The Irish Research Council
March 6th 2014
Dr Eucharia Meehan Director, Irish Research Council
The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant and creative research community in Ireland
The Irish Research Council – who are we?
3
Dept of Jobs Enterprise and
Innovation
Dept of Education and Skills
Dept of Health
Dept of Environment
Dept of Ag, Food & Marine
Time of great change ………
National Strategy for Higher Education / Research Prioritisation Exercise
www.education.iewww.hea.iewww.forfas.ie
What do we do?
Excellence
Investing in IdeasAll Disciplines
Excellence
Exploratory Research
Investing in IdeasAll Disciplines
Interdisciplinary
Investing in People
Excellence
Exploratory Research
Individual researchers
Early stage career development
Investing in Ideas
Policy advisory role
Structure & transferable skills
All Disciplines
Interdisciplinary
Council – ‘SEEDCORN’• Providing balance in the system:
– Excellent People and their ideas across all areas regardless of timeframe for impact
– Only funder for AHSS – Charged to foster inter-disciplinary research
• Providing opportunities to harness all talent – PEOPLE THE FOCUS– Cultivating - enhancing education and skills development
for PhDs (largest national funder of PhDs)– Career development (NB early stage career….– European engagements and opportunities ; ERC, Marie-
Curie, AHSS– Fostering relationships between employers/knowledge
users and individuals
Postgrad
Government of Ireland12th
March 2013
Enterprise Partnership SchemeAndrew Grene Scholarship
Postgraduate Scholarships
Government of IrelandDeadline Jan 2014Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Employment Programme TBC
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Government of IrelandDeadline Feb 2014Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Elevate Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship
Research Project (AHSS)
Starter GrantsAdvanced GrantsInterdisciplinary Grants
TBC
Networking & Travel Grants
Ulysses TBC
New Foundations TBC
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Awards TBC
IRC Schemes 2014
Partnerships
Diverse Careers….
Enterprise Partnership Scheme (EPS)•Are you looking to engage with exceptional researchers?
Employment Based Postgraduate Programme (EBP)• Would you like to have an exceptional researcher based
onsite?
International Postdoctoral Programme (ELEVATE)• Would you like to host an exceptional researcher at an
International base?
Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Pilot Employment-based Postgraduate Programme
Elevate Postdoctoral Programme
Masters, PhD, Postdoc Masters, PhD Postdoc
Irish Research Council, 66% €Enterprise Partner, 33 €
IRC €16,000 & feesEmployment Partner top-up to
min €24,000
European Commission, 40% €Irish Research Council, 30% €Enterprise Partner, 30% €
Researcher based in Irish HEI with placement opportunity in Company/Employer
Researcher employed - ‘co-educational’ initiative with min. of 30% of time in Irish HEI
Researcher 2 years abroad in HEI or Company and 1 year in Irish HEI
Company based anywhere Employer based in Ireland Company based anywhere
Employer-academia-social engagement
New ProgrammeIn 2013
www.horizon2020.ie
NORFACEERA-NET
EU Networks & Opportunities
•National Delegate = Dr Gemma Irvine• Vote & agree on Commission’s management of
programmes• Ensuring Irish interest in future calls• Proposal negotiation results• (ERC - AHSS, Societal Challenge 6, Marie Curie)
•National Contact Point = Paul Kilkenny• Support and advice for current calls • Organising training sessions• Briefing and awareness of future calls• Feedback to Commission services• (ERC – AHSS, Societal Challenge 6)
Roles in Horizon 2020 – ERC and Societal Challenge 6
Planned Events & Supports
•Information Briefing Sessions• Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies• European Research Council (ERC)• Gender Dimension Training Workshops• Enterprise Partner Workshops
•Events for information exchange and matchmaking
• Role in cultivating interdisciplinary research under National Strategy for H2020;
• Creative Connections in H2020 Workshops to be held throughout the year
Investing in Excellence and Understanding
Thank you!