Spiddal native, MEP Sean O Neachtain, has said the Irish government should set up a dedicated information centre in Brussels to advise Irish businesses, universities and local authorities as to how they can draw down Research, Technology and Development Grants from the EU between now and 2013. The value of these RTD grants available is €55 billion.

Mr O Neachtain has written to the Taoiseach Brian Cowen seeking his support for the setting up of a dedicated information centre in Brussels to deal with the processing of grants under EU Research, Technology and Development programmes between now and the year 2013.

According to Mr O Neachtain, such an information centre would be a huge bonus for Irish businesses and public bodies for a number of reasons. €55 billion is available in grants under EU Research, Technology and Development programmes between now and 2013. This figure will increase post-2013.

According to Mr O Neachtain. such a centre would advise Irish small, medium and large-scale companies, Irish universities, third-level colleges and local authorities in Ireland as to how to access grants under these RTD programmes 2007-2013. He believes such a centre could regularly update interested parties as to how these Research, Technology and Development programmes operate, how to apply for funding under the six different initiatives which make up the overall EU Research, Technology and Development Programme 2007- 2013, how the tender procedures operate and how Irish companies can form transnational partners for the purposes of applying for such funding.

Mr O Neachtain said "€55 billion is a lot of money. The Irish Government must be centrally involved in drawing down part of these monies for the purposes of developing the Irish economy. Improving our capability in the field of Research, Technology and Development programmes is a central element of the Lisbon agenda which is geared towards making the Irish and European economies more competitive."

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