Martin Daly: Ireland must invest in research, PhDs and skills
Martin Daly argued that higher education, research and skills are economic necessities and called for bold investment to secure Ireland's future prosperity. He welcomed the minister's announcement of a new Global Talent Initiative and urged increased R&D spending, PhD support and lifelong upskilling in response to geopolitical shifts.
Martin Daly said knowledge drives prosperity and insisted higher education, research and skills are not optional extras but the economic engine of the country. He argued every lecture hall, lab and apprenticeship is an investment in competitive advantage and that research and innovation fuel growth across sectors from artificial intelligence to agriculture, clean technology and healthcare.
He highlighted Census 2022 data showing more than 38,000 people in Ireland held a doctorate, a 33% increase since 2016, and noted that PhD enrolments rose 5% in 2023 compared with the previous academic year and are 26% higher since 2016. Daly described PhD programmes as the fulcrum of collaboration between universities and industry and urged a culture that sees doctoral study as vital to the national economy.
Daly cited OECD research linking a 1% increase in R&D investment to a 0.13% rise in economic growth as evidence of strong returns on research spending. He pointed to industry trends, noting more than half of full-time researchers in the EU now work in industry, and used the example that Apple spends more on R&D in a year than the entire UK Government to illustrate private-sector commitment to innovation.
Warning of a more fragmented global economy with rising protectionism and looming U.S. tariffs, Daly said a retreat in international scientific leadership risks reduced global competition and lower incentives to innovate. He argued that, at such a moment, Ireland must go in the opposite direction by doubling down on investment in people, knowledge and research and welcomed the minister's new Global Talent Initiative as a step in that direction.
Daly concluded by urging sustained funding and collaboration between universities and industry, stronger support for PhD candidates and lifelong skills development to future-proof the economy. He framed increased R&D and skills investment as the path to maintaining and enhancing Ireland's global competitiveness.
Why education and research matter
Martin Daly said knowledge drives prosperity and insisted higher education, research and skills are not optional extras but the economic engine of the country. He argued every lecture hall, lab and apprenticeship is an investment in competitive advantage and that research and innovation fuel growth across sectors from artificial intelligence to agriculture, clean technology and healthcare.
PhD and research trends
He highlighted Census 2022 data showing more than 38,000 people in Ireland held a doctorate, a 33% increase since 2016, and noted that PhD enrolments rose 5% in 2023 compared with the previous academic year and are 26% higher since 2016. Daly described PhD programmes as the fulcrum of collaboration between universities and industry and urged a culture that sees doctoral study as vital to the national economy.
Economic evidence and industry examples
Daly cited OECD research linking a 1% increase in R&D investment to a 0.13% rise in economic growth as evidence of strong returns on research spending. He pointed to industry trends, noting more than half of full-time researchers in the EU now work in industry, and used the example that Apple spends more on R&D in a year than the entire UK Government to illustrate private-sector commitment to innovation.
Geopolitics and policy response
Warning of a more fragmented global economy with rising protectionism and looming U.S. tariffs, Daly said a retreat in international scientific leadership risks reduced global competition and lower incentives to innovate. He argued that, at such a moment, Ireland must go in the opposite direction by doubling down on investment in people, knowledge and research and welcomed the minister's new Global Talent Initiative as a step in that direction.
Appeal for sustained investment
Daly concluded by urging sustained funding and collaboration between universities and industry, stronger support for PhD candidates and lifelong skills development to future-proof the economy. He framed increased R&D and skills investment as the path to maintaining and enhancing Ireland's global competitiveness.
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Transcript
Minister, in a world reshaping by technology, climate change and shifting geopolitics, one truth remains constant. Knowledge drives prosperity. In this rapidly changing landscape, higher education, research and skills are not luxuries, they are economic necessities. Ireland's competitive edge will not come from natural resources or low costs, it will come from talent, from the people we educate, the research we fund, the skills we foster. Every lecture hall, every lab, every apprenticeship is an investment in the future of our economy. Research and innovation do not happen in silos, they fuel growth across every sector, from artificial intelligence to agriculture, clean technology to healthcare. When we support researchers, we are not just funding ideas, we are building industries. Countries that increase research and development spending consistently see long term gains in GDP, productivity and global competitiveness. Skills are just as vital, as industries evolve so much our workforce, that means investing in further education, digital upskilling and lifelong learning. A flexible, skilled population is what allows a small nation to compete on a global stage. Higher education is the foundation, it attracts international talent, creates partnerships with industry and helps anchor high-value jobs here at home. In this uncertain global climate, Ireland must be bold. The most resilient economies will be those that invest in people, knowledge and innovation. That is how we future-proof our prosperity, not by looking inward, but by committing fully to education, research and skills. We should not treat these as optional extras, they are our economic engine, and in a changing world, our economic competitive advantage. Research is key. Collaboration between universities and industry must be fostered, driven and funded. PhD programmes are the fulcrum of such collaboration. A quite but important transformation is already underway. Census 2022 showed that more than 38,000 people in Ireland held a doctorate degree of 33% since 2016. In 2023, PhD enrolments increased by 5% compared to the previous academic year, and 26% since 2016. These numbers tell a story of progress, but they also hint at an untapped opportunity. We need to build a culture in Ireland that sees the pursuit of research development and a PhD as vital path for individuals and our national economy. Today's PhD graduates are fuelling Ireland's burgeoning innovation ecosystem. They are solving real-world problems in industry, public policy, climate and health. They are building our country's future, and they are exactly the kind of minds we need to compete globally. In a world rocked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic upheaval, with the U.S. tariffs looming and their retreat from international scientific leadership, Ireland stands at a crossroads. As America turns inward, we have the opportunity to turn outward and upward to become a global hub for ideas, innovation and research. That is why I welcome Minister Lawless' announcement today of the new Global Talent Initiative. Academic researchers are increasingly bringing their skills to the heart of industry, working in R&D departments of leading companies, driving innovation, product development and long-term strategic thinking. In fact, more than half of all full-time researchers in the EU now work in industry. Companies understand the value of this work. Take Apple, which spends more on R&D in a year than the entire UK Government. That is not a coincidence. It is a recognition that investing in knowledge, creativity and experimentation pays dividends in future products, competitiveness and growth. And the data backs it up. OECD research shows that a 1% increase in R&D investment is linked to a 0.13% rise in economic growth. That is a powerful return on investment. We are entering a more fragmented global economy with rising protectionism, trade tensions and tariffs. History shows that these kinds of measures often lead to a decline in international competition. And when competition drops, so too does the incentive to innovate. And that is the danger for Ireland. A fall in global competition could trigger a slowdown in R&D investment here at home. We cannot let this happen. At a time when other economies may be turning inward, Ireland must go in the opposite direction by doubling down on investment in knowledge, research and people. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.