IBEC looks to increase in-company research

Pharmaceutical and chemical industries here are failing to take full advantage of available funding for research and development…

Pharmaceutical and chemical industries here are failing to take full advantage of available funding for research and development. A new publication could spur them to action, writes Dick Ahlstrom.

The level of in-company research here is well below the EU average, yet having Irish companies involved in research is a central plank of our continued economic development. A new publication to be released next week should help interested companies to find funding for their research programmes.

The Guide to R&D Supports for the Irish chemical and pharmaceutical industries will help companies connect with the right funder, says Ciara D'Arcy of PharmaChemical Ireland, the IBEC-hosted trade association. PharmaChemical Ireland and the Irish BioIndustry Association supported the publication.

While the guide was written for IBEC members, any company can use the information, she says. "We are trying to enhance the access of our companies to research funding. The level of funding has improved in recent years primarily through the National Development Plan."

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Unfortunately there are almost too many programmes and different ways for companies to participate, she admits. "Companies are finding it difficult to navigate through the programmes that are out there and that is why we put together the guide."

The guide details the various funding agencies, from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions to the Health Research Board, county enterprise boards and Údarás na Gaeltachta to name a few. It also discusses the various research support programmes within these bodies and under the EU.

Many companies already benefit from these programmes but there is much room for improvement. The current spend is "quite low", she says, something that jars with the Government's commitments under the Lisbon agreement. This suggests we should be investing three per cent of GDP in research.

The Enterprise Strategy Group's report of last July, known as the O'Driscoll Report, highlights how far behind we are when it comes to private sector R&D spending. At 0.88 per cent of GDP, business expenditure on research is only 73 per cent of the EU average and a paltry 57 per cent of the OECD average.

We also fair badly when it comes to accessing EU support via its Framework Programme 6 research programme. "It would appear at the moment that Ireland is not doing as well as it should under the EU programmes," says D'Arcy. "That is something we have to address."

The guide shows there are funding programmes to suit all kinds of companies, from the small to medium enterprise to the largest firms, she says. "National funds can be used by anyone."

The SFI-funded Centres for Science Engineering and Technology attract high levels of funding and activities here might suit participation by larger firms. Enterprise Ireland supports several programmes to help smaller firms to conduct research programmes. Funding is also available to help companies bring researchers from abroad into their activities.

It is essential that companies begin to boost their activity on the research front, says D'Arcy. The private sector is expected to be a key player in the State's move towards a knowledge-based economy.

"We need to try and push the R&D agenda, particularly within the pharmachem area," she says. "We do need to encourage our companies to go into R&D and we feel this book is going to facilitate them."

The Guide to R&D Supports is launched next Monday, November 22nd. Copies are available free to IBEC members; €75 to non-members. To order, contact Ciara D'Arcy, Technical Director, Pharmachemical Ireland. Tel: 01-6051563. E-mail: ciara.d'arcy@ibec.ie