This week: €14m for agricultural research, Ordinance Survey archive launches and student union welcomes legislation

In depth: Ireland’s new competitive research funding agency, Taighde Éireann, will launch on 1 August, initially led by interim chief executive Celine Fitzgerald, according to the Irish government. The announcement follows confirmation of Philip Nolan being removed from the role.

Full story: Research Ireland launch date and interim head announced

Also this week from Research Professional News

Early career researcher projects in Ireland receive €14.6m—Research selected for investment will address both “challenges and opportunities”

Here is the rest of the Ireland news this week…

Agricultural research centre gets €14m

University College Dublin has announced a major investment in new agricultural research and education facilities at UCD Lyons Farm. UCD is providing €8 million, with FBD Holdings and FBD Trust CLG pledging a philanthropic contribution of €6m in support of the facility, bringing the combined investment in UCD Lyons Farm to €14m. Construction of the new centre is due to commence in 2025. 

Ordnance Survey archive launched

A new digital archive gathering historic Ordnance Survey maps, memoirs, name-books and letters in one archive so that researchers and members of the public can easily access the material has been announced. A Digital Archive of Ireland’s Ordnance Survey is a new digital resource developed as part of collaborative research project ‘OS200: Digitally Remapping Ireland’s Ordnance Survey Heritage’, which has been funded by the Irish Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of a cross-border collaboration.

Student union welcomes new legislation

New legislation to stop student accommodation providers from offering only 51-week leases, which was recently passed through the Oireachtas, has been welcomed by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). USI had brought the issue to the attention of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in January, after several students informed the union they were being offered only 51-week leases instead of the usual term-time leases for the next academic year.

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Research selected for investment will address both “challenges and opportunities”

A total of €14.6 million in funding for 25 projects to support early career researchers has been announced under a collaborative initiative between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) to encourage a cohesive research ecosystem in Ireland.

“This funding will help facilitate a defined journey from post-doctoral research to independent research,” said minister for research Patrick O’Donovan. “Bridging this gap is a challenging but critical milestone, and the research selected for investment will address key challenges and opportunities, ranging from new therapies for Parkinson’s to the development of sustainable supercapacitors.”

The awards are aimed at enabling postdoctoral researchers to develop their career pathway and transition to become independent research leaders. The funding, covering a four-year period, will also provide additional support for a postgraduate student who will be primarily supervised by the awardee.

Commenting on the awards, Ruth Freeman, director of Science for Society at SFI, said the foundation is delighted to work in partnership with colleagues at the IRC to deliver the SFI-IRC Pathway Programme. 

“This provides targeted support to early career researchers who will use the funding to pursue independent research at the frontiers of knowledge,” said Freeman. “Investment in these projects will generate novel discoveries and insights across diverse research topics—from environmental sustainability to disease treatment and prevention, to wireless network security.”

The 25 research projects will be funded through 13 research bodies.

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New competitive funding agency represents “step-change in how research is funded”, says research minister

Ireland’s new competitive research funding agency, Taighde Éireann, will launch on 1 August, initially led by interim chief executive Celine Fitzgerald, according to the Irish government. The announcement follows confirmation of Philip Nolan being removed from the role.

The new agency will combine the activities and functions of the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and will capitalise on the recognised strengths of these two agencies in driving world-class research and innovation in Ireland.

The establishment of Taighde Éireann (Research Ireland) is also the keystone of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, and the new agency will be central to realising the ambitions set out in the strategy.

‘Vital support’

“The establishment of our new research agency represents a step-change in how research and innovation will be funded, maximising the impact of national competitive research and innovation funding,” said minister for research Patrick O’Donovan.

“This new agency will be a vital support in building the successful future of research and innovation in Ireland, engaging national challenges like the green and digital transitions, and boosting our international standing as research innovators in emerging fields, and the opportunities ahead.”

According to the government, the establishment of Taighde Éireann as the new research and innovation funding agency is set against an ambitious programme of reform in the tertiary sector. This comprises the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science itself, including the development of a unified tertiary system, its remit for the national research and innovation system, and other key policy developments.

An ongoing programme of stakeholder consultation has been taking place since the development of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, and has been integral to the development of the planning for the new agency. 

Praise for interim leader

The government also announced the roles of interim chief executive Celine Fitzgerald and board chairperson Michael Brogan.

