Research for Ireland’s Future
Science Foundation Ireland;
Supporting Excellence with Impact
Ruth Freeman PhD
Director,
Programmes, Enterprise &
International Affairs
What is the purpose of SFI Funding?
• An instrument of Government polices
• With particular focus on economic/enterprise development (funded from the Industrial development budget)
• Achieve excellence in Science as a foundation for Enterprise, enabling
– Innovation
– Upgraded human resources
– Higher education institute (HEI) capability
– Enterprise/Academic collaboration
What is the profile of the annual SFI budget?
Other: €450m
SFI: €150m
Grants to HEIs
€150m
Public R&D: €600m
€9m Pay/
Non-Pay
Centres/
ClustersIndividual
Teams
& Other
SFI Annual Budget
SFI Spend Profile
SFI Budget 2000-2012
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Mill
ion
s Eu
ro
Enabling Infrastructure
Human Studiesplatform
Germ-free facilitiesClean room facilityHelium Ion Microscope
..almost €1bn invested through a single scheme (PRTLI)
Agenda 2020 –
Scientific and Engineering Research…
Powers an innovative and enterprising economy
Creates high-value jobs
Attracts, develops and nurtures businesses, scientists and talented people
Is connected and respected internationally
• Invest in research excellence in areas identified by NRPE
• Invest in SFI’s translational research capability
• Develop a set of centres that are recognised internationally
• Increase the number of SFI-trained researchers hired by industry
To be the best science funding agency in the world at creating impact from excellent research and demonstrating clear value for money invested
• Build strategic partnerships
• Diversify the funding sources for Ireland’s scientific base
To be the exemplar in building partnerships that fund excellent science and drive it out to market
To have the strongest public support for its scientific mission
To represent the ideal modern public service organisation, staffed in a lean and flexible manned, with efficient and effective management
Four Goals in Agenda 2020
What has SFI achieved?
Built a credible base of world class research teams : SFI supports approximately 3,000 researchers in Ireland led by over 300 lead scientists
Has helped drive Irish universities up the world rankings: Ireland has ascended the international ranking of scientific research capability – from 36th in 2003 to 20th in 2010 : Ireland has scored a world ranking of 8th in materials science, and 3rd in Immunology
Has contributed to the internationalisation of Irish research – SFI researchers are engaged over 1,900 international partnerships in over 60 countries
SFI researchers secure over €60 million from international sources annually
Created a high level of Intellectual Property: SFI researcher’s pre-commercial outputs: an average per year: 6 spinouts, 83 patents filed, 14 patents awarded, 145 invention disclosures, 25 licenced technologies (650 awards)
Has assisted IDA/EI in anchoring & transforming the industrial base - SFI researchers have links to the companies that generated approx. 60% of recent IDA-supported job announcements.
SFI supports over 35 conferences annually, involving over 2,500 international delegates, which generate an economic return to Ireland of €3.5million
Source: Thomson Reuters InCites March 2010
200119911981
Publication Output: QualityThere has been a
commensurate increase in the
level of pre-commercial
outputs including
patents, licences and spin-out
companies
8th in Materials
3rd in Immunology
11th in Computer Science
WORLDOECD
GERMANY AND UK
POLAND, GREECE
SFI researchers are involved in over
900 collaborations with almost 600
companies.
These collaborations are with both
small and large, indigenous and
external companies
Research Prioritisation - Industry-led committee to
prioritise academic research14 Priority Areas
• A Future Networks & Communications
• B Data Analytics Management, Security & Privacy
• C Digital Platforms, Content & Applications
• D Connected Health & Independent Living
• E Medical Devices
• F Diagnostics
• G Therapeutics - synthesis formulation, processing and
drug delivery
• H Food for Health
• I Sustainable Food Production and Processing
• J Marine Renewable Energy
• K Smart Grids & Smart Cities
• L Manufacturing Competitiveness
• M Processing Technologies and Novel Materials
• N Innovation in Services and Business Processes
6 Underpinning/Platform Science and
Technology Areas
Basic Biomedical Science
Nanotechnology
Advanced Materials
Microelectronics
Photonics
Software Engineering
SFI Confidential
Priority Area G: Therapeutics: Synthesis, Formulation, Processing and
Drug Delivery
Priority Area L: Manufacturing Competitiveness
Priority Area M: Processing Technologies and Novel Materials
Key Investments in these areas SSPC (Solid State Pharmaceutical Research Cluster) IDDN (Irish Drug Delivery Network) AGRC (Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster) REMEDI (Regenerative Medicine Cluster)
Martin Clynes (National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, DCU, CHO cells) Richard O 'Kennedy (DCU, Genetic methods of antibody production) Oliver Dolly (DCU, Recombinant Botulinum Neurotoxins as Therapeutics) Pat Guiry, Declan Gilheany, Stephen Connon (Synthetic Chemists)
Infrastructure Continuous Processing Platform Technology (SSPC in UCD) National GMP facility (REMEDI) Facilities in DCU (Martin Clynes, Oliver Dolly, Ian Marison) Bioreactor for Biocatalysis Production (UCD School of Chemical Engineering)
SFI Partnership Programme
SFI is open to partnership opportunities with industry
Flexible approach depending on needs
May be at a national level or in partnership with individual Higher Education Institution