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Ireland, China in science research deal

Thursday, March 07 11:47:56

The Chinese ambassador and the Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, today unveiled E1 million of funding over the next 12 months by the Irish Government to advance science and innovation cooperation between Ireland and China.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2012 on Scientific and Innovation Cooperation between Ireland and China. A significant level of matching funding from China has already been obtained or pledged.

The funding, under Science Foundation Ireland's International Strategic Cooperation Award Programme, will focus on a number of thematic areas of co-operation which are priorities in both countries including Agri-Food, Nanotechnology, Biomedical (diagnostics & therapeutics); ICT and Health amongst other things.

Minister Sherlock and Ambassador Luo Linquan said that the projects involved would contribute significantly to the objectives set out in the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Science and Innovation signed last year between Ireland and China.

Minister Sherlock said: "Since we signed the Memorandum last year, we have been examining, with our Chinese partners, ways by which we can develop more and more linkages between Irish research groups and innovative companies with counterparts in China. This funding will do exactly that. The awards will provide opportunities for collaborations between Irish and Chinese education and research institutions across a range of research activities. A core element of SFI's Strategy - Agenda 2020 is to build international partnerships that generate excellent science and deliver economic and societal benefits both nationally and internationally. Building relationships between Ireland and China will have a positive impact on scientific research in both countries."