Marine Biotechnology Task Force Workshop

Irish interest in the sustainable exploitation of marine bioresources has been developing over a number of years, in line with international activity, which targets marine environments as sources of biological, genetic and chemical diversity for novel compounds offering a wide range of applications across many industry sectors. Ireland’s strengths in this area lie in our extensive and high quality marine environment and resources, a recognised capacity in marine biological sciences and strong research and technological capabilities in the food, health, pharmaceutical, medical devices and nutraceutical sectors. The importance, and market potential of this emerging area, has been recognised by the EU and, domestically, under the National Research Prioritisation Exercise and the integrated marine plan “Harnessing our Ocean Wealth”. Over the past decade the Marine Institute has initiated the Marine Biodiscovery and Nutramara research programmes. More recently a Marine Biotechnology Task Force, initiated by the Marine Institute, has been articulating the opportunities and requirements for Ireland to build on and intensify these activities. The purpose of this Workshop is give industry and the research community the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft report and strategy prepared by the task force, with a view to prioritising programmes, building partnerships and identifying the projects and infrastructure for which funding mechanisms will be sought, nationally and internationally.