Ireland hosts some of the largest European based research centers for various US technology companies. Recently, its Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment outlined his government’s new Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. Objectives of the plan, which aims further to make Ireland a “leading knowledge economy by 2013,” include “driving industrial policy by simplifying the R&D Grants Scheme and a providing a new IP Commercialisation Fund for Irish Universities.” The Minister also addressed industry involvement in the plan:

…new in-company R&D initiatives will bring together for the first time, under a single heading within each Agency, financial supports for company-led research projects by the Agency clients, providing an integrated and unified approach capable of meeting their needs flexibly and efficiently…it is anticipated that, when these schemes are launched, they will not only facilitate companies in embedding a sustainable culture of innovation in their own organizations, through in-house R&D activity, but will, thereby, allow Ireland to reach its targets for increased R&D expenditure set out under the Strategy.