Here are the main points in relation to science in Budget 2013 announced by Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, yesterday:

What you need to know:

• Science Foundation Ireland‘s capital allocation has been reduced by 2% this year to €152.3 million. The budget supported the SFI strategy 2012-2020, Agenda 2020.
• Enterprise Ireland will support 95 new High Potential Start-Up companies with commitments to create at least 1000 new jobs. Through the new Potential Exporters Division, they will also engage with 300 new first-time exporting companies.
• Delivery of three new Technology Centres in Pharmaceutical Production, Data Analytics and Connected Health.

Enterprise Ireland: Science, technology and innovation: €127 million

Here’s the breakdown:

• Support of 95 Innovative High Potential Start Up companies in 2013, across a range of sectors, including Lifesciences, ICT, Food and Energy. According to the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation (DEJI), these companies are the source of potential star performers of the future and will create 1,000 jobs in 2013.  Each HPSU will also create at least €1m in export sales.
• Support the Innovation Voucher programme, which according to the DEJI enables small businesses to purchase innovation expertise from a third level institute.  In 2013, Innovation Vouchers will support small companies in Ireland to complete 520 projects.
• Support companies in Ireland to undertake 60 important collaborative projects with Irish third level institutions, through the Innovation Partnership Programme.
• Roll out 3 new Technology Centres in the areas of Pharmaceutical Production, Data Analytics and Connected Health.  12 to 15 companies will be supported by each new centre and this number will increase over time
• Build on the multi-annual €22million Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative.  According to the DEJI, this 4-year programme will produce 150 companies and will license 514 commercial technologies to industry.  This programme will also deliver the streamlining of industry engagement with the public research system, through a central Technology Transfer Office.
• Enterprise Ireland’s entrepreneurial training programme, the “New Frontiers programme” will train over 150 new entrepreneurs and produce 100 new companies in 2013
• Around 80 in-company R&D projects will be approved in 2013, with a project value of over €100,000.

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): €152.3 million

The 2013 capital allocation to SFI is reduced by 2% from 2012. These are all in line with SFI’s new Agenda 2020 strategy which you can read more about in last week’s interview with Prof Mark Ferguson. Here’s the breakdown:

• The primary SFI focus in 2013 will be on the announcement of a number of large-scale research centres, a €100m exchequer investment over six years involving multiple industry partners in research prioritised areas, that will leverage in excess of €30m in industry contributions to these centres. These large-scale centres (typically 100+ researchers & 20+ industry partners) will further enhance IDA Ireland’s FDI capabilities according to the DEJI. In 2004, approximately €120million of IDA’s investment wins were in research and innovation related projects. In 2011 this figure has risen almost six-fold to €700million.
• In 2012 more than 40% of IDA jobs announcements so far have been in companies with links to SFI research teams. That’s over 4,000 jobs in companies linked to SFI funded researchers.
• The funding allocation of €152.3m in 2013 will allow SFI maintain its direct support to its current research community of circa. 3,000 researchers who are connected to over 600 companies who employ over 90,000 people in Ireland. SFI will also offer supports to young talented scientists to grow the necessary skillset to support Ireland’s future sustainable, high-value jobs capability
• SFI supports to Ireland’s research community will help to maintain Ireland’s reputation for world-class research in a number of strategically important areas. Overall Ireland is ranked 20^th globally (up from 36^th in 2003) in terms of our research capability
• In specific fields we are currently ranked 3^rd in the world for Immunology research (key to Life Sciences sector); 6^th in Nanotechnology and 8^th in Materials Sciences (both areas – key to Ireland’s Life Sciences, ICT and Energy sectors). These high standings are primarily, though not exclusively, a result of excellent research carried out by various SFI-funded teams. Such global rankings are seen as a key attractor for these sectors in terms of IDA’s FDI capability
• In 2013 SFI’s remit will also be extended. This will see SFI funded activities move into the applied research arena, as well as continuing to provide key supports for oriented basic research. The extended remit will also enable SFI to fund on a wider geographical basis, meaning that for the first-time SFI will be able to fund on an all-Island basis.
• In addition the Foundation will be able to enhance commercialisation of previous research investments, primarily through their Technology Innovation Development Awards programme. This is in line with commitments in both the Action Plan for Jobs and the Programme for Government to drive commercialisation across the State’s innovation system
• SFI will also be able to provide important supports so that Ireland is better placed to leverage increasing levels of research funding from external sources, such as the EU and win prestigious awards such ERC grants in the years ahead. SFI will also progress Ireland’s relationships with key international partner countries, such as Brazil, India and China
• In 2013 SFI will partner with Teagasc as part of key thematic funding supports to the Agriculture sector, through a call for research proposals relating to Smart-Agriculture.

The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions: €16.7 million capital

The €16.7m capital investment in PRTLI Cycle 5, aimed at delivering world-class research infrastructure, will continue to improve Ireland’s competitive offering in the research arena according to the DEJI. This cycle was published in 2010 so no real change in this year’s budget! Here’s the breakdown:

• Over 20 key infrastructural projects across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes which over the lifetime of Cycle 5 are supporting 2,000 jobs in Ireland’s construction sector.
• The PRTLI offerings, delivered through the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, will enhance Ireland’s competitive offering in terms of research capability.

These figures were obtained from the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.

_{Top image: Richard Bruton via his website.}