Ms Leptin is visiting Dublin today where she’s meeting Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for further and higher education, James Lawless and Celine Fitzgerald, CEO of Research Ireland, among others.
She is also meeting European Research Council (ERC) grantees, researching AI, climate change and health innovations.
At a time when the Government and country is apprehensive regarding US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, this is exactly the time when focus should be brought to Ireland’s “scientific strengths,” Ms Leptin told the Irish Independent, as she urged continued investment.
“Ireland is understandably concerned about tariffs,” Ms Leptin said. “But Ireland could become a centre for science. Ireland is a wealthy country, with huge talent and with funding scientists can have the freedom to innovate.
“AI wasn’t invented yesterday. And it’s not a surprise to those who have been involved in AI for 70 years, it’s getting headlines now.
“But we wouldn’t be here today with AI developments had the scientists who came up with neural networks not stuck with it.
“They were led by their own convictions that what they were doing was interesting and they were funded by taxpayer money. That’s why I’m here, with the scientific community, to remind policy makers not to cut that off.
“It’s important for everyone to see and be reminded that when we speak about European competitiveness and Europe as a leader in science, that’s now more important than ever.
“We must all remember that research is the foundation of everything we need to do in the future. We need innovation, to understand set concepts. That’s what drives people and democracies.”
Ms Leptin praised Ireland’s science community and said it must band together across Europe and alongside American scientists, who may want to relocate to the “haven” of Europe.
“There are so many positives right now,” she said. “Scientists pull together anyway. We are one community across Europe and that’s a great thing. We must also express solidarity with US scientists. We could offer them a haven in Europe. I think many are considering this option. If they want to come to Europe, we must welcome them.
“The ERC always had, as one of its aims, to be attractive to researchers from abroad and enable them to resettle in Europe.”
The ERC has a budget to aid American scientists to relocate to Europe with their labs, she added.
Ireland has so far benefited from European funding with €350 million for science and according to Ms Leptin, the sky’s the limit for Ireland.
One of the Irish projects funded under Excellent Science via the European Research Council, is an innovation on artificial micro vehicles with life-like behaviour. The project is led by Dr Larisa Florea, assistant professor in chemistry at Trinity College. The project is planned to improve health and safety through early detection of harmful pollutants.