[29.08.2007 first posted on silicon republic]
Third-level expenditure on research and development (R&D) has exceeded €600m for the first time, Forfas has revealed.

The initial findings from the State body’s 2005-2006 Survey of Research and Development Performance in the Higher Education Sector showed that investment from the institutes grew by more than 7pc per year since 2004.
Ireland’s higher education sector now matches the OECD average for R&D spend, at 0.4pc of GNP, and exceeds the EU average.
The main sources of funding for the sector’s R&D spend were government expenditure (direct and indirect); EU funding through FP6 and the Research Councils; and business, individual and philanthropic funds.
The principal sources of funds were Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Enterprise Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Research Councils.
University College Cork reported the highest R&D income of over €86m, followed by Trinity College Dublin (€60m), University College Dublin (€53m) and National University of Ireland Galway (€47m).
Waterford Institute of Technology received €9.2m and Dublin Institute of Technology received €6.7m.
The numbers of researchers working in the sector increased by almost 1,150 since the last survey in 2004 to over 10,000. Since many researchers also teach, this equates to approximately 4,670 full-time equivalents (FTE’s). In international terms this is equivalent to 2.2 FTE researchers per 1,000 in employment, which places Ireland close to the EU average but with some way to go to catch the EU leaders, where the average is closer to 3 FTE researchers per 1,000 in employment.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin commented: “By passing the €600m mark investment in R&D in the higher education sector this country has reached a milestone which will ensure that we continue to be a location for high-quality jobs into the future. The Government is fully committed to continuing investment in this sector. As our third-level institutions become major centres of research it is our hope that they will also continue to forge strong links with the private sector..”
Martin Cronin, chief executive of Forfás, said: “Economies at Ireland’s stage of development depend heavily on R&D activity, in both the public and private sectors, to enhance their knowledge, human and enterprise capital. The trends identified in this report are very encouraging and with the commitment of Government to expanding funding through the new Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (including PRTLI 4) and National Development Plan commitments we can expect further expansion in the years to come.”
By Niall Byrne