More funding could help Ireland develop 'own pharma industry', scientist says

Vivienne Clarke

A leading scientist has said Ireland needs to invest more in science and innovation to attract European research funding and talent.

Luke O'Neill, a professor of biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin, said while Ireland had been successful in securing European Research Council (ERC) grants, indicating the presence of strong talent, the country's underinvestment in science and research compared to the European average was a concern.

Prof O’Neill told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show that there should be long-term, stable funding for scientific research, “not budget to budget”.

His comments come amid concern over Ireland's exposure to US president Donald Trump's tariffs on imported goods.

About 45,000 people are employed in Ireland’s pharmaceutical companies, while some €58 billion in pharma and chemicals is exported from Ireland to the US every year.

Prof O’Neill said Ireland and Europe needed to work together to create a more competitive and collaborative research environment to keep pace with the US and China.

Ireland had great talent, which was one of the reasons why “Big Pharma” had located here, Prof O'Neill said.

“Why can't we get young people now innovating, discovering the new things for the future, that will build Ireland up then as a really successful country. The trouble is it's a five, 10, 15 years' time frame.

“We're under-investing massively, and this is one of the sad parts of this. Ireland has not been investing in science effectively for the last 20, 30 years. We're half the European average. Now, for me, that's a shameful statistic, given that Ireland has a [budget] surplus.”

“Now, I know many countries or many people are looking for access to the money. I used to go to the Brussels in the 90s in the EU, and they would say to me, oh, there's poor Ireland, we're going to give you money. I go now, and they go, you guys are loaded. Why aren't you investing yourselves in science?

“And the ERC, remember, is not meant to replace that national fund. The ERC is an add-on to your national budget. And if you don't have sufficient national funding, it's harder to get the ERC money. So if we invest ourselves, we'll get more ERC money from Brussels. That's how it works.

“Scientists need stability. Now, the Americans are worrying that if you're a great scientist, you want to do great science anywhere. It doesn't really matter what country you're in, in a sense. If you're not getting sufficient support, you will move somewhere else. and American scientists are contacting us going, we can't be guaranteed anymore. They're cutting our funding. You know, there's uncertainty there.

“And that's bad because you can't build up your team, you can recruit people. So you need five-, 10-year timeframes really here, which for politicians sadly is a bit too long.”