Published: Mon, 06 January 2014
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Sean Kelly MEP is urging Irish applicants interested in applying for some of the EU’s €80 billion Horizon 2020 science and research funding to contact Enterprise Ireland about potential applications.
“Now that the first round of funding calls, valued at 15 billion for the first two years, have been announced under Horizon 2020, Irish researchers, scientists and innovative business people should contact Enterprise Ireland to find out more about the EU support opportunities, which could amount to over €1 billion for Ireland over the next seven years,” Mr Kelly said.
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s largest ever research and innovation programme, designed to drive economic growth and create jobs over 2014 – 2020. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.
“When I hosted the ‘EU Science, Global Collaboration’ week-long conference in Brussels last year, I brought together scientists, policy-makers, researchers and universities to raise awareness of the available funding and to encourage Irish researchers to apply for funding.
“It was a huge success and I hope will lead to exciting, innovative new projects at EU level. It was during that week in March that I called on Irish applicants to apply for €1 billion in funding and I welcome the EU Commissioner Máire Geoghegan–Quinn’s support for this proposal,” Mr Kelly said.
The South MEP advises interested parties to visit the dedicated website and contact Enterprise Ireland for more information.
Under the previous EU Research Programme, Ireland has already drawn down €572 million. Over 60 per cent of that funding went to universities and third-level colleges while Irish SMEs received €116 million.
