Dublin’s bid to be labelled European City of Science will be outlined by the director general of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Frank Gannon, at the prestigious Euroscience Open Forum in Barcelona today.
The Government launched Dublin’s official bid to become European City of Science 2012 prior to Christmas 2007, and, as a member of the bid’s steering group, Gannon will point to the considerable momentum which the bid has gained this year.
Professor Patrick Cunningham, chief scientific advisor to the Government, is leading Dublin’s bid in partnership with a host of Irish and international organisations and agencies, and a decision is expected in January 2009.
Gannon will make reference to the €8.2bn allocated for scientific research under the Government’s National Development Plan and Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013, of which SFI will invest €1.4bn in research programmes.
With the SSTI entering its final stages of implementation in 2012, Gannon will stress that this would be a fitting opportunity to select Dublin as the geographical focal point for science in Europe.
The prestigious Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) ‘Science for a Better Life’ in Barcelona this week is five-day event and is an open platform for profiling and debating the leading research trends in the sciences, humanities and social sciences across Europe.
The forum will feature a range of renowned figures within the international scientific arena, drawn from both industry and academia. This high-level, collaborative assembly is an occasion for key influencers – including scientists, business executives and policy-makers – to contribute to shaping the future of research and innovation in Europe.
Speaking on the final day of the conference, Gannon will address the topic of ‘Achieving a More Innovative Europe’ and will take the opportunity to highlight Dublin’s bid for European City of Science 2012.
By John Kennedy
