NEW US/IRELAND RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

A new US - Ireland research initiative could deliver major advances in diabetes, cystic fibrosis, respiratory infections, nano and sensor technology, making a difference to lives all over the world.

Today ( Wednesday July 5^th 2006) US Ambassador to Ireland James Kenny, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin and Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland, called on researchers from the three jurisdictions to submit collaborative proposals in the areas identified by the US Ireland Research and Development Partnership. These will go through an international competitive peer review process and compete for government funding.

The Partnership will encourage and support the best and the brightest researchers on the island of Ireland and the United States and aims to bring innovations to the marketplace, resulting in major health and economic benefits. It is hoped that the first successful projects will be announced early next year.

US Ambassador to Ireland James Kenny, who has provided vital support and encouragement for the initiative, said: “This is an exciting opportunity and one that will ultimately benefit us all. The first steps will be the personal scientific exchanges of researchers on each side of the Atlantic. Hopefully, this collaboration will yield proposals that can compete for available funding, including from the United States. With funding, these research efforts have the potential to produce improved therapies for those suffering from the effects of diabetes, cystic fibrosis and respiratory infections and to yield exciting new applications in nano and sensor technologies.

“The US Ireland R&D Partnership is not only about research and advancing knowledge. It is also about demonstrating the concrete benefits that closer cooperation in Ireland, North and South, can produce. The Partnership manifests the potential for North/South linkages that can bridge communities and provide tangible benefits on an all-island basis.”

Minister Martin said: “The Irish Government recognises that significant investment in research and innovation is a key requirement for the long-term competitiveness of our economy. This was demonstrated recently by the launch of our new Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation to 2013 and investment of €3.8 billion. I believe this is equally true for our neighbours in Northern Ireland. On a small island, situated between the United States and Europe, it makes a great deal of sense for us both to be cooperating in this key area.

“Through international collaboration, quality standards are driven upwards and engagement with best practice ensures that researchers compete at the cutting edge of science and technology. I am confident that by sharing our expertise and experience we can make significant progress and put the island of Ireland firmly on the map as an international centre of excellence in these research areas. This is fundamental to the competitiveness of our respective economies.”

DEL Permanent Secretary Aideen McGinley said: “In Northern Ireland, we have invested many millions of pounds into developing our leading edge research infrastructure through major programmes such as SPUR (Support Programme for University Research - £94 million) and SRIF (Science Research Investment Fund - £50 million). The Centres of Excellence programme represents the largest funding of commercially focused R&D in Northern Ireland in recent years, resulting in a total public/private sector investment of well over £100 million. These resources are over and above the substantial core funding for university research provided by my Department of almost £44 million for the forthcoming academic year.

“Under the US-Ireland R&D Partnership, the Government is planning to make available additional monies to fund the Northern Ireland elements of the approved projects. This funding will be supplemented by planning grants for researchers to facilitate consortium building and proposal development. We intend the funding for individual projects to be commensurate with scale and sufficient to make a significant impact in their respective fields.”

ENDS

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