Irish PhD students will give Ireland an edge in green economy

18 Aug 2009

Intel, Microsoft and the US Embassy are to join forces with public sector bodies IRCSET and Sustainable Energy Ireland to highlight how research collaboration between industry and third level is advancing Ireland in the areas of sustainability and green IT.

The organisations will band together for a 25 September conference themed ‘Innovation Fuelling the Smart Society.’

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe TD said that he was impressed see leaders in innovation such as Intel and Microsoft working with public sector bodies like IRCSET and SEI to showcase the advances that Ireland was making in the areas of sustainability and green IT.

“For almost a decade we have invested in research and development and that investment is bearing fruit as Ireland is fast gaining a reputation for its international research excellence. Companies such as Wyeth, GlaxoSmithKline, Intel and Microsoft are collaborating directly with higher education institution based researchers here.

“The green tech revolution will offer further opportunities for growth and I am determined that we will have the researchers to seize these new opportunities. Just as investment in second level education drove Ireland’s first economic revolution, investment in research and development will drive our next economic revolution,” O’Keeffe added. 

Owen Lewis, CEO of Sustainable Energy Ireland, said that the conference would be an opportunity to expose participants, policymakers, business leaders and young researchers to the opportunities and dynamics of the new business environment created by energy-related issues. “Energy issues are no longer just threats to the Irish economy, but are in fact real opportunities.

“Our PhDs are as bright and as talented as any in the world and on average a lot younger, giving us a real edge in competing in the smart society.”

The conference will be held on the 25th of September and will include international speakers such as Intel sustainability guru Stephen Harper and Microsoft’s Cloud Computing expert Debra Chrapaty, as well as leading Irish researchers in the areas of sustainable IT and green tech.

By John Kennedy

Pictured:

Martin Hynes, CEO, IRCSET, Education Minister Batt O’Keefe TD and Katarina Eckerberg, deputy director, Sustainable Energy Ireland

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com