Education:Structured investment is critical, writes SEAN DORGAN

AMID THE economic gloom, the announcement of a new $500 million investment by Intel this month shows that Ireland – despite frequent reports – did not squander all of its money, but has in some cases invested wisely in our future. The much-debated investment in fourth-level education and research is now proving a key asset as we map a route to recovery.

However, it’s timely to ask if this is sufficient to keep pace with international competitors and maintain competitiveness. In planning to recruit 200 technologists primarily with a higher education qualification, Masters or PhD, Intel is highlighting both the growing need for graduates with higher education and the difficulty we face as we compete internationally for this type of investment.

Over the last year there have been a number of announcements that cause concern. The OECD education rankings saw Ireland fall from 16th to 26th for maths, the second steepest decline among participating countries. In maths, Ireland is now ranked below average. In addition, an Ibec survey of 340 companies showed 25 per cent had difficulties recruiting suitable graduates in engineering-related disciplines. This echoes a recurring theme put forward from leading international ICT companies over the last number of years.

Ireland also faces international competition in higher education. We are graduating roughly 1,000 PhDs per year, with about 60 per cent of these in science and engineering. This is 30 per cent lower than the targets set out in the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation. This equates to about 25 per 1,000 graduates of tertiary and advanced research programmes, which is far behind recent OECD numbers for our European competitors Finland (48), Sweden (78) and Germany (105). The OECD argues that the lack of a sufficient supply of doctoral students is hindering Ireland’s aim to stimulate higher levels of industrial RD.

So why can Intel make its investment with confidence? As Nanoweek begins on Monday, it is worth highlighting an area where Ireland has taken an integrated approach to investment and that is beginning to pay dividends – nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has long been identified as a key enabling technology.

Worldwide, the market for nanotechnology is currently $250 billion per annum and is estimated to grow to $3,000 billion by 2015. However, nanotechnology also has strong local economic impacts. Forfás has stated that 10 per cent of exports and up to 150,000 jobs are linked to companies based in Ireland which manufacture nano-enabled products.

Over the last decade, Ireland has invested in an integrated manner to support the development of a nanotechnology ecosystem which is internationally leading from both a research and enterprise perspective. Centres such as the Crann Institute in Dublin, devoted entirely to nanoscience; the Tyndall National Institute in Cork; and the creation of a national nanoscience academic consortium, Inspire, which brings together leading researchers on an all-island basis, have resulted in Ireland being ranked sixth globally for nanoscience and eighth for materials science research.

This research has not occurred in a vacuum. There are strong links between academia and leading companies. These relationships have enabled industry to co-invest with the State in the research programmes and to harness the outputs of world-leading infrastructure, intellectual property and graduates.

At present, nanotechnology researchers in Ireland are working with over 100 companies nationally and internationally, from household names such as Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Johnson Johnson to Irish companies such as Creganna-Tactx and emerging start-ups such as SolarPrint and Proxy Biomedical. Nanotechnology is cutting across sectors and becoming an engine of economic growth.

To support both the enterprise and research activities there is increasing investment and coordination across the educational system. Trinity College Dublin has just launched the first undergraduate degree in nanoscience and advanced materials.

The Higher Education Authority is establishing structured PhD programmes in nanoscience. In addition, there is ongoing outreach to the secondary school system to foster awareness and participation in nanotech educational programmes.

Ireland, by establishing a foundation of world-leading research linked to industry and underpinned by education, has put in place a competitive “nano” ecosystem. This provides confidence to companies such as Intel that there is a pipeline of well-trained graduates to drive innovation and technology development within their organisation.

Ireland is part of a global competition to attract and retain jobs. A structured and coordinated investment in education and research is a critical requirement. We must continue to upskill, encouraging and incentivising further education. In a time of scarce resources, we should recall the words of former Intel chief executive, Craig Barrett: “Smart people doing smart things in a smart entrepreneurial environment are necessary for the future success and survival of the Irish economy.”

Sean Dorganis former chief executive of IDA Ireland. He is chairman of Crann, an SFI-funded CSET and a Trinity College Research Institute, and also chairs NanoNet Ireland