Major H2020 event hosted in Dublin

Ireland has held its national launch event for Horizon 2020 in Dublin.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, and Seán Sherlock, Irish Minister for Research and Innovation, launched the largest European fund to date to support research and innovation to an audience of over 2,000 people from companies and academic researchers in at Dublin’s Convention Centre.

Speaking at the launch, Geoghegan-Quinn outlined the opportunities for Ireland’s economy and society presented by Horizon 2020: “Investment in research, innovation and science is essential if Europe and Ireland are to create new high-quality jobs. Horizon 2020 funding is based on competitive calls that are open to everyone. It is up to individual researchers, research organisations, companies or other organisations to get involved.”

Sherlock added: “Irish SMEs can engage in large collaborative projects, or seek support through a new dedicated SME instrument for highly innovative smaller companies. The amount of red tape has been slashed and a risk finance support for SMEs is being put in place to generate commercial value from their research, resulting in economic growth and job creation.”

Dr Imelda Lambkin, national director of Horizon 2020 at Enterprise Ireland, highlighted the high levels of interest from ‘newcomers’ to EU funding: “It is vital that we attract new companies and researchers to apply for funding from Horizon 2020. The National Support Network for Horizon 2020 led by Enterprise Ireland is driving participants to go for bigger and more valuable projects as this is how we will reach our target of winning €1.25bn in funding for Ireland over the next seven years.”