The team of experts to allocate over £500 million for the development of scientific and technological research in the State has been announced.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) was set up to pay out the money over a period covering 2000 to 2006 after funding was approved by the Government following Technology Foresight Ireland reports published in 1999.
The foundation aims to develop Ireland as a world leader in basic scientific, medical and technological research.
The board will be chaired by Mr Brian Sweeney, chairman of Siemens. Former president of UCG (now NUIG). Dr Patrick Fottrell will be deputy chairman.
The initial composition of the board includes the US-based academics Dr Ira Levin, medical research expert; Prof Anita Jones, chair of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland; and Mr Erich Bloch, president and former director of the National Science Foundation in the US.
The announcement of the initial composition of the board was made by the Tánaiste Ms Harney and Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce Mr Noel Treacy.
"The appointment of such an eminent panel is highly significant for both the advancement of science and of national development in Ireland," Ms Harney said at the announcement today.
Dr Ena Prosser of Elan; Mr Frank McCabe, managing director of Intel Ireland; and Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon India have also been appointed.
Among the Irish-based academics are Prof Tom Cotter of UCC, Prof Patrick Johnston from Queen’s University and Prof Denis Weaire from Trinity College. Earlier this year, Dr William Harris was appointed as the new director-general of SFI.