Science Foundation Ireland sees major increase in industry collaborations

Grants from the Irish government science agency, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) supported a dramatic 44 per cent increase in collaborations between SFI-funded scientists and industry in 2010.

There was also a 12 per cent rise in international academic partnerships, according to the SFI’s annual report published last week (8 September).

Launching the report, the Minister for Research and Innovation at Seán Sherlock said, “Such a massive increase in the total number of collaborations, now standing at 867 and up from 601 in 2009, is certainly to be lauded and is in keeping with the government’s agenda to facilitate greater commercialisation of research.”

Sherlock added, “The very impressive increases in SFI-funded collaborations, whether via multinational corporations, up 32 per cent to a total of 237, or the SME sector, up 63 per cent to 245, shows that forging relationships with critical sectors is being prioritised by our academic community in unison with enterprise.”

And Sherlock claimed that SFI’s reach is now global, given that its funded researchers last year engaged in 1,700 international academic collaborations spanning 58 countries. “This is clear evidence that Ireland is extending its scientific reach and influence, and these connections are playing a key role in rebuilding Ireland’s international reputation,” he said.

Ireland plays host to the EU’s EuroScience Open Forum in July 2012 and Sherlock said this will enhance partnerships with overseas scientific counterparts even further.”

In total, SFI-funded researchers are connected to 534 distinct companies that employ over 82,000 people at present in Ireland.