Ireland to Invest €3.8 billion (A$6.5 billion) on R&D at Universities and in Industry Between Now and 2013. (June 21, 2006)

    And as if to demonstrate that not all advances are South of the border, the governing body at Queen's University, Belfast today backed a £259m (A$647m) investment plan to fund 140 academic posts, extra bursaries and a new library for the institution.

Back in the mid-90s Ireland was a scientific backwater; government spending on R&D virtually invisible.

And it's worth recalling that the Republic of Ireland has a population just a touch over 4 million with a GDP of US$165 billion compared to Australia's population of 20 million with a GDP of US$640 billion.

Should Ireland attain its goal, its investment in R&D will increase from its current <1% to 2.5% of GDP by 2013, and although it will still be behind R&D leaders such as the United States (2.6%), Japan (3.2%), and Sweden (4%), it'll be a remarkable climb.

Despite the moves of numberous western industries to outsource requirements to Asia, many international corporations have moved significant operations to Ireland to take advantage of the well-trained workforce and favourable taxes.

Between 2006 and 2008 the government will allocate €2.7 (A$4.6) billion and Science reports, "Much of this money will be channelled through Science Foundation Ireland, a body established by the government in 2000 to competitively reward research in leading edge technologies, with the aim of doubling the number of Ph.D.s and creating 350 new PI led research teams.

    "The government particularly wants to strengthen the areas of agriculture and food, health, environment, marine science, and energy. Other key points in the strategy include removing the obstacles to the mobility of researchers, strengthening technology transfer within universities, increasing business expenditure on R&D to €2.5 billion by 2013, and promoting collaboration with scientific colleagues in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile the program being instituted by Belfast's Queen's University is its academic plan for the next five years. The £259m (A$647m) proposal includes £189m (A$472m) for major capital works projects, including a £45m (A$112m) new library, due for completion in 2009.

Furthermore, The Guardian reports a, "£28m (A$70m) recruitment programme to attract 140 academics from around the world will also start this week with 45 posts to be advertised, and £10m will be invested in new centres of excellence in the areas of sustainability, health improvement, Irish studies, and child protection and welfare."

Finally, the university intends to designate £20m (A$50m) for student bursaries and scholarships, and 46 new educational programmes will be introduced.

According to Queen's vice-chancellor, Peter Gregson, the upgrade, "will... enhance our role as a driver of local economic, social and cultural development. By reinforcing Northern Ireland's reputation as a centre of international research, it will make a major contribution to job and wealth creation and act as a magnet for international investment."