Minister Martin meets National Institute of Health Delegation

US-Ireland LifeSciences Collaboration Explored

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Micheál Martin, TD today (Tuesday 27 September) welcomed delegates from the National Institute of Health, in Washington Dr. Bonny Harbinger and Mr. Michael Shmilovich to a private reception hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

The delegates are in Ireland this week to meet with Irish Lifescience companies and university researchers to explore opportunities to forge new and exciting collaborative relationships for the greater health and well-being of all people around the world.

Speaking at the reception the Minister said “I am deeply impressed by the agency’s resounding commitment to improve US and global health through advancing basic research and facilitating its translation into marketable products for socio-economic growth. Indeed, there can be no doubt that in our quest for leading nation status, Ireland can learn a great deal from this flagship research institute”.

He added “the Irish government recognises the importance of knowledge and science to the future growth and competitiveness of our economy. Today, Ireland has over 170 companies employing 35,000 people in the pharmaceutical/chemical, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics sectors and is the European home to household names such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Wyeth, Schering Plough, Bristol Meyers Squibb and Genzyme”

“Science and innovation are key drivers in enabling an economy and are now at the top of our national agenda. The unprecedented level of investment by the Irish Government in promoting these areas and the work of Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland in particular is now creating a vibrant and well-supported research community, giving a substantial resource for technology solutions and the basis for a stream of technology-based start-ups”

“I am sure that this mission by the NIH to Ireland will provide our NIH guests with the insight and knowledge into the level and quality of research and development being performed by Ireland’s Lifescience sector and the extensive opportunities for substantial collaboration between our two nations. I am certain that the work that will be done over the next week and over the coming years will be invaluable in terms of continued, synergistic research connections between Ireland and the US”.

Feargal Ó Móráin, Director, Enterprise Ireland said “Research and the commercialisation of research output is very important to us in Enterprise Ireland. It is a cornerstone of our new strategy ‘Transforming Irish Industry’ and we have set very stretch targets for achievement by 2007 and 2010. The NIH provides a unique role model for every other research institute in the world”.