In June this year the European Commissioner for Research Innovation & Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced the winners of the “You Name It” competition as Marcela Endlova, teacher from Czech Republic and Beata Xyngier a teacher from Poland. This newly titled programme ‘Horizon 2020’ replaces the previously titled Eight Frame Programme 2014-2020 (FP8) – the EU funding programme for Research and Innovation and is part of the continuity and success of previous Framework Programmes. In her inspirational speech at the Intel Conference on 12-14 October, the Commissioner not only thanked Intel for their support and positive contributions to ...

Talks on the new ‘Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation’ and preparations for the Eight Framework Programme 2014-2020 (FP8) are well underway. On the 9th February 2011, the European Commission released a Green paper titled ‘Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation funding’. This paper proposes major changes to EU research and innovation practice; the focus being on easier participation and increasing the scientific and economic impact of research initiatives. The Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ACSTI), supported by Forfás, are leading a national consultation in Ireland designed to result in a 'national position paper'. ...

Ireland has long been associated with being the land of saints and scholars. Ireland is also associated with being leaders in the technological world and there is no reason given the extensive talent and brain power housed in this country that this trend won’t continue. Cloud computing as the latest technological advancement in the business world is definitely an area for Irish technological whizz-kids to show off their prowess.  Certainly Paul Rellis, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland feels Ireland should capitalise on this strong position in a recent statement: "In recent months it has become very clear to me that the rapidly ...