegates and the areas to which they have been appointed, will be published and will be widely distributed. It will also be available through "The CORDIS-Ireland R&D Information Service". This is a specialised information window, created jointly by the European Commission and our Office of Science and Technology at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Its goal is to help, develop and support communication between the EU Member States and Ireland in the area of R&D. There is a similar service between CORDIS and the UK.

As the Framework Programme is wider than the EU, it can also be accessed by those beyond the EU. But this is just one of many sources of information for those researchers seeking partners.

In January, we will be holding a "5th Framework Programme Fair" which will be held in Dublin. This will be the main national event for those researchers wishing to participate in the various thematic programmes and in seeking to find suitable partners. We have invited leading speakers from the Commission to speak about the Fifth Framework Programme in detail and anyone interested will be very welcome to attend.

Ladies and Gentlemen, events such as todays are highly important in helping to build networks and foster increased co-operation between our two countries. Ireland and the UK are very similar in a lot of ways. We can all think of the obvious ones - an element of shared history; a language; and we are both islands.

In terms of our respective policy approaches to the Fifth Framework Programme, we have shown similarities in a number of areas - our concern to ensure that the role that SMEs might play could be optimised; our concern to ensure that the Programme is well-managed.

We have also had some differences of opinion. But nothing that cannot be overcome. For example, we have concerns in regard to the proposed aeronautics research activity. The EU aeronautics industry comprises just four big players and this has the potential to exclude researchers who do not belong to the "club". However, properly managed and implemented, this will be an opportunity for researchers in all Member States to contribute to the European research effort. The club can and should involve the whole supply chain: It can and should look across all Member States for potential partners. This should ensure that the European taxpayer is getting value for money in optimising the opportunity for excellent research and its positive economic consequences.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to finish with a thought from the American economist, Mr. Kenneth J Arrow. In his contribution to the recent publication "International Perspectives on the Irish Economy", Professor Arrow describes knowledge as a productive resource in the economy which is different in a fundamental way from other resources in that it is not used up. The implication of this, of course, is that knowledge can be shared and passed around, firm to firm, country to country, without it being lost to anyone.

This is a powerful message. So fundamental, yet so powerful. It is the very basis on which the whole Framework programme is built - the notion of co-operation and sharing knowledge for mutual benefit and well-being.