I am pleased today to announce an initiative aimed at stimulating and developing Irish Energy Research.
This is an example of one of the extensive research actions supported by my Department; The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These range from programmes and projects relating to Energy research and also Marine, Geosciences and Digital research activities.
The Government Green Paper underlines the high priority of Energy. Research is vitally important as a support to Government Policy and in this context I have recently established an Energy Research Council which will advise me on the prioritisation of Energy research.
Recently the Government approved a Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006-2013). This strategy is based on a vision of placing Ireland firmly on the global map in terms of the excellence of our research and its application for the benefit of society. Energy research is a key component of this major Government Strategy.
Over the past 5 years or so Ireland has invested heavily and prioritised research in Life Sciences (Biotechnology) and Information and Communication Technology due to their high relevance in supporting Irelands high technology Industry sectors.
Similarly a focus on Energy Research will generate new knowledge and increase the number of skilled individuals required to support the policies outlined in the Green Paper so that Ireland can develop sustainable sources of energy, increase our energy efficiency and improve the security of our energy supply.
The Initiative, which I am announcing today, will support research groups engaged in Energy research to enable them to further develop. …/
The Initiative will provide funding for full time researchers, post graduate students who wish to undertake research leading to a PhD and undergraduate students who will be given the opportunity of working as part of research groups, during their vacations, so that they can better appreciate what is involved in research.
The action is particular focused at engineering undergraduates and engineering is a very appropriate background for many priority energy areas. The initiative will increase the number of new engineering graduates who wish to consider research as an appropriate means of career development.
The Initiative is very much in line with the Government plan to double the output of PhDs by 2013. This is a key objective of the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation.
The Awards will allow the successful research groups fund top quality researchers for up to 7 years. The researchers will generally have completed their PhDs and have a number of years experience at post doctoral level. The funding will allow these well qualified individuals to carry out research on a priority research theme and provide them with sufficient funding to allow them to achieve significant results .
This scheme is innovative in that it will provide serious support for researchers at a relatively early stage in their careers. It will be attractive to International young researchers who often are distracted from their research in order to seek funding for their next research contract. In fact the organisers of these Awards intend to collaborate with international researcher mobility schemes in order to attract international researchers to Ireland and to allow Irish researchers to visit and work in international centres of energy research.
The awards are open to research groups on the island of Ireland (32 counties) and will contribute to North-South research collaboration.
The Initiative is named after Charles Parsons (1854-1931) who in 1884 invented the steam turbine, which made affordable electricity readily available. He was raised and educated in Birr Co Offaly the son of the Earl of Ross. Since the 1750s conventional steam engines powered Industry. These used enormous amounts of coal, were noisy and generally inefficient. In a relatively short time his steam turbines powered most of the electricity generators. This revolutionary example of energy efficiency is very appropriate to Irelands current Energy programme and Charles Parsons will act as a fine role model for the participants in our energy research actions.
The awards will be advertised very shortly and the applicant research groups will be evaluated by an International panel of researchers. The first awards will be made before year end.