23/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Recovery means R&D investment. After the EU27 finance ministers had given their go-ahead the day before to the principle of financial support for Ireland (see related article), the European research commissioner delivered a speech at Dublin City University insisting on the key role of research and development (R&D) as a driving force for economic recovery. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn underlined that, with 57% of Irish companies considered as innovative between 2006 and 2008, the country was “extremely well placed to become a global innovation hub”. The commissioner also welcomed reforms accomplished by the universities, while highlighting that they must make a further effort to create more synergy with the business and industrial world. He asked: “Why should there not be an Irish Nokia, Apple or Google?”