Ireland has secured a further £29 million in EU research funding, the Minister of State for Science, Mr Noel Treacy, said yesterday. Mr Treacy, here for a meeting of EU research ministers, said the money would be directed at boosting in-company research and the R&D dimension of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized firms.
The extra funding comes from the mid-term review of the current structural funding programme. Ireland has already received £120 million funding for some 650 projects under the current Fourth Framework Programme for Research and Development.
Ministers were yesterday working on the Fifth Framework Programme - likely to be worth some £14 billion - and Mr Treacy expressed some confidence that Ireland's proven success would allow it to increase its share to nearly £200 million. The new programme will emphasise work on problems highlighted by industry.
The Minister welcomed the broad outline of the Commission's programme but criticised its failure to include an integrated approach to marine research.
Speaking to journalists later, Mr Treacy welcomed the support of up to eight other countries on the issue.
