Tánaiste Opens National Agri-Food Biotechnology Conference "First Call for Proposals Under Technology Foresight Due this Summer" – Harney "Biotechnology to Become Major Sector for Worldwide Growth and Innovation" - Tánaiste

Biotechnology is set to become a major sector for worldwide innovation and growth in the 21st century and recent Government initiatives have put Ireland in pole position when it comes to capitalizing on these developments.

So said the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Mary Harney when she opened the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Conference in UCD today (Thursday 1st June, 2000.)

She also confirmed that it is intended to have an initial call for proposals under the Technology Foresight process before the autumn of this year.

The Tánaiste said "There is universal consensus that biotechnology will be a key sector in this century for worldwide innovation and growth. In Ireland, the Government has identified biotechnology as a key strategic area for future investment in research."

"This substantial investment in world class research will be channeled through the Technology Foresight Fund which I launched on 8th March and which is the biggest single investment in R&D ever made by an Irish Government. It is a major and integral element of the £1.95bn investment earmarked for Research, Technological Development and Innovation in the National Development Plan over the seven-year period 2000-2006," the Tánaiste said.

"Research in biotechnology, together with the other key sector of information and communications technologies, identified as part of the Foresight process, is set to become an integral part of Ireland’s industrial development strategy," the Tánaiste added.

"The agri-food sector has been identified as one of the sectors which will benefit hugely from the enormous potential of biotechnology," she said.

The Tánaiste went on to confirm that the process of implementing the Technology Foresight strategy is very much on schedule.

"The Technology Foresight Fund, which will be managed by a Foundation under the aegis of Forfás, will establish Ireland as a world-class center for research and technological development and will underpin our competitiveness in an increasingly global economy."

"I expect to receive the report of the high level Advisory Group on Implementation which is set up to facilitate the smooth launch of the Foundation once it completes its deliberations around the end of June," the Tánaiste confirmed.

"In conjunction with this, Forfás are consulting with national and international industrial and academic experts, on the practical arrangements necessary, to allow a first call for proposals to be advertised as soon as possible and hopefully by early autumn of this year," the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste also gave a concrete example of how the Government’s investment in research is helping to establish Ireland as a prime location to develop firms whose competitive advantage is based on knowledge, innovation, technology and related skills.

"I was delighted to announce last month, the Government’s support for a £520 million investment by American Home Products, one of the most significant IDA supported investments in Ireland. The investment will entail the construction of a new state-of-the-art biotechnology campus," she said.

"This is an important example of how Ireland can now be at the leading edge of innovative developments in this industry," she concluded.