AMBER’s Pre-Budget Submission 2025

19 July 2024

AMBER has drafted it’s Pre-Budget Submission 2025 in advance of the Budget which will take place on 1st October 2024.

The Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER) is one of the World’s leading multidisciplinary research centres in the area of advanced materials for economic and societal impact. Established in 2012, the centre has an outstanding reputation for excellence in scientific research and industry engagement. Advanced materials are a multidisciplinary field encompassing physics, chemistry, engineering, and other disciplines focused on understanding and exploiting the relationship between the atomic and molecular structure of materials and their macroscopic properties and function. Materials are primary driver of economic growth and competitiveness forming the basis of all modern and manufacturing technologies and of great significance in Ireland as a small export-led economy with a large high value manufacturing sector. Emerging economic, geopolitical, and societal factors such as population growth, convergence of living standards and the mass adoption of digital and green technologies are driving an unprecedented demand for advanced materials and informing international innovation policies. In this submission to Budget 2025, we set out the need for investment in maintaining and growing our national competency in materials science research that will drive new opportunities for domestic industry as well as continue foreign direct investment. Research funding is an imperative of Ireland is to remain competitive across our current and new industry sectors. Increased funding is critical so as to drive innovation in the areas of sustainability, circularity and substitution technologies required to build resilience for future supply chains and manufacturing industries and enable Ireland to compete and thrive in competitive international markets whilst meeting our environmental and climate commitments. A continued lack of Government investment is becoming a significant barrier to Ireland meeting minimum research and innovation standards needed in maintaining Ireland as an internationally recognised Hi-tech industry hub.

Our recommended actions are as follows.

• Action: Developing a committed plan for national Research and Innovation funding which aligns with ambitions regarding IMPACT 2030 and increasing Government Budget Allocations for R&D (GBARD) from the current rate of 0.35% GNI*to 1.0% or at least .71% (EU 27 Average). This funding can address roadblocks and uncertainties that are unintended consequences of the SFI and IRC merger currently impeding the operation of the wider research ecosystem.
• Action: Increased budget allocation for DFHERIS and Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland to meet the minimum EU agreed funding requirements for an Irish research ecosystem.
• Action: Commit to a national standardisation of PhD stipends across all funding bodies and awards that aligns with minimum standards of living, initially €25,000 per annum.
• Action: An immediate and dedicated report by SOLAS and the SLMRU to map the current and future needs of STEM careers now and on a continual 5-year basis to support IMPACT 2030 targets and beyond.
• Action: Equip primary and secondary level education system to meet current and future standards as well as skill gaps in the delivery of fundamental STEM education via the curriculum and CPD of educators.
• Action: A dedicated plan (based on a detailed survey of needs) for the maintenance and development of research infrastructure including a national materials characterisation centre with input from all relevant stakeholders and users of that infrastructure.
• Action: Inclusion of two education representatives on the National Training Fund Advisory Board.
• Action: Commitment of allocation of current and future NTF surplus to maintaining research infrastructure.
• Action: Establish a National Science Forum chaired by DFHERIS with inter-departmental attendees and science stakeholders.
• Action: Maintain and expand the Oireachtas Friends of Science & Technology Group to bridge gap between research, science, and policy makers.
• Action: Establishment of a Government led and funded independent National Science Centre for public information and education.
• Action: Prioritise membership and participation in European Technology Council for Advanced Materials supported by a clearly defined national strategy which is aligned to our strategic priorities.
• Action: Identify the needs of the tertiary education sector and plan appropriate funding investments, including areas such as, addressing national skill shortages and expertise gaps, staffing and infrastructure.

AMBER’s Pre-Budget Submission 2025