SCIENCE FOUNDATION:Investments by Science Foundation Ireland in 2011 helped the State maintain its ranking among the top 20 countries in the world for scientific research, the Government agency said yesterday in its annual report.

SFI-funded researchers worked with 246 multinationals and 337 small- to medium-sized enterprises last year.

They reported 5,740 publications for 2011, which represents a 15 per cent increase on the previous year, and succeeded in securing €156 million from non-SFI sources.

Researchers supported by the agency made significant breakthroughs in areas including sudden infant death syndrome, cancer, superbugs, blindness and computer viruses.

“The research breakthroughs which we have been seen across Ireland over the past year serve to underscore the importance of investment in Ireland’s future and I look forward to seeing the further discoveries in 2012,” said Science Foundation chairman Prof Pat Fottrell