Martin advocates knowledge society

The Government wants to accelerate Ireland's progress towards being a key player in the knowledge economy, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, said yesterday.

At a meeting of the board of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Mr Martin said the essence of the Government's strategy was to "harness all the change agents in a synergistic way" to support the transition to a knowledge economy.

The board used the meeting to review its current research investment portfolio and to set out key strategies for future investment.

Mr Martin said the Government, through its new strategy on science, technology and innovation, 2006-2013, wanted to magnify the strengths that Ireland already has. These are: "our supportive business environment; our focus on research excellence, and the speed, flexibility and agility that underpin our best manufacturers".

Mr Martin said SFI "has a major role to play in delivering the strategy through its own efforts and in acting as an advocate for change in the fields it touches upon. It is important that SFI balances these elements and maintains its strategic focus on supporting research excellence."

By the end of 2005, SFI had awarded more than €550 million in funding for 830 projects. SFI has been allocated €149.43 million for 2006, an increase of 22 per cent on the 2005 allocation.