DR DAVID Melody, a Ph.D. graduate from UCD, is head of the Loctite research and development unit in the Tallaght Business Park, Dublin.
The research unit is unusual in being the multinational's centre of research and development (R&D) for Europe and being based in Ireland. It employs 80 people, half of whom are scientists. The company spends the equivalent of approximately 4 per cent of the value of European sales on R&D.
Dr Melody's work involves contact with the third level colleges, commissioning people with a particular expertise to work on seed projects, or using services available from the college that the research unit could not afford.
The liaison services of contact agencies like Forbairt are not needed by the unit, as the 40 scientists who work in the centre know from their student days what is happening in the college science faculties.
"The contact agencies are more useful for the small companies that don't know the people in the colleges," he says.
The key issue in the science, technology and innovation debate is encouraging industry to embrace research and technological innovation, and this is especially true for small companies. Tax advantages and financial assistance schemes are important.
The White Paper is good in that it expresses a positive attitude towards innovation. We tend to suffer from technophobia in Ireland and dealing with that technophobia - is a good thing in itself.
Dr Melody is full of praise for the Minister of State for Science Commerce and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte, for whom, he says, he has come to have great respect. "He's trying to do a good job for the good of the country." .
The interdepartmental committee and the Council for science, technology and innovation which are proposed by the White Paper, will be "as good as the people involved".
"A long term focus is needed. There has to be a strong voice (speaking for science, technology and innovation) at the highest level, or we will trickle back to where we were."
Basic research funded from an educational perspective, applied research funded from an R&D perspective, and encouragement of research and innovation within existing companies, are all essential to Ireland's long term industrial well being.
The White Paper has been supportive in its attitude towards basic research, he says. His Ph.D. in the 1960s was funded by the Department of Education as part of the education process, yet has been of benefit to Ireland Inc.