ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

Professional Development
There needs to be further development of a professional
environment for researchers in Ireland. Career paths need to be
defined and recognised and structured so that professional
research can be perceived as a worthwhile career path within the
economy.
Multinational Corporations
To continue to successfully attract MNCs R&D investment into
Ireland, there is a need to:
(a) Ensure that it has a critical mass for R&D excellence within
the country.
(b) Targets the R&D specialists in each MNC through leveraging
the relationship of the current operation but recognising
that R&D will always search for excellence. The targeting of
R&D specialists will imply that Ireland will need to ensure
that such specialists always meet the best R&D people from
the Irish economy to ensure that their image of what is
being done in Ireland is detailed and accurate.
(c) Ensure that there are sufficient incentives in place to justify
the cost argument within Ireland. This specifically includes
the creation of taxation-based incentives for R&D activities
within Ireland.
Existing and New Indigenous Industry
The SME environment in Ireland will need to be addressed from
two perspectives by the NNF.
(a) SMEs that are compelled to change through competitive or
customer pressure will need the Enterprise Ireland existing
funding instruments and third level supports to ensure that
SMEs can “Fast track” access to the appropriate technology
solution.
119