May 18 2010
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O Keeffe T.D., yesterday (Monday, May 17th 2010) announced 8.5 million for 47 cutting-edge research projects which will create new jobs for the smart economy.
Dr.Russell Duane and Dr. Eric Moore from Tyndall National Institute were both awarded funding for their projects. Dr. Duane's project will focus on radio frequency microelectromechanical switches for mobile and aerospace applications. Dr. Eric Moore's prject will focus on multi-sensing nano-structured sensor arrays for toxicity monitoring of cells relevant to human health.
Pictured with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O Keeffe T.D. at the SFI-award announcement were (from left to right)- Dr. Cian Ó' Mathúna, Tyndall National Institute; Programme award winner Dr. Eric Moore, Tyndall National Institute; award winner Dr. Russell Duane, Tyndall National Institute.
In total over 100 college researchers will carry out work in across a range of areas including cystic fibrosis, genetics, bacterial and viral infections, environmental monitoring, food safety, and streaming media over wireless networks.
Minister O Keeffe said "the research areas are profoundly linked to our health and wellbeing and the researchers work will generate high-value downstream jobs. The 8.5 million investment will create jobs and training opportunities for 105 researchers, mainly PhD students, and their work will in turn generate new jobs down the line which will have significant implications for our well-being as a nation", said Minister O Keeffe.
The 47 research projects are being funded under Science Foundation Ireland s Research Frontiers Programme. The programme supports internationally-competitive, high-quality exploratory research in higher education across the science, maths and engineering disciplines.
By helping researchers at a relatively early stage in their work, the programme is targeting our most promising scientists in building their research teams and track records and enhancing our competitiveness", said Minister O Keeffe.
Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Frank Gannon, said: "The Government s goal of becoming a hub for international research is further advanced by this Research Frontiers Programme investment. Ireland's performance in the fields of scientific and engineering research is directly linked to our future competitiveness and our quest for a measurable transformation to the smart economy. Last year, the Research Frontiers Programme resulted in many notable outcomes such as 88 collaborations with 83 companies, 715 academic collaborations, and 537 scientific papers. The programme has contributed to Ireland s rapid ascent in the ranking of scientific output, rising from 36th place in 2003 to recently breaking into the top 20. Ireland has joined countries such as Finland, Germany and the US in the scientific output stakes", Professor Gannon concluded.