Irish researchers urged to access €3.2 billion of European funding

Enterprise Ireland today (13/06/11) announced that the latest round of funding from the €3.2bn industry-focused initiatives under the EU's €50bn Framework Programme 7 (FP7) budget will be available to Irish businesses from mid-July. These Public Private Partnership initiatives are aimed at those sectors most affected by the economic downturn, namely manufacturing, construction and automotive.

FP7 funding is a European research and innovation fund designed to incentivise businesses and scientists to join forces to collaborate on developing technologies and products of the future.

In the first four years of the framework Programme, Ireland has secured €270m in funding, with €67m of this going to companies.

Enterprise Ireland is urging companies and researchers to collaborate and apply to the fund.  The three areas are:

1.    Factories of the Future: €1.2bn has been committed for the development and innovation of new enabling technologies for the EU manufacturing sector.
 
2.    Energy-efficient Buildings: €1bn has been committed for methods and technologies to slash energy consumption and CO2 emissions of new and renovated buildings.
 
3.    Green Cars: €1bn has been committed to developing technologies for more environmentally friendly vehicles.
 
Director of the National Support Network for FP7 in Ireland, Dr. Imelda Lambkin of Enterprise Ireland said: "With ample local support available to understand and navigate the process, companies should be looking to Europe as an avenue for getting involved in innovative technology development projects that will in turn lead to increases in export sales and jobs."

"As well as the funding, other direct benefits for companies include access to technologies and expertise that will support the development and growth of business internationally and for academic researchers to get involved in cutting edge industry focused applied research projects."

In order to support Irish companies in these sectors to access this funding, Enterprise Ireland is hosting a national workshop in Thomond Park Limerick on June 23 in association with the Mid-West Regional Chambers: Limerick, Ennis and Shannon, Supply Network Shannon, SEAI and the EPA. The workshop will provide guidance and information for companies and researchers on how to get involved with European R&D funded projects.

Ann Sheahan, CEO of Limerick based software company, Entellexi added: "We have been involved in a number of EU funded Research and development projects and not alone have they helped us with developing our technology but we are now trading in a number of EU countries and the relationships that emerged from our Framework Projects helped to pave the way for entry to a number of European markets."

President of Limerick Institute of Technology Dr Maria Hinfelaar added: "The EU's framework programme is a perfect example of Public Private Partnership in action. On the public side, the EU provides the funding and the academic researchers ideally positioned to conduct leading edge research. On the private sector side, the companies typically identify and specify their needs and requirements and also contribute time and resources. LIT has been successful in the Framework programme with one of our flagship initiatives - Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, co-located in our Enterprise Acceleration Centre. LIT coordinates this programme involving partners from seven countries; most of them in the EU, but also beyond in Brazil and Russia."

For further information or to register, firms should go to: http://www.fp7ireland.com