“The CEO role will be a temporary appointment, pending the recruitment of a new CEO on a permanent basis,” said minister O’Donovan. “Ms Fitzgerald has an outstanding track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors, and I am confident that she is ideally equipped to lead Taighde Éireann into its first months in operation.”

“In addition, Michael Horgan, chairperson of the new agency’s board, will bring significant governance and leadership experience to drive the new agency forward, achieving its strategic goals and enabling Taighde Éireann to fulfil the ambitions set out in Impact 2030.”

The minister also assured there will be no interruption to ongoing services and funding programmes while the new agency is being set up, for anyone who is currently participating in IRC and SFI Programmes. 

“There are positive changes ahead,” O’Donovan said, “and they’ll be implemented in a carefully planned way, so that our researchers can be confident in this new agency and focus on the important work at hand.”

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This week: research management roles, QS University Rankings and research centres featured in BBC series

In depth: Ireland’s universities have urged the country’s government to work faster to close the higher education funding gap by providing more cash to cover public sector pay awards, as student-staff ratios worsen.

Full story: Ireland’s universities: tackle funding gap urgently

Also this week from Research Professional News

Agriculture department commits €22m to Irish research—Projects to receive funding include carbon capture, low-emissions dairy production and optimising oat production

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

University announces research management roles

Munster Technological University has announced 14 new roles in research management and administration under Ireland’s Technological Universities Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise programme. Earlier this year, MTU received €14.6 million in funding under TU Rise; the new posts will form a key part of MTU’s Research-to-Impact initiative. MTU is recruiting research and innovation professionals with targeted skills in key areas to work with world-class researchers on cutting-edge projects to deliver the highest standards of research impact.

Trinity ranked 26th in Europe by QS University Rankings

Trinity College Dublin has advanced five places in the QS World University Rankings for Europe 2025 to 26th, up from 31st in 2024. QS assessed 685 institutions in the Europe region, using 12 performance indicators; some of these differ to those used for the QS World University Rankings 2025, in which Trinity ranked 87th. QS said this approach enables direct comparisons in the region, offering a more granular view of metrics for institutional benchmarking and helping students to identify the highest quality universities.  

SFI research centres profiled in BBC series 

Two Science Foundation Ireland research centres, iCRAG and MaREI, have been profiled in a new global online video series that seeks to discover hidden connections between humans and the ocean. The Blue Horizons series, presented by the World Ocean Council, which has just been launched, features 18 video shorts from around the world. MaREI’s research on coastal erosion is featured, alongside iCRAG’s research on how sounds move through the ocean floor and onto land.

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Projects to receive funding include carbon capture, low-emissions dairy production and optimising oat production

Ireland’s agricultural R&D minister has pledged €22 million to 21 new research projects, focusing on areas including carbon capture and low emissions in dairy production, as part of his department’s Thematic Research call. 

Combined with the first tranche of projects announced last year, the overall funding is €46m—the largest amount committed by the department for a research call.

“This funding will see research work being conducted across a wide range of areas,” said Martin Heydon, minister for R&D, farm safety and new market development. 

“These areas include low-emissions dairy production, carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, developing farmland nature credits, optimising oat production and processing for healthy foods, assessing the impact of deer in forestry, advancing the Irish wool sector, sustainable packaging materials and improving shelf life of dairy products.”

The funding will support 48 postgraduate student positions and a further 55 postdoctoral and contract researchers across the 17 institutes receiving funding. Combined with the projects announced in the first tranche, this amounts to support for more than 200 research positions. 

“This ensures a pool of highly skilled researchers for these sectors, keeping Ireland at the cutting edge of science, technology and innovation,” said the government.

As part of the ongoing north-south co-operation on agri-food R&I, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland also collaborated on the research call by providing funding to enable eligible research organisations in Northern Ireland to participate in projects with partners in Ireland. Two projects will benefit from this collaboration in the second tranche.

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Irish Universities Association pressures government to deliver on its €307 million commitment

Ireland’s universities have urged the country’s government to work faster to close the higher education funding gap by providing more cash to cover public sector pay awards, as student-staff ratios worsen.

In a pre-budget submission, called Bridging the Funding Gap and Building for the Future, the Irish Universities Association says a failure to provide sufficient funds for national pay awards agreed by government has exacerbated the €307 million funding shortfall identified by the government in May 2022.

The paper says almost all of the extra €100m provided by the government over the past two years under its higher education funding initiative, Funding the Future, has been eroded by under-funding of pay awards, leaving universities materially short of funds to pay existing staff.

Funds ‘absolutely critical’

The IUA is calling for a €92m supplementary budget in 2024 to cover the costs of existing staff, a further €171m in 2025 to cover existing staff costs and at least €120m additional Funding the Future allocation. However, this would still leave one third of the €307m funding gap after three successive budgets.

“Each university in the state is faced with a shortage of funds to pay for existing staff this year,” said Jim Miley, director-general of the IUA.

“Collectively, this amounts to €92m. That €92m is what is needed just to stand still, with a further €171m required in 2025 to break even. It is now absolutely critical that the government fully funds the pay awards negotiated by them as part of the national pay round.

“The funding of the existing pay award will only maintain the current level of student-staff ratio, which seriously lags the EU average. It is critical that the necessary investment is made to enable universities to pay for the staff required to maintain a quality higher education for their students and to deliver the necessary support services. Underpinning the quality and resilience of higher education is mission-critical to Ireland’s competitiveness.”

‘Government must take urgent action’

The IUA pre-budget submission also calls for action on use of the surplus in the National Training Fund, which has now ballooned to more than €1.5 billion. The IUA urged the government to act on the commitment made by public expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe in last year’s budget to address the burgeoning NTF surplus.

The paper says: “It is inconceivable that the NTF surplus would be allowed to continue to grow while provisions for national skills needs go unmet.”

It adds: “The government must take urgent action to address the unacceptable anomaly of unmet skills needs while a €1.5bn-plus skills fund lies idle.”

The IUA is calling on the recently appointed research minister Patrick O’Donovan to urgently address the funding needs in order to secure the pipeline of future talent that is fundamental to the needs of the economy.

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This week: a Science Media Centre pilot, a digital mental health network and AI challenges

In depth: A Science Foundation Ireland research centre based at the University of Galway has added more than €750 million to Ireland’s economy, according to a report

Full story: Science Foundation Ireland centre was established in 2015 with initial €65 million investment

Also this week from Research Professional News

Government commits €1.4m to industry research programme—Programme will focus on areas such as offshore wind platforms and energy-efficient communication networks

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

All-Ireland Science Media Centre pilot launched

A pilot all-Ireland Science Media Centre has been launched. The global SMC network and the Irish charity Airfield Estate are collaborating on the initiative, which aims to combat misinformation in news media and foster a deeper public understanding of science. The pilot will test whether an SMC in Ireland could act as a vital resource for journalists. It will proactively offer access to commentary from scientists and to accurate scientific data on topical issues such as climate change, food production and vaccines. 

Digital youth mental health network funded

A team of researchers at University College Dublin and the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics have secured funding to build a digital youth mental health network in Europe and beyond, as part of the EU’s Cost Action funding stream. The YouthDMH initiative will be led by Andreas Balaskas and David Coyle and will run over four years, with the aim of supporting inclusive and innovative research on technology-enabled youth mental health work. 

Innovators gather to discuss AI challenges

European leaders and innovators convened at Trinity College Dublin in June to explore the potential of artificial intelligence, presenting new insights in the race for technological supremacy and ethical governance. Romanian MEP Dragoş Tudorache, architect of the EU’s AI Act, delivered a keynote talk on the geopolitics of AI, which centred on the EU’s initiative to set a gold standard for AI regulation.

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Programme will focus on areas such as offshore wind platforms and energy-efficient communication networks

The Irish government has provided €1.4 million in funding through 15 awards in Science Foundation Ireland’s Industry Research, Development and Innovation fellowship programme.

The Industry RD&I programme will support the temporary placement of academic researchers in 12 companies, to conduct research across a variety of areas. These include energy-efficient communications networks, electrochemical sensors for rapid medical diagnostics, seaweed extract for use in cosmetics/health products, moorings for offshore wind platforms and reducing cement’s carbon footprint using new generation low clinker cement technology.

“This funding supports colleagues in academia to bring their research knowledge and skills to an industry partner and work collaboratively on solutions to industry‐informed challenges,” said Siobhán Roche, director of science for the economy at Science Foundation Ireland. 

“The SFI Industry RD&I fellowