Tánaiste announces Enterprise Feedback Group on Science and Technology

Group, chaired by Hewlett Packard’s Lionel Alexander, also to advise on commercialisation of research outcomes

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., today, 3^rd December 2008, announced her establishment of an Enterprise Feedback Group (“EFG”) on the implementation of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (“SSTI”). The EFG is to be charged with providing feedback from business and industry on the SSTI and advice on the commercialisation of research outcomes from the Government’s substantial investment in research and development.

The EFG is to be chaired by Mr. Lionel Alexander, Vice-President and General Manager of Hewlett Packard Manufacturing Ltd.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of the EFG, the Tánaiste said that establishing the group would “send out a clear signal that in Government we are not investing in R&D for its own sake, but rather, we have taken a key strategic decision that R&D is going to drive our economy in the years ahead”.

She continued, saying: “Research and development funding must be at the cutting edge and focused on achieving outcomes that have significant market potential and ultimately result in job creation and a return for the State.”

The Tánaiste pointed out that the SSTI represents an unprecedented investment in science, technology and innovation intended to:

• raise the qualifications and skills of our workforce;

• support the translation of research to application;

• increase the contribution of research to economic and social development; and thereby

• promote Ireland’s global competitiveness, sustain Irish productivity, and grow quality jobs.

The SSTI is co-terminus with the National Development Plan and runs to 2013.

The Tánaiste expressed her appreciation, and that of the Government, at the commitment being made by the members of the Group to support Ireland’s economic advancement. She outlined to the Group the mix of policy measures the Government has adopted to advance the aim of growing our business R&D capacity, specifically:

• Stimulating and supporting a significant level of business expenditure on R&D;

• Putting in place mechanisms and structures to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between enterprise and academia;

• The formation of business networks to collaborate and cooperate amongst themselves to innovate;

• The encouragement and incentivisation of higher education institutions to commercialise the outputs of their research;

• The development of R&D initiatives for the needs of small and micro businesses

The Tánaiste concluded, saying: “Now that the SSTI is fully operational it is appropriate to develop this ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders. The EFG is constituted as a group of stakeholder representatives with a wide spread of business expertise for the purpose of a sustained dialogue with the Departments and agencies concerned with delivery of the SSTI goals. It is my intention to incorporate feedback from the EFG into the continuing development of policy for achievement of the SSTI’s targets and, in particular, toward realisation of the commercial value of the taxpayer’s investment in R&D.”

A list of the members of the Enterprise Feedback Group is as follows: