It is always a great personal pleasure for me to visit the National University of Ireland, Galway; in my capacity as Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Commerce. It is even a greater pleasure to be here on an occasion which celebrates the official opening of the Extension to the BioResearch Ireland Campus Centre here in this hallowed complex.

The NDC is part of Bio-Research Ireland, or BRI as it is known, which is the national organisation for commercialising biotechnology. BioResearch Ireland was established in 1988 as a partnership between Government and the Universities. BRI is the largest and the first of the Programmes in Advanced Technology (PAT's) which are funded by our Office of Science & Technology and managed by Enterprise Ireland. The main function of BRI is to support Irish economic development by commercialising biotechnology-related research.

Since its establishment the National Diagnostic Centre has made a significant impact on biotechnology research in Ireland through assisting start-up companies and providing internationally competitive research services. The NDC develops Advance Diagnostic Tests and Reagents for the Healthcare, Veterinary and Environmental applications. The Centre has established an international R&D reputation and has attracted industry funding and research contracts world-wide. These international collaborations allow the Centre's scientists to operate at the forefront of new diagnostic developments.

The new suite of laboratories which I am opening here today, are a welcome extension to the Centre's facilities and reflect the successful growth of the NDC over the last 10 years. The extension has become necessary to cater for the increasing number of staff within the Centre which now employs 65 people. The expansion of research services by the Centre is also reflected in the growing Operational Budget which now stands at £1.4m, of which, 80% is obtained through research contracts. The remaining 20% is provided by our Office of Science & Technology through the PAT's budget.

I am very pleased to see that the strengths of NDC have been built around the University expertise in diagnostic technology - in particular, the Departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology. While both these Departments contributed to the original focus of the NDC, the Centre has interacted with over 15 University Departments. I am very pleased to see this forward and indeed, outward looking approach by the NDC and the NUIG.

This is particularly important in the context of the Post 1999 funding scenario which will evolve over the coming months in discussions with the European Commission in Brussels. In their Communication entitled "Re-enforcing Cohesion and Competitiveness through Research, Technology and Innovation" the European Commission in particular stresses the need for greater collaboration between industry and academia; between companies; and within academia itself. It is very important in planning our future research efforts, that we should try to collaborate as much as, and wherever possible. There are obvious reasons for this, such as reducing the risks and costs involved. However, I believe that more importantly, sharing the knowledge and experience that exists in the research community should be the main motivator.

It is quite obvious that this sharing of knowledge has had several successes in the case of the NDC. I might just mention the following:-

• recent successes in the clinical healthcare area where a test of Osteocalcin which is a marker of Osteoporosis was initially investigated by the Biochemistry Department and after further development at the NDC, the product was transferred to the Irish Diagnostic Company, Trinity Biotech.
• The NDC won the 1998 Price Waterhouse/STI/Irish Times Science Innovation Award for the Salivary Fertility Test Kit. These kits are used by doctors to monitor fertility hormones in women experiencing infertility and are now being brought through clinical evaluation in association with commercial partners.
• In the area of Intellectual Property, a patent derived from research at the Microbiology Department here has led to a BRI contract with the major European diagnostic company, Innogenetics.
• The NDC has also worked on Assays for the Agriculture and Veterinary applications with staff scientists being awarded grants and contracts from the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc, the Marine Institute and the European Framework Programmes. The DNA technology group have been to the forefront of research on Bovine Tuberculosis and rapid detection of Brucellosis as well as other bacterial and fungal pathogens of both animal and plant health.
• On Food Safety, the NDC has a programme to assess contamination of meat and cereals. Tests to detect pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, E.Coli and other micro-organisms of food spoilage are also under investigation.

I mentioned earlier the importance of collaboration, and I am particularly pleased to note the association between the NDC and many leading Irish Biotechnology companies such as Schering Plough; Merck Sharp and Dohme; Fort Dodge Laboratories; and Irish companies such as Elan, Guinness, Trinity Biotech, Biotrin, Xenith, Mednova and Hygeia.

The Centre's staff are the core of its reputation and achievements. Currently there are over sixty graduates and post-graduates involved in the Centre's activities. The majority of these young scientists are engaged in research and development, while others provide research services to the clinical and aquaculture sectors. The experience and expertise that these staff gain at the NDC, are helping to lay the foundations for the future of the bio-industry, here in Ireland.

I think, that it would be appropriate for me to say that in this context, these staff are in many ways a reflection of the future needs of the Irish bio-research industry. Many of you will be aware that last year I asked the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation to carry out a Technology Foresight Initiative which attempts to identify emerging technologies that will be key to national economic development in the medium to longer term- that is, in the next 15 to 20 years. Technology Foresight also aims to present a Plan of Action to address the opportunities and challenges associated with these technologies. I want to inform you that ICSTI recently presented me with a copy of the Technology Foresight findings which will be formally published next month. I don't think that I am giving away any State secrets by indicating that Biotechnology is very much to the fore in the Technology Foresight Report's many recommendations. I will, in the coming weeks be looking at the recommendations in greater detail to see how these might best be implemented. I would urge all the players involved in the BioResearch Industry to examine the Report and its recommendations to see how you - the people "on the ground" - might implement these recommendations .

I want to turn now to the issue of S&T Awareness. I want in particular, to thank the National University of Ireland, Galway, BioResearch Ireland, and the National Diagnostic Centre for their participation in last year's Regional Science Festival here in Galway. I think it goes without saying, that it was a resounding success.

It is very important for me as Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce that researchers show to the tax paying public at large, the fruits of their work. It is very important that people have a greater awareness and appreciation of, and are comfortable with, the impact of Science and Technology on their daily lives. The S&T Awareness campaign which is run by our Office of Science & Technology tries to address this.

I am absolutely delighted to be able to confirm that a second Galway Science Festival will be a major feature of the 1999 Science Week Ireland later this year. I would urge all of you here to-day, to continue to bring to the public's attention, the excellent research work being carried out here, to which I referred to earlier. It behoves us all to show the tax payers where their money is being spent. It will also help me in selling proposals such as Technology Foresight at the Cabinet table. I know that I'm talking to the converted and that, you will play your part in this important work.

Let me conclude by congratulating everybody involved in today's Opening, - the National Diagnostics Centre and its excellent team; the National University of Ireland, Galway, and BioResearch Ireland.

Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me great pleasure therefore, to declare these new facilities here at the National Diagnostic Centre officially open.

Go Raibh Maith Agaibh.