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!