Ireland

Download the country report in pdf

Send your contribution / modification to

Introduction

Healthcare biotechnology is the most important field in Ireland. There are only very few enterprises active in industrial biotechnology (biofuels).

I. Research and Innovation

Modern industrial biotechnology is a relatively new discipline, with major areas of knowledge still to be explored. Public support to research as well as the establishment of pilot and demonstration facilities to scale-up individual processes will therefore help in the development of a European bio-based economy.

A. Public research funding

There is no dedicated public research funding for industrial biotechnology.

B. Pilot and demonstration plants

There is no pilot or demonstration plant in Ireland to scale up industrial biotechnology processes.

A descriptive list of pilot and demonstration plants in Europe is available here.

II. Policy

Public authorities can promote the quick take-up of industrial biotechnology innovations by implementing a number of “instruments” or policy initiatives. This can be the improvement of the regulatory framework; the integration of specification for bio-based products in public procurement; the establishment of standardisation, labelling and certification schemes to overcome perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency; the development of financial instruments and supports to increase investments into research, technology development and innovation as well as the elaboration of communication and information campaign to communicate the benefits of bio-based products to users.

A. Policies and regulations

There are no policies, regulations and support programmes for industrial biotechnology and bio-based products.

B. Public procurement

There is no specific measure for bio-based products in public procurement legislation in Ireland.

C. Standardisation, labelling and certification

There is no standardisation, labelling and certification scheme for bio-based products.

D. Access to finance

There is no specific support for the development of bio-based products.

E. Communication

No communication campaign was organised.

Main Sources

Irish BioIndustry Association