Industry & Business

Science Foundation Ireland has published its 2016 annual report, highlighting the significant impact achieved from the €184 million investment by the agency across its research programmes. The Foundation’s ongoing investments in outstanding research teams saw €169 million leveraged in 2016, comprising €71 million in EU funding, €45 million from private enterprise and €53 million from other sources.

Commenting on the report, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD, said: “Science Foundation Ireland’s strategic investment in world-leading and impactful science has changed the face of scientific research in Ireland and is allowing us to play a meaningful role in global scientific developments. In 2016, Ireland achieved a world ranking of 10th for the overall quality of its scientific research, an increase of 26 places in only 13 years. This is the first time that Ireland has entered the top 10 in this ranking and I am very proud of that achievement. However, it is perhaps even more important that we are gaining economic and societal benefits from our investment in research and innovation. Lives are being improved through technological and medical advances, and high-quality sustainable jobs are being created. Ireland’s future stability and growth is more assured as a result of Science Foundation Ireland’s investments in Irish research and I greatly welcome the progress this is driving.”

Other key indicators demonstrating the successes achieved by Science Foundation Ireland in 2016 include its direct and indirect support of 31,000 jobs; its support of over 1,600 industry collaborations, and funded researchers being involved in 2,359 international academic collaborations in 63 countries.

Commenting on the publication of Science Foundation Ireland’s annual report, John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Developmentsaid: “All regions of Ireland are benefiting from this significant Government investment, with Science Foundation Ireland’s research teams collaborating with companies in every region. Alongside these considerable economic achievements, Science Foundation Ireland had an extraordinarily successful year in terms of its objective to have the most scientifically engaged and informed public. Over a quarter of a million people were reached by Science Week in 2016, a public engagement project of huge scale which ignites an interest in science among every age group and demographic in Ireland. Additionally, over 1,600 Smart Futures volunteers have engaged with over 110,000 students, sharing their own science stories and encouraging these students to consider STEM careers. Science Foundation Ireland’s broadcast strategy saw ‘Big Week on the Farm’ reach 1.5 million viewers and facilitated new productions on RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, RTÉjr, and eir Sport.”