7th June 2012
Speaking in light of European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn’s visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said,
“I am delighted that Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn has taken the time to visit Northern Ireland, to outline her proposals for her Horizon 2020 strategy and also to highlight the fantastic work in research and innovation that is being done within our province.
“Given the global nature of markets and increasing pace of change, Europe as a whole and Northern Ireland in particular must recognise the importance of research and innovation as a key way of improving our global competitiveness; creating jobs for the future and broadening our economy.
“The Horizon 2020 Strategy, to be launched in 2014, will be the largest publicly funded research fund in the world. Its scope is broad, encompassing a range of different policy areas, from agriculture and fisheries to energy and information communications and technologies.
“In the past, organisations in Northern Ireland, along with our universities, have drawn down research and innovation funding from Europe, but with the European Commission now pledging €80 billion for the 2014-2020 period, we now have a fantastic opportunity to increase our share.”
ENDS