This follows a record year of funding investments in 2007, amounting to the sum of €365.3 million.

Since it was set up in 2001, SFI has approved over 1,800 awards across all its programmes, representing a substantial investment commitment of over one billion euro as it continues to build a high quality research environment in Ireland.  Its annual grants budget for 2008 will be €172 million up from €156m in 2007.  In line with the allocations under the NDP 2007-2013 this will increase to €254m in 2013.

Details of a new €31.2 million investment in an SFI Equipment Call were also announced at the meeting by Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.  The goal of this 2007 Equipment Call is to accelerate and enhance research output and quality from both SFI and non-SFI-funded researchers through a significant investment in additional resources and infrastructure in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Speaking at the board meeting, Minister Martin, commented "SFI has made outstanding progress in 2007 and has established itself as an organisation with an international reputation for funding quality research. Operating at the heart of Ireland's knowledge economy, it is making excellent progress in implementing Government policy to establish Ireland as an international location for scientific research.  SFI actively encourages researchers to collaborate with industry and to date over 300 companies are involved in various levels collaboration with SFI backed researchers.  

Measures such as the SFI Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSETs) and Strategic Research Clusters (SRCs) provide the mechanisms for new innovative research and entrepreneurial leadership and real opportunities for re-shaping Ireland's economy through science.  These collaborations therefore, are central to the Government's long-term economic strategy in building Ireland's new knowledge-driven economy" he concluded.  

Pat Fottrell, Chairman of SFI added; "The Government's commitment to transforming Ireland into a knowledge based economy has brought about considerable change in the Irish research community and SFI has assumed a significant leadership role in this transformation. The Board of SFI has put in place a framework to ensure it plays a full role in developing innovative programmes to deliver on the challenging task assigned to it to create a world-class research community in Ireland".

Frank Gannon, Director General, said "SFI's core function remains the funding of world-class research.  Our goal is to make it possible for Ireland to attract and retain the best research talent it can, and to provide researchers with the right environment in which to undertake research.  By investing in these excellent individuals we will build the capacity of the research community to ensure there are sufficient highly skilled researchers to contribute to the evolution of a knowledge-driven economy in Ireland.   SFI is working very closely with the other state agencies, IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Higher Education Authority to deliver the ambitious targets set down in Government Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013.

SFI currently funds approx. 300 researchers and their teams. By investing in the best people with the best ideas, SFI will build the required capacity in the research community to establish Ireland as an international location for research."

Breakdown of Awards by Higher Education Institution

Pictured at the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) board meeting were: Professor Frank Gannon, Director General, SFI, Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Pat Fotrell, Chairman of SFI.

613MMcS

<<Previous ItemNext Item>>

« Back to 2008 Press Releases