A trio of government ministers has launched the Science Foundation Ireland 'Energy Strategy'.

Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan was joined by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan and Innovation Minister Conor Lenihan as they also announced that applications for the first SFI Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) dedicated to energy will be issued in the coming weeks.

Launching SFI’s 'Energy Strategy', Ms Coughlan said: "When established in 2000, Science Foundation Ireland was tasked with investing in two areas of research considered to be of the greatest strategic importance – Biotechnology and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

"In more recent times, we have entered a new phase – one where the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector are now significant. In recognition of this, the Government formally extended the remit of SFI in May 2008, to incorporate the emerging areas of sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies."

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She added: "The SFI energy remit will be characterized by funding world-class projects which will utilise the close proximity between research in this area and business exploitation."

Minister Ryan said: "Just over a year ago, the energy pillar was formally added to the work of SFI. This was a crucial development in Ireland’s energy policy.

"Energy can drive Ireland’s economic future. Our energy challenges, including the development of renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency, can be our economic opportunity."

Mr Lenihan added: "Energy, by its very nature, is both complex and diverse, and is intertwined with a number of Government Departments, as well as a wide range of agencies such as the Irish Energy Research Council (IERC), Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the Commission for Energy Regulation and many others.

"The Government will, at all times, remain mindful of the need to balance the embracing of new technologies and methods with our environmental responsibilities."

Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Frank Gannon, said: "As with all other SFI initiatives, close and continual engagement with industry is at the heart of this strategy.

"The energy and environment sectors will provide strong economic growth and job creation in Ireland in the years and decades to come."

(PR/KMcA)