Background
Background
Ireland’s economic development depends on exploiting opportunities to innovate, facilitated by a strong research and development base. Ireland has made significant steps in establishing a strong research environment, based on building scientific excellence in potentially strategic areas. Our objective now is to ensure that science and technology work for enterprise and Ireland, using innovation and R&D capabilities to enhance productivity and to commercialise new products and bring them to market.
The Advisory Science Council (ASC) has a key role in ensuring that this happens.
The Advisory Science Council was established by Government in April 2005 under Forfás legislation and is the successor to the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation.
S&T Governance
In June 2006 the Government launched its Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 – 2013 (SSTI) which sets out specific targets for Ireland’s research and development growth.
A number of mechanisms were set out in the SSTI to ensure its coherent and efficient implementation.The Cabinet Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) on STI drive the Strategy’s implementation. The Cabinet Committee for STI is chaired by the Taoiseach.
The Advisory Science Council forms part of the structure and works directly with the IDC to agree its work programme.
Three implementation groups have been established working to the IDC:
- The Higher Education Research Group
- Technology Ireland
- Health Research Group
