Forfás launched its Annual Report for 2006 today, with the focus clearly on education and skills development.
The chief executive of Forfás, Martin Cronin, said there must be no let-up in investment if the economy is to maintain its current strength.
'Investment in our people and in our education system will be essential to Ireland's growth,' Cronin said.
He added that a balance must be struck so that we are not left in a situation where there are too many people with lower level skills and too few with higher level skills.
Cronin pointed to the National Skills Strategy, which highlights the need for increased in-employment training. The strategy estimates that 500,000 workers will need to be upskilled by 2020.
The report shows that Irish business is performing well in innovation terms, with 52.2% of Irish firms classified as innovation active in 2006.
Forfás is the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation.
