Forfas 2009 - The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use

Success rates within the competition were well above FP6 averages. <strong>The</strong> share of FP6 funding
awarded to Irish participants was in line with Ireland’s share of GDP. Its contribution to the
EU budget was significantly above its share of GNP and was very high in relation to the size of
its population. Funding allocations to Irish participants were above the average amounts
awarded during FP6 as a whole.
<strong>The</strong>re are 17 priority areas of FP6 and Ireland has performed strongly in nanotechnologies and
nanosciences; food quality and safety; citizens and governance; horizontal research (e.g.
marine) involving SMEs, information society technologies; human resources and mobility; and
support for the coordination of research priority areas.
<strong>The</strong> primary benefits of participation in FP6 came in the form of improved relationships and
networks, increased knowledge and capabilities (both scientific and technological), and
enhanced reputation and image. <strong>The</strong> benefits of FP6 participation outweighed the costs for
the vast majority of Irish participants.
<strong>The</strong> evaluation of FP6 investigated early views on FP7, and the results are also positive.
Ireland’s new <strong>National</strong> Support Network (NSN) introduced for FP7 attracted significant praise,
and the research communities appear to be making good use of the support on offer.
Following the FP6 evaluation Forfás is actively collaborating with the new <strong>National</strong> FP7
Director and key actors in the STI community. Specifically, Forfás is engaged in a data
mapping exercise which will clearly identify the overlap of EU and national funding recipients
in the Irish R&D community. Forfás is also involved in the organisation of and participates in
a quarterly forum at which all the relevant stakeholders attend to ensure a coordinated and
coherent approach is adopted for FP7.
Optimisation of Irish Engagement in EU Framework Programme 7
(FP7)
Arising from the recommendations of Advisory Science Council report Ireland’s International
Engagement in Science, Technology and Innovation published in 2008, the DETE requested
that Forfás, working with the FP7 <strong>National</strong> Director, consider policy options for a more
strategic approach to optimising FP7 drawdown. FP7 is a substantial research fund of €50
billion covering the period 2007 to 2013. Maximising Irish participation in the programme has
become particularly important as national funding streams come under pressure and, to this
end, Ireland has a target to secure €600 million from the programme. <strong>The</strong> substantial funding
of the Irish national public research base over the last decade means that Ireland has now
built up a critical mass of research expertise both in terms of size and quality which should
allow Ireland to participate more effectively on the international research stage and leverage
greater return from FP7.
Following consultation with stakeholders, Forfás produced a policy discussion document
containing proposals agreed by the Inter-Departmental Committee on STI. This has led to the
establishment of an FP7 Policy Forum to review and monitor leverage opportunities. <strong>The</strong>
forum brings together key stakeholders to share, discuss and action opportunities for
increased participation in FP7, with a particular focus on leveraging national investment in
R&D.
Forfás undertook significant data analysis work to examine the role of national and European
research funding at the level of individual research teams. This work will allow for detailed
assessment to be made of the synergy between national research programmes and FP7
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