Irish government maintains research budget despite the crunch

22 Oct 2008 | News
Despite being the first country in the Eurozone to go into recession, the Irish government said it would maintain funding for Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), with a commitment of Euro 179 million in the 2009 budget.


Despite being the first country in the Eurozone to go into recession, the Irish government said it would maintain funding for Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), with a commitment of Euro 179 million in the 2009 budget.

SFI invests in strategic research in support of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013, which is a key element of the country’s National Development Plan. It was set up in 2006 with the overall objective that by 2013 Ireland would be internationally recognised for the excellence of its research

According to the SFI it has already yielded significant results, as verified by a value for money report commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment- carried out earlier this year by Indecon International Economic Consultants.

Indecon found SFI to have successfully targeted and attracted the highest quality research talent and that SFI-supported researchers are producing research outputs in the highest ranking international publications in their fields.

SFI is currently preparing its strategy document for 2009-2013, and said smoothing the path to a knowledge economy remains a primary objective.


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