Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr. Michael Ahern, T.D., At the Official Launch of ExpertiseIreland.com - the All-Island Research Portal

Mr. Michael Ahern Minister for Trade and Commerce today (Tuesday 1^st July 2003) officially launched Expertiseireland.com, which has been designed to be a gateway to the island's knowledge base and is a significant addition to highlight the world-class research capability that exists on the island of Ireland.

Speaking at the launch Minister Ahern said, "We have heard how knowledge is the key to unlocking the potential of the island economy. Inadequate access to university research outputs and Intellectual Property activity has been cited as one of the barriers to the successful commercialisation of university research. Economic success is increasingly based upon knowledge creation, knowledge exploitation and knowledge transfer. Strategic alliances between the higher education and industry bases are crucial for innovation and competitiveness."

"This portal will help to overcome that difficulty. I believe that our ability to compete in Europe and the world rests on our ability to transform knowledge and ideas into marketable products. The portal will facilitate early access by industry to new technologies and will enhance the research being carried out in our universities and research organisations by linking partners interested in collaborative research and increasing awareness of and access to funding programmes. This I am confident will lead to increased innovation," said Minister Ahern.

Expertiseireland.com will help build closer relationships between business and academia by demonstrating the opportunities that exist for collaboration. The portal will also enable industry to access research results in a useful timeframe. This will help create a genuine R&D community, which spans the academic, and private sectors across the entire island. The potential benefits form the usage of the portal will be substantial. Businesses and state agencies will be able to use the portal to seek out researcher's knowledge and know-how. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises will be able to seek research expertise and develop commercial applications for the research outputs. The portal provides government agencies, North and South, with an additional instrument to support the industry base on the island.

"Having a `one stop shop' for research expertise will be of great benefit to agency advisors in guiding their client companies towards relevant contacts. Good quality information on research expertise within the Higher Education Institutions across the island of Ireland will be invaluable to industry. The model for business development is changing. There is a shift towards collaborative research. Providing access to research expertise on an island-wide basis can only enhance the opportunities for such collaboration. The portal will also showcase the island's capabilities in order to attract foreign direct investors. Stakeholders wishing to promote the island as a centre for research excellence will be able to present examples of research expertise through the portal. Expertiseireland.com provides a crucial opportunity for local expertise to be showcased on the global stage. This is important not only for attracting multinationals to locate here, but also for attracting world-class researchers to work in our third level institutions," added Minister Ahern.

The portal also has a significant role to play within the island's participation in EU Framework Programmes. With the ambitious aim of strengthening the European Research Area, Framework Programme 6 represents a new strategic approach to European collaborative research. The aim is to foster scientific excellence, competitiveness and innovation through the promotion of better cooperation between the relevant players in EU member states and Accession countries. One of the issues, which have been highlighted for the development of the European Research Area, is the need for increased mobility of research personnel, both within the EU and from third countries into the EU.

A major obstacle to mobility is the lack of adequate information on available programmes and opportunities for researchers. This central portal, which is strategically in line with the Mobility Strategy for the European Research Area will stimulate mobility. This increased mobility will enhance the quantity and quality of research training by allowing researchers to easily avail of training and research opportunities. It will encourage international research collaboration between different regions. By providing a platform whereby the expertise that exists across the island is easily accessible, Expertiseireland.com affords the island with a unique competitive advantage in Europe. The portal will act as a single and effective interface for potential Framework Programme partners to explore the expertise available on the island, North and South.

"As well as launching this portal today, I look forward to the European launch which is scheduled for February 2004, during Ireland's presidency of the EU. Creating the conditions for the growth of the knowledge economy and fostering improved Higher Education - Industry links are major areas of common strategic interest North and South. The portal will be an invaluable tool in supporting this. Ultimately the portal will become a key element within the island's research infrastructure and a contributing factor for enhancing participation in European Framework Programmes," concluded Minister Ahern.

ENDS