Remarks at the Launch of the Irish Champions of EU Research Awards 2012
8th June 2012
Bhí áthas an domhain orm cuireadh a fháil don ócaid seo agus seans a fháil chun labhairt libh inniu maidir le bronnadh na nDuaiseanna Taighde AE do Scoláirí Éireannacha den chéad uair.
[I am very pleased to have been invited to attend this event and to speak to you today on the occasion of the presentation of the very first Irish Champions of EU Research Awards. ]
I would like to welcome all of the award recipients, the Irish National Contact Points and National Delegates who provided valuable assistance to the award winners along the way, Frank Ryan, the Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland, and Dr. Imelda Lambkin of Enterprise Ireland who initiated the idea for these awards.
The purpose of these awards is to publicly recognise and celebrate the achievements of Irish leaders of projects within the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research. The recipients of these awards represent Ireland’s highest ranking projects as determined by an internationally competitive peer review evaluation process.
Today’s event is an occasion not only to celebrate the success of Irish leaders of European collaborative research projects, but also to reflect on the part being played by our researchers from industry and academia in tackling the major societal challenges of our times.
I believe that we as a society have sometimes undervalued the significant contribution of our scientists in Ireland; Ireland has a long and distinguished tradition of excellence in scientific achievement. Understandably, people often think of our Nobel Laureate in Physics, Ernst Walton when considering our contribution. However, there are scores of other scientists who have laid the groundwork for the efforts we are celebrating today. Those we can rightly be proud of include Robert Boyle, often called the father of Chemistry, and John Tyndall of Co Carlow and his pioneering work on radiant heat, and the germ theory of disease. Also, astronomer Agnes Mary Clerke of Skibereen, after whom a crater on the moon is named, Lucy Everest Boole (1862-1905) pioneering pharmaceutical chemist. These and many others are the forerunners of today’s Irish scientists who established the foundation of excellence on which your work builds.
The EU Framework Programme, with a budget of €50 billion and covering the period 2007 to 2013, is the main instrument through which EU support for research is provided. The EU Framework Programmes have been an important element in linking Irish research to the best in Europe and the world.
It enables academic and industry research groups here to work with peers across Europe and beyond and derive the benefits associated with collaborative research such as access to knowledge networks, access to specialist equipment, sharing of costs and risks and, in particular for industry, the possibility of opening up commercial opportunities.
The relationship between science, technology, research and society is one that is, I believe, offering real prospects for a form of Europe that is socially concerned and even ethically motivated.
As a nation, Ireland has invested significantly in research and development over the past decade. This has enabled Irish research groups to excel in this international collaborative research as strong international partners.
As we head into the final stages of the current Seventh Framework Programme, it is timely to take stock and recognise the achievements of both the participants and the National Support Network for the Seventh Framework Programme in bringing about this success. As Framework Programme leaders, you have reached the pinnacle of the European research system and you deserve to be congratulated on your achievements. You are living proof of the world-class research that is going on in Ireland and testament to the robust research system that has been built in Ireland over recent years. You are clear evidence too that originality is driving your projects, creating new possibilities, far beyond imitation of the practice, even the best practice of others.
Ní amháin go cuireann taighde go mór le deiseanna oibre agus rath na tíre ach baintear tairbhe fadtéarmach as forbairtí teicneolaíochta agus eolaíochta – rudaí atá riachtanach chun dul i ngleic le dúshláin mhóra an tsochaí agus chun ár slí beatha a fheabhsú.
Cuireann sé gliondar mór ar mo chroí agus ní mór dúinn go léir bheith bródúil as an ról lárnach atá ag taighdeoirí Éireannacha i gcúrsaí Eorpacha ní amháin chun ár slí beatha féin a fheabhsú achu chun slí beatha na glúnta atá ag teacht inár ndiaidh a fheabhsú freisin.
[While, of course, research and innovation help deliver jobs and prosperity, long-term benefits are also derived from the creation of scientific and technological breakthroughs needed to tackle the urgent challenges society faces, and improve our quality of life. It is very heartening, and something we should all be proud of, that Irish researchers are playing a significant role in joint European efforts to improve our daily lives and those of generations to come. ]
The major challenges in our global society such as poverty, inequality and food security remain with us and will deepen unless we commit our time and intellectual capacity to finding solutions.
Promoting health, preventing disease and ensuring health and social services are equipped to meet the changing needs and demands of our population is another key challenge across Europe.
The range of research interests among today’s topics is impressive:
• Developing a point-of-care test for cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide;
• Improving driver safety on the European road network
• Addressing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases;
• Sourcing new health foods from seaweed;
• Preventing suicide in young people by empowering young lives and promoting an awareness of mental health among European adolescents;
• Exploring sustainable public transport options in the cities of the future;
• Making use of Ireland’s natural resources
• Using Information and Communications Technology to connect remote communities
A better understanding of ageing processes and the prevention of age-related illnesses are the basis for keeping our citizens healthy and active throughout the course of their lives. Similarly important is the use of technological, organisational and social innovations empowering in particular older persons as well as disabled persons to remain active, socially included and independent.
As regards food security, over the coming decades Europe will be challenged by increased competition for limited and finite natural resources, by the effects of climate change, in particular on primary production systems and by the need to provide a sustainable, safe and secure food supply for the European and increasing global population. A 70 % increase of the world food supply is estimated to be required to feed the 9 billion global population by 2050. Europe has set itself an objective to secure sufficient supplies of safe, healthy and high quality food by developing productive, sustainable and resource-efficient primary production systems, with minimised inputs, environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions.
The global response to the food crisis, however, is of immense importance raising, as it does, fundamental issues of land tenure, human rights, ecology, responsibility and diversity.
Europe is also confronted with major socio-economic challenges which significantly affect our shared future. These include: growing economic and cultural interdependencies, social exclusion and poverty, integration and disintegration, inequalities, a decreasing sense of trust in democratic institutions and between citizens within and across borders. These challenges are enormous and they call for a common European approach. The evidence is scant at the moment for the prospects of such a rethink of such economic, and often idealogical generalisations, as would offer a new way forward for our Europe.
All of these challenges are surmountable, but to be overcome, we must work collectively and creatively to find new opportunities and new answers.
But today I am very heartened when I look at some of the research areas that today’s award recipients are engaged in, to see that that Ireland’s finest minds are addressing issues concerning our health, the sanctity of our environment, energy demands and transport challenges, to name but a few.
These are just a few of the examples of the great work being done by Irish researchers. It is through collaboration and knowledge-sharing that you have achieved your very impressive results. It is this ethos of partnership and cooperation that we wish to see more of in the closing year of Seventh Framework Programme and as we move towards the new funding programme, Horizon 2020. As you and your colleagues in Ireland and across Europe engage in these projects, your joint efforts are producing a smarter, healthier and cleaner society and of that you should be most proud.
This event has been hosted by the National Support Network for Seventh Framework Programme in Ireland to publicly recognise your achievements in both the European and national context. I look forward to seeing the results of your efforts, over the coming years as your ideas and hard work produce solutions to the many challenges we face as a nation and a society, now and in the future.
You are part of that solution and our future depends on your commitment to achieving these goals. I congratulate you all and wish you continued success in your valuable work.
Thank you.