Ireland has significantly increased its research output and impact over the past two decades. Irish universities are now ranked in the top 1% globally in 16 fields based on citations per paper, up from 10 fields in 2005. Specifically, Ireland is ranked 2nd in the world in immunology and 6th in molecular biology and genetics. Additionally, Irish research has had a significant impact in the fields of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, psychiatry/psychology, and neuroscience.

2. Top 20 Countries in All Fields 2008* * in terms of citations per paper) Sources: http ://sciencewatch.com/dr/cou/2008/08decALL/ http ://www.in-cites.com/countries/2007allfields.html http ://www.in-cites.com/countries/ireland.html In 2008 Ireland appeared in the ‘Top Countries in All Fields’ list for the first time. Currently at 19 th place in the world, we have moved up from 36 th in the world in 2003

3. The number of research papers produced in the EU has increased by over 100% Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

4. Over the same period, the number of research papers produced in Ireland has increased by over 300% Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

5. Ireland has more than doubled its percentage share of world research papers. Currently Ireland produces 0.44% of all world research papers. Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

6. In terms of research impact, Ireland has come from behind to match the European average… Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

7. Average cumulative citations to cumulative papers 1981-2007 … and Ireland now outstrips the European cumulative citation impact Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

8. Similarly, Ireland’s research impact has exceeded the world average over the past 10 years, and is rising… Impact (cites per paper) relative to world average: Baseline=1.0 World Baseline Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

9. * the latest figures available from OECD Source: OECD SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD 2007 http://fiordiliji.sourceoecd.org/pdf/sti2007/922007081e1-a-2.pdf OECD average EU average Ireland GERD Intensity 2005 As % of GDP While Irish research funding has increased, it was still below the EU-27 average in 2005* and 2006*. The excellence of Ireland’s research performance can be seen when our research impact is compared with research expenditure internationally.

10. Ireland EU 27 EU 27 EU 15 OECD Source: OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook: 2008 (Complete Edition - ISBN 9264049916)

11. Outputs and impact

12. Source of data: Essential Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

13. Source of data: Essential Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

14. Source of data: Essential Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

15. Success Stories

16. * measured by citations per paper; source: Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators, accessed: May 1 2005 In terms of research impact * in May 2005 Irish universities were in the top 1% research institutions in the world in the following 10 fields : 1 BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY 2 MICROBIOLOGY 3 CLINICAL MEDICINE 4 CHEMISTRY 5 PHYSICS 6 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 7 MATERIALS SCIENCE 8 PLANT & ANIMAL SCIENCE 9 ENGINEERING 10 SOCIAL SCIENCES, GENERAL

19. Ireland ranks No. 2 in the World in Immunology* “ Another “small” country was able to impress… by its surprisingly high average citation ratio; Ireland (14.2) came in second worldwide leaving even the “big” USA (13.5) behind in third place. France (12.7) and Scotland (12.5) followed in fourth and fifth places respectively ”. * In terms of impact (citations per paper) Source: Ralf Neumann (2007) ‘Publication Analysis 2000-2006 Immunology’ Lab Times 4, 38-41 http://www.lab-times.org/labtimes/issues/lt2007/lt04/lt_2007_04_38_40.pdf

20. Ireland is 6 th in the World in Molecular Biology and Genetics Source: Thomson Scientific 2007 http://scientific.thomsonreuters.com/press/pdf/tl/050808.pdf http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:jsofRKzBh3wJ:scientific.thomsonreuters.com/press/pdf/tl/050808.pdf+ireland+citations+ranking&hl= en&ct = clnk&cd =17&gl= ie&lr = lang_en&client = firefox -a

22. Source: Times Higher Education, 8 June 2008 http:// www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode =402206&sectioncode=26 Ireland is ranked 15 th in the World in Psychiatry/Psychology

23. Source: Times Higher Education, 19 June 2008 http:// www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode =26&storycode=402477 Ireland is ranked 17 th in the World in Neuroscience and Behaviour

24. Top 20 Countries in MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) Source : ScienceWatch (Thomson Reuters) http:// sciencewatch.com/ana/st/mrsa/nations / Ireland is ranked 17 th in the world in research into MRSA - ahead of Spain, Sweden, Germany in the world top 20 countries in MRSA

25. Physics: Impact of Ireland, Europe & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

27. Materials Sciences: Impact of Ireland, Europe & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

28. Engineering: Impact of Ireland, Europe & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

29. Engineering: Impact of Ireland, Europe, the OECD & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

30. Energy & Fuels - Impact of Ireland, Europe, the OECD & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

31. Clinical Medicine: Impact of Ireland, Europe & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

32. Clinical Medicine: Impact of Ireland, Europe, the OECD & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

33. Biology: Impact of Ireland, Europe & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)

34. Biology: Impact of Ireland, Europe, the OECD & the World Source: National Science Indicators (Thomson Reuters)