Ireland's enterprise sector needs more researchers if it is to remain competitive and develop a strong knowledge-based economy, according to a report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and Forfas.
The EGFSN, a Government body set up to advise the Government on skills and labour supply, has forecast that Ireland is only producing 45 per cent of the future demand of researchers, particularly in the ICT, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
EGFSN chairwoman Ms Anne Heraty said, "The message for firms today in an increasingly competitive global knowledge-based economy is innovate or fall behind. Increasing our capability to support the development of high value products will rely on the availability of a good supply of high quality researchers," she said.
The report, entitled "Building Ireland's Knowledge Economy"blames part of the shortage on a tendency by Irish researchers to work abroad, and recommends that these people be encouraged to return to Ireland as well as encouraging other nationalities to come. It also recommends that funding to the existing third-level system be increased and that 2.5 per cent of GDP be spent on research and development. The EU target is 3 per cent.
The ESGFN predicts that in order to meet the 2.5 per cent target by 2010, more than 8,000 additional researchers will be required, but, on current trends, Ireland will only be able to supply 4,400.
