The Euroscience Open Forum is in Barcelona and Dublin has ambitions to host the biggest European science event.
Barcelona is one of the continent's cultural capitals.
The city of arts is currently showcasing the best in science.
Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF), the largest European science event of its kind is taking place in Barcelona and consists of a trade fair, a public exhibition and a platform for scientific debate. Dublin hopes to host the event in four years' time.
Professor Patrick Cunningham, chief scientific adviser to the government, says the event demonstrates the leading edge of science and describes it as,
The Olympics of science.
Hundreds of international delegates attended a reception to promote the Dublin bid to host the event in 2012. Matt Moran, divisional director at IBEC, is convinced that if Dublin wins the bid, the city will deliver and demonstrate to the world that Ireland is a place where people collaborate.
Enric Banda, President of Euroscience Open Forum 2008, says that countries in recession should invest in science as it will pay dividends in the future.
To get out of recession, you need more innovation and therefore you need more science.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 July 2008. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
