Government should double spending on basic science

The Government should double its spending on basic science if it is to maintain the current level of economic growth, according to a new consultancy report.

UK consultants, Technopolis Ltd, also warn that Ireland cannot be a "free rider" on the scientific research being performed in the rest of the world. The State will have to have its own research activity if it is to remain competitive.

The report was commissioned in late 1996 by Forfas and is an evaluation of Forbairt's Basic Research Grants (BRG) Scheme, one of the key funding mechanisms for State-supported advanced research.

Although the scheme mainly supports academic research, the report points out that the BRG also has an economic "mission", playing a part in the national innovation system. "Econometric studies abroad tend to confirm that there is a link, not only between research and development in general and economic growth, but that basic science plays a role in this link."

Basic science in Ireland does much more for the economy than supply information, the report states. "It plays a vital role in maintaining the innovation infrastructure as a whole, and therefore industrial innovation."

Not surprisingly, its key finding is that the State provides insufficient funding for the programme. "The most striking characteristic of the BRG is its small size." The shortage of funds, it suggests, forces Irish scientists into EU-backed programmes in the search for cash and this aligns them with scientific capabilities that already exist in other member states.

The BRG budget should be more than doubled to a target of £7.6 million per year and then be GDP linked to ensure growth, the report argues. "We suggest a rise of at least £1 million per annum in real terms until that target is achieved," the report states. The budget for 1998 is only £3 million.

It also urges better funding levels for PhD students who are the backbone of the research infrastructure here. "It should . . . be recognised that a decision to pursue a PhD in Ireland (whether funded from this scheme or elsewhere) is to choose penury," it claims. There is a "fundamental inadequacy of PhD training finance in Ireland".

While the system does produce PhD graduates, these tend to work on small scale projects. More funding should allow larger projects that would entice involvement by more post doctoral students into research here. These research projects are more likely to create the innovations that could feed back into industry and economic development.

The report is critical of assessment procedures for disbursement of funds. BRG spending is based on peer assessment which is good, but relies too much on Irish peers with a few UK additions, which the report says is "some distance from best practice". It also questions the "practice of reducing grants compared with the requested financing".