Enterprise Ireland has placed a senior official in the US National Institute of Health (NIH) with the objective of securing a slice of its $28 billion (€21.6 billion) research budget for the Irish biotechnology industry.

The six-month placement, the first by a non-US agency, provides Irish groups with direct access to the US government's main health research body.

Groups such as diagnostics firms Trinity Biotech and Biotrin and medical devices firms Legend Care and Proxy Biomedical are already seeking to conclude research and licensing contracts with the NIH.

On a visit to NIH headquarters in Maryland yesterday, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said the links with the institute provided "significant opportunities" for Irish companies.

"This is the principal medical research facility for the US government. The placement is a direct link for Irish companies into the National Institute of Health and this is an arrangement we are keen to continue."

Mr Martin met NIH director Dr Elias Zerhouni as part of the effort to strengthen links with the NIH Office of Technology Transfer. He is also meeting Mike Leavitt, the US Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Enterprise Ireland's "commercialisation specialist", Dr Brian O'Neill, was assigned to NIH in February for an initial period of six months. One of the key objectives of the Enterprise Ireland trade mission, which is being led by Mr Martin, is to secure agreement to continue the NIH placement.

Dr O'Neill specialises in human molecular genetics. The purpose of his placement is to promote collaborative opportunities with NIH researchers and identify potential funding opportunities for Irish companies.

He also aims to provide the NIH with a profile of the Irish biotechnology industry and promote direct sales by Irish companies into the NIH.

Another objective is to identify in-licensing opportunities under which Irish companies could bring NIH technology to the market.