A diplomatic mission from the US state department is on a whirlwind visit to Ireland to cultivate partnerships between research academics, business and state agencies here and in the US.
Led by Kris Balderston, secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s special representative for global partnerships, the group includes people from US businesses, state officials, legal and financial sectors.
The group met Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore yesterday and held several meetings with Enterprise Ireland, funding body Science Foundation Ireland and business lobby group Ibec.
This morning the delegation visits Belfast where it will meet young entrepreneurs, academics and companies investing in the commercialisation of research.
The delegation includes Dr Kerri-Ann Jones, assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs. She and Mr Balderston spoke at an event in Trinity College Dublin entitled Spurring Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Solve Real-world Problems.
Forging partnerships was the main aim of the visit, Mr Balderston said. The mission had been prompted by Mrs Clinton last St Patrick’s Day, he added. “We are trying to bring the pieces together,” all of the elements needed to foster innovation and advancement.
“We share this commitment to innovation,” Dr Jones said.
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