Minister Halligan to visit Japan and South Korea in order to enhance Ireland’s international collaboration in Research Development and Innovation

30th September 2016

Minister for Training, Skills and Innovation, Mr. John Halligan T.D., will visit Japan and South Korea from 1-7 October to enhance Ireland’s international collaboration in Research, Development and Innovation (R,D&I).

Minister Halligan will attend the 13th Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society Forum in Kyoto. During the Forum, he will brief Japanese and international interlocutors on the progress and priorities of Irish R,D&I.

He will have meetings with key policy-makers from leading Japanese research-related Government Agencies, including the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

The Minister will also meet leading Japanese and Irish companies, with research and business links. Specifically, Minister Halligan will meet with Fujikin, a hi-tech specialised valve and flow control systems manufacturer (for the semiconductor, power plants, petrochemical, medical, food, oceanic and space industries) and owner of Carten Controls Ltd., Ireland which employs 60 people in Waterford.

In South Korea, the Minister will visit the Gyeonggi Centre for Creative Economy and Innovation and meet with the ICON Korean leadership team, a leading Irish clinical research company. He will also attend Irish graduate’s alumni and Irish Korean Business Network events and will meet with a number of Korean Universities, to discuss possible further R,D&I collaborations with Ireland.

Speaking of the visit, Minister Halligan said:

‘This visit is a unique opportunity to deepen the dynamic and exciting links between Ireland and Japan and South Korea in the field of scientific research and development. I am delighted to be able to highlight the vibrant Ireland–Japan business links and to have the opportunity to meet with companies in the region, including Fujikin, owners of Carten Controls Ltd. Ireland, who employ 60 people in Waterford today. I will use the opportunity to forge deeper relationships between our countries, who already have a long history of diplomatic relations.’

ENDS

Further Information:

Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum:

The Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum is a large annual event held in Kyoto, Japan in early October each year, with the participation of over 1,000 global leaders in science and technology, public policy, business and media from approximately 100 countries, including Nobel laureates, amongst others. The future of issues in S&T from a global view is discussed, with a considerable opportunity to network with other attendees. The 13th Annual Meeting of the STS Forum will be held from October 2^nd to 4^th 2016 in the Kyoto International Conference Centre (KICC).

Council for Science, Technology and Innovation:

The Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI) of Japan, formerly Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP), is one of the four important councils for policymaking within the Cabinet Office. The CSTI is comprised of the Prime Minister, relevant Ministers, and experts.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science is an independent administrative institution in Japan, established for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science in all fields of the natural and social sciences and the humanities.

Ireland – Japan RDI Cooperation:

The SFI International Strategic Cooperation Award (ISCA) Japan Programme, announced by the Taoiseach during his visit to Japan in December 2013, has been developing activities to expand on existing linkages between the Irish and Japanese research communities. €1.24 million has been allocated to this initiative through SFI and it was established in March 2014.

Other SFI initiatives outside ISCA can enhance research collaborations with Japan e.g. Research Centres, Spokes, Partnerships and the Industry Fellowship programme. HEI’s in Ireland are also encouraged to engage in joint application projects to international funding initiatives, such as the Horizon 2020 EU Framework Programme.

Since the introduction of ‘Council Directive 2005/71/EC’ regarding admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research: Scheme for Accreditation of Research Organisations’, there have been 23 Japanese researchers hosted in Ireland through the agreements.

It will be the 60^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Ireland and Japan in 2017.

Ireland – South Korea RDI Cooperation:

In terms of RDI collaborations with South Korea, SFI does not have any specific collaborative initiatives with South Korea. However, SFI does have a number of programmes which are open to a general international audience, including South Korea. While there are no joint programmes, there are ongoing collaborations between SFI funded researchers and South Korean researchers. There are currently 12 such active (2015) collaborations with South Korean researchers directly attributed to Science Foundation Ireland awards. There are also a small number of collaborations between SFI researchers and companies in South Korea.

Since the introduction of ‘Council Directive 2005/71/EC* regarding admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research: Scheme for Accreditation of Research Organisations’, there have been 32 South Korean researchers hosted in Ireland through the agreements.