Although strong relations exist between industry and universities, rigid university semesters and academic incentives that prioritised publication over industry impact were a hindrance for the industry side of the collaboration. A lack of industry experience in academia was also holding things back, respondents said.
“In order to stimulate technological investment and commercialisation in the sector, it is vital to have both firm funding commitments and a stable policy and planning environment. Presently there is huge uncertainty around these factors in Ireland,” said lead researcher Dr Frank Crowley, lecturer in Economics at Cork University Business School and codirector of the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre at University College Cork .
“Ireland has the natural resources and the unique geographical location to be the global leader in these sectors of the future. But now, I don’t see the commitment or the will from Government. There is too much second guessing on the technology and taking an adoptive and wait and see approach. The technologies are advancing, we see sites in Scotland, Wales, Portugal, the US.
The research was conducted by a team led by researchers at the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre at Cork University Business School in UCC.