Leading researchers and Government and industry representatives are meeting in Dublin today to detabe Ireland's future scientific and engineering competitiveness.
Over 250 delegates have gathered in Dublin Castle for the first Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Science Summit.
Among the topics for discussion are partnerships between academia, education and industry; branding Ireland as a location for research excellence; the economic potential of SFI and related research, technological development and infrastructural investments; and the quality of the research and people that are being funded by the Irish taxpayer.
Also on the agenda is an overview of the globally competitive research being undertaken in Ireland at present in the fields of nanotechnology; regenerative medicine, human proteomics and the semantic web.
Opening the summit earlier today, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said all sectors must work in partnership to achieve and sustain the Government's long-term vision of a thriving knowledge-driven economy: "That is, the researcher community working with their colleagues in education and industry for the greater good of our economy and our society."
The Director General of SFI, Dr William C. Harris, who moderated the summit, warned that: "Ireland cannot afford to rest on the laurels of current success but must continue to invest and innovate".
SFI is funded under the National Development Plan 2000 - 2006. It invests in academic researchers and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading-edge technologies, and competitive enterprises in the fields underpinning two broad areas, biotechnology and information and communications technology.
It also supports academic scientists and engineers. It made its first grants in 2001 and is now funding more than 180 research programmes based in Ireland with grants that will total more than €368 million over the next five years.