My first Magazine Annual report 2015 | Page 17

SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Irish Cancer Society and Science Foundation Ireland invest €2.2 million in a new clinical research network for blood cancers – Blood Cancer Network Ireland. Over 800 events took place nationwide to celebrate 20 years of Science Week - including the first Celebration of Irish Science hosted by An Taoiseach in Government Buildings. The Energy Systems Integration Partnership Programme was established with €5.5 million from Science Foundation Ireland, coupled with €5.5 million from five industry partners - AIB, EirGrid, Ervia, Glen Dimplex, ESB and a philanthropic contribution from Mr David O’Reilly, former Chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation, and current Chair of the UCD Energy Institute Board. Science Foundation Ireland partners with leading international biopharmaceutical company AbbVie to undertake two new therapeutic research collaborations in Ireland with researchers at the SFI Research Centre APC in University College Cork, and at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute in Trinity College Dublin. Official launch of the expanded Science Foundation Ireland Irish Software Research Centre (Lero), at the University of Limerick in a €46.4 million investment over six years. First Science Foundation Ireland Open Policy Debate – measuring impact from publicly funded research held in Dublin. Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, Mr Richard Bruton, T.D., Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Employment and Dr Jim Sullivan, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Discovery, AbbVie. Official launch of the newly established SFI Research Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG). iCRAG focuses on the discovery, de-risking and sourcing of raw materials, water and energy resources that are critical to our economy. Government published its new science and innovation strategy – Innovation 2020. Science Foundation Ireland’s Research Centres participate in the national Innovation Showcase attended by over 2,000 entrepreneurs, industrialists and researchers in the Convention Centre Dublin. SciCom, a new, all-island science communications conference was held in Athlone. Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD and iCRAG Director, Prof John Walsh. 15