Better industry links with research vital in creating ‘smart’ jobs - Minister O’Keeffe

26 May, 2010

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, has said academic researchers should be required to partner with industry at all stages of their work so that ‘smart’ jobs can be created by bringing products to market faster.

Minister O’Keeffe was speaking following a meeting with Ireland’s EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn which he described as ‘very productive’.

‘Research teams whose work has commercial potential must be required to partner with industry at all stages of their work so that there is no time lost in getting products to market and generating revenues and jobs.

‘In other words, if there is a gap between research and retail, we must ensure that it is closed,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

Minister O’Keeffe is attending an EU Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels before travelling to Paris for an OECD Ministerial Council meeting which concludes on Friday.

Irish researchers draw down €1 million each week from the EU’s €50 billion Framework Programme.

‘That figure is set to become €2 million each week by 2013.

‘Ensuring firms are partners in this effort and can commercialise the results will be vital,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

Minister O’Keeffe asked Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn to ‘keep small and medium-sized enterprises firmly in mind’ as she draws up her new research and innovation plan which will be launched before September.

‘Both Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn and I agreed that we must better link academia and industry as partners in the development of research that has commercial potential.

‘We are already doing that in Ireland through the Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology - but we can do more with the support of the broad EU innovation policy framework, particularly as we set about implementing the recommendations of the Innovation Taskforce.

‘European research and innovation will be focused on global challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, and healthcare.

‘But we must also be conscious of our competitiveness and the commercial opportunities presented by the big ticket societal challenges of our time,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

In a separate meeting with the EU Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Antonio Tajani, Minister O’Keeffe stressed the need for greater focus on innovation in the food industry.

Minister O’Keeffe invited Commissioner Tajani to Ireland to visit innovative Irish food and drinks firms.

Minister O’Keeffe travels to Paris today [Wednesday] to represent Ireland at the annual OECD Ministerial Council where Ministers will discuss economic recovery strategies.

He will hold bilateral talks with the EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, and meet Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland-supported firms.

ENDS/ETI2222