From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris today welcomed the publication of the first annual progress report of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
Impact 2030 puts research and innovation at the heart of Ireland’s response to social, economic and environmental challenges.
The report shows that by 31 May 2023, 29 of Impact 2030’s 30 Flagship Initiatives have been well progressed or delivered with one remaining Flagship Initiative not yet due to start.
Progress over the last 12 months includes approval of the Heads of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, which will amalgamate Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council; the North-South Research Programme funding 62 projects to a value of over €37 million in 2022 and the launch, with Northern Ireland and Great Britain, of the €74 million Co-Centre Programme; funding the implementation of the €65 million National Challenge Fund; and securing funding of almost €84 million over the period 2021 to 2027 to expand technological university research capabilities.
Speaking on the launch of the first Impact 2030 annual progress report, Minister Harris said:
“I welcome the publication of the first annual Progress Report for Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
"Ireland’s research and innovation (R&I) system contains the full spectrum of basic and applied research, experimental development and innovation.
“It has been transformed since the start of this century, with total government investment in research and development (R&D) increasing from less than €250 million to almost €1 billion every year.
“Total R&I investment was over €4.8 billion or 2.1% of GNI* in 2021, the highest level ever recorded and with a significant contribution from the business sector. Despite this, relative levels of investment in R&I are challenged to keep pace with our European Union peers and with Ireland’s economic growth.
“Only R&I will provide the answers to many of the challenges that threaten our shared future, such as climate change and future pandemics. Significant and continued public and private investment in R&I is vital to secure a sustainable future for all.”
Minister Harris added:
“Only research and innovation will provide the answers to many of the challenges that threaten our shared future, such as climate change and future pandemics.
“The R&I ecosystem’s speedy innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were most needed, were based on decades of investment in basic research and talented people.
“Similarly, integrated circuits (sometimes known as chips or microchips) are used in virtually all electronic equipment, including computers, mobile phones, home appliances and medical devices. These chips provide the technology that drives worldwide economies and health systems today, but they evolved from basic research.
“Quantum mechanics developed between 1900 and 1925 – one hundred years ago – and remains the cornerstone on which chemistry, condensed matter physics and technologies ranging from computer chips to LED lighting ultimately rests. While I understand the focus on today’s urgent priorities, let us also seize the opportunity to invest in, and secure, our children and grandchildren’s future.”
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science plays a central system role in bringing research funding and performing departments and agencies together to ensure a cohesive, whole-of-government approach.
Delivery of Impact 2030 is a collective effort by a range of government departments and their agencies each of which is responsible for driving the research and innovation agenda in the sectors under their remits.
Impact 2030: First annual progress report May 2022 to May 2023
Impact 2030: First annual progress report May 2022 to May 2023
Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy is a whole-of-government strategy that was developed after extensive stakeholder consultation. It was launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, on 18 May 2022.
As referenced in Impact 2030, Ireland is facing key economic and societal challenges, including climate change and the need to transition to a climate-neutral society; economic transformation fuelled by technological and other change; greater international competition and geopolitical instability; increased mobility of talent; and the need to build societal resilience against the threat of shocks. Impact 2030 puts research and innovation (R&I) at the heart of Ireland’s response to these social, economic and environmental challenges and leverages our national performance to date to advance the strategic development of Ireland’s R&I system between now and 2030.
The first annual Progress Report for Impact 2030 shows that, by 31 May 2023, 29 of Impact 2030’s 30 Flagship Initiatives had already been delivered or well progressed, with the remaining Flagship Initiative not yet due to start.
The Report also includes specific examples of projects that are making a real difference.
Examples of notable progress in the past 12 months include:
Progress made by other government departments includes:
In addition to detailed updates on each of the 30 Flagship Initiatives, the Progress Report includes an update (to 31 December 2022) on the detailed multiannual work programme (covering the period 2022 to 2024). This is the first of three multiannual work programmes that will deliver Impact 2030. As of 31 December 2022, the vast majority of actions were either underway or completed, with a small number not yet scheduled to commence.