Minister Devins officially launches the Dublin Eurisy Workshop

“Innovation at the Service of Regional Growth”

Distinguished visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen

As one of my first official engagements since being appointed Irish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation last week, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to officially launch the Dublin Eurisy Workshop – “Innovation at the Service of Regional Growth” - here today (Tuesday 20^th May 2008) in the historic Dublin Castle.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the participants, both visiting and local, and representative of both the public and private sectors, here in Ireland and abroad. I hope that, during the course of this two day Eurisy Workshop, you will all come to realise the potential benefits of using space technologies and satellite information and services. I hope also that you will have a productive and enjoyable experience, which will ultimately lead to significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of your organisations, in whatever sector you are involved in.

As many of you will be aware, this is the fourth Eurisy Workshop to be held under the current programme on specific themes for Regions - the previous Eurisy Workshops having taken place in Spain and Estonia last year, and Romania earlier this year. I know that these Eurisy Workshops have been very successful in generating great interest by Local and Regional Authorities and others, and I am sure that today’s Eurisy Workshop will be no different.

For those of you who may not be fully familiar with Eurisy, let me tell you that Eurisy is a non governmental, non-profit organisation of European institutions, established in 1989 with the aim of promoting the benefits of Space for European society; the strengthening of international cooperation for a stronger European Space community; and the promotion of the unique benefits of space for the sustainable development of society.

Eurisy aims to achieve this by facilitating access to the benefits of satellite information and services. The organisation’s membership now extends to forty governmental Space offices and Space agencies, international organisations, research institutions and private businesses involved in space-related activities and, more generally, in scientific and technological activities.

I understand that previous Eurisy Conferences focused primarily on the user needs of local and regional authorities, and today’s Conference will have a similar focus, but will also market the potential benefits of satellite services to the private sector. I hope that this Conference and Workshop will provide an opportunity for Local and Regional Authorities, public agencies, and private sector companies, here today, to learn from the experience of previous users of satellite technologies and services from the regions and cities.

The workshop should also provide relevant EU institutions and the satellite service industry with feedback on how they can tailor future policies and services to better respond to the needs and requirements of Local and Regional Authorities.

The innovative application of technology for the economy and society is an important part of the Irish Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, covering the period 2006-2013. The National Development Plan commits the Irish Government to expenditure of over €8 billion Euros nationally over that period to implement the science strategy. The objective is to develop a world-class research capability, in terms of infrastructure and human resources, together with the transfer of knowledge from research organisations into the marketplace and to increase the involvement of the enterprise sector in research and development.

However, the Strategy also recognises that these goals cannot be achieved solely at national level - an increased level of trans-national cooperation, allowing Ireland access to leading edge technologies and scientific excellence, is also essential to the achievement of these goals.

One of the ways in which we engage in trans-national cooperation in the science and technology field is the European Space Agency.

Ireland has been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) for over thirty years now and through close collaboration with ESA, our research community and industrial base have enjoyed continued success in exploiting space technologies which is benefiting us in many ways.

Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s business development agency, manages industrial and technology development programmes relating to space activity on behalf of one of my Departments, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Enterprise Ireland promotes ESA programmes in Ireland to the industrial sector and to the academic community. The strategy being pursued by Ireland in relation to space technologies is to support space science innovation developed by industrialists and academics alike. The growth in industry-academic collaborations is also key to ensuring a continued flow of new technologies which can then be made available and integrated into our wider communities. Our Local and Regional authorities will be better placed, as a result, to provide a greater level of service by integrating these new best practices leading to greater regional economic development.

Over the last decade an increasing number of Irish small and medium-sized enterprises have started to compete in the global Space market in areas such as software development, microelectronics, telecommunications and satellite navigation. We now have a range of niche technology firms which are strategically positioned to take advantage of the opportunities present in today’s global markets, due in no small way to the expertise and capabilities residing within these organizations. Ireland is already distinguishing itself as one of Europe’s most dynamic economies, thanks to the high calibre of these innovators and researchers who are now taking up key positions within the indigenous technology and business communities.

The underlying theme of the workshop is “The competitive advantages of satellite information and services.” We recognise the importance of working in close collaboration with regional authorities, industry and scientists alike across Europe, through partnerships and sharing of best practice.

During the course of the workshop you will hear some examples of every-day uses of satellite technologies and services. For example, natural or man-made catastrophes such as landslides, flash floods or oil spills can now be carefully tracked and monitored using satellite services and through the increased coordination of a host of agencies across Europe. The response in terms of how aid agencies assist those most affected by these events can now be coordinated in a streamlined fashion which means that aid can be delivered in the immediate aftermath of such events to those who need it the most.

Increased satellite information services will also give us a greater insight into our weather patterns. Satellite information and services can be used to predict weather conditions, to measure the quality of the air we breathe and the impact it has on our health.

These are just a few examples of how satellite technologies and services are being put to good use and how they can positively affect our living environment. The ability to solve infrastructural and other problems of everyday life or, better still, - to be able to prevent problems from occurring in the first place - offers us tremendous possibilities in the years ahead.

I hope that over the next couple of days you, the participants, will become more aware of the potential of these technologies and services, and that your organisations will benefit from fully implementing them. Let me conclude by wishing you an interesting, rewarding, and perhaps, even, life-changing experience as a result of your presence here at the Dublin Eurisy Workshop.

Thank you.

ENDS/STI2