Two €5m technology centres to help turn good ideas into good jobs have been launched by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.
The centres are focused on manufacturing research and energy efficiency and are part of the Government's €55m commercialisation initiative announced last week.
At the launch today, Minister Bruton said that to get the economy growing and to create jobs there has to be a focus on three areas: reducing business costs, improving access to finance and encouraging innovation and improving commercialisation of research ideas.
'If we are to develop the companies of the future in Ireland, both indigenous and multinational, we must not only fund high tech research in our universities but also crucially ensure that the research ideas we have developed can be put into action in industry. In this way, new businesses can be created and established companies can expand and create more jobs,' he said.
The centres launching today are advanced industry-led institutions which represent international best practice in partnering researchers with high-tech industry, allowing them together to improve productivity, develop innovative practices and commercialise research ideas leading to expansion and jobs, the Minister said.
The announcement was welcomed by Enterprise Ireland ceo Frank Ryan.
'Industry-led technology centres are regarded as one of the most sophisticated R&D vehicles internationally. It is a model that experience shows works and can deliver real results - for the companies, for the research community and ultimately, for Ireland, giving us the opportunity to excel in key industrial and economic sectors. Their impact will be significant, supporting a more innovative, efficient and competitive Irish economy,' he said.
The announcement was also welcomed by Barry O'Leary, chief executive of IDA Ireland. He said that the two centres will use collaborative research to address the challenges of making Irish advanced manufacturing more competitive, and exploit the opportunities in the growing energy, green technologies, life sciences and ICT sectors.
