NEW "ECO-INNOVATION" technologies being developed in Ireland and abroad offer a major opportunity for the EU economy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.
It has published a review of its science, technology, research and innovation for the environment (Strive) programme.
Entitled Innovation for a Green Economy - Environment and Technology: A Win-Win Story, the report outlines 18 projects that offer solutions to general environmental problems and to issues faced by business and industry in dealing with the environmental impact of their activities.
Among the case studies highlighted is a project led by Dr Kevin O'Connor at UCD. The research team has patented technology for the conversion of plastic bottles into biodegradable plastic using bacteria from soil.
Some 70 million bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are managed in Ireland every year but the vast majority end up in landfill.
An investment by the EPA of €4.7 million in 18 large-scale projects between 2005 and 2006 led to the filing of five patents, with seven more at preparation stage. The investment also led to a spin-off company, Bioplastech Ltd, which emerged from Dr O'Connor's project.
Since 2005, the EPA programme has funded 189 research and innovation projects in the environmental technologies area, representing an investment of €30 million.
"The EPA is laying the foundations for a greener economy through active support for environmental research and innovation," according to the organisation's director general, Dr Mary Kelly.
She said there was a "strong need" to continue to give priority to environmental research and innovation investment. "While Ireland is facing unprecedented economic challenges, it is also the case that significant environmental challenges remain," she added.
In the EU, the environmental technologies sector employs 3.4 million people and turns over €227 billion annually, according to the EPA. "On a global scale, it is anticipated that the environmental technologies market will double from its present level to reach €2.3 trillion by 2020," the Strive report said.
Dr Micheál Lehane, programme manager of the EPA's office of environmental assessment, said it was important that funding proceeded for the proposed national shared research facility. "The HEA [ Higher Education Authority] and ourselves will hopefully be jointly funding a national environmental technology research centre."
This would be an opportunity for "a drawing together of the research brains in Ireland in the technologies area".
"It [ the decision] is not in our gift, but at this moment in time we can only presume that it's moving ahead, but we think it's a very important step," said Dr Lehane.
"Currently there's 3.4 million employed in this area in Europe and everybody is looking for the new sources of economic growth."
