The Tierney report - a challenge for leadership

Abstract

This paper is presented as a means of demonstrating that the Tierney Report, arising from the work of the Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC), has the potential to stimulate a new phase of socio-economic development. The Tierney Report pointed to a lack of awareness in Ireland of the importance of science, technology and innovation (STI). I hope to show what action the Report suggested as a way of improving the situation. For instance, although Bertie Ahern’s address to the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis did refer to Irelands ‘Silicon Valley’ and Intel, it contained no commitment to indigenous innovation as a force for economic development. Knowledge and technology transfer by means of mobile international investment is an important component of national economic strategy, but it is only one element in the vector of development forces.