strategy statement03 - 05

Industrial Policies

Publication of triennial reviews of industrial policy and

performance;

Percentage of overall state assistance to firms involving

repayability;

Regional spread of agency-assisted projects;

Gross jobs performance in agency-assisted firms;

Net jobs performance in agency-assisted firms;

Sales performance in agency-assisted firms;

Export performance of agency-assisted firms;

Enterprise Environment

Rate of total business startups;

Rate of business closures and notified redundancies;

Ireland’s ranking on international competitiveness indices.

Strategic Actions

4.1.1 Science, Technology and Innovation

Establish Science Foundation Ireland on a statutory basis and,

by deploying significantly increased resources to SFI, build the research capability and excellence required to underpin competitiveness into the future;

Performance Indicator: SFI Established in law by mid-July 2003.

Improve the environment for business expenditure on science,

technology and innovation by progressing proposals to enhance the fiscal environment for research and development in Ireland;

Performance Indicator: Proposals developed over this strategy period and progressed within the overall budgetary context.

Increase resources aimed at building research, development

and innovation capability in industry and ensuring collaboration between business and third level education;

Performance Indicator: Growth in resources over the strategy period relative base year 2002.

Contribute to a range of initiatives designed to reverse

declining interest in science amongst students and the population generally. In particular, establish an integrated National Science Promotion Programme and progress the establishment of an interactive science centre;

Performance Indicator:Integrated programme to be established by end 2003 and Science Centre proposal progressed over the strategy period.

Improve the structures and mechanisms for formulating and

implementing national policy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Ireland having regard to the report of the Expert Commission established by ICSTI;

Performance Indicator: Proposals developed for consideration by Government by end 2003, and progressed over the strategy period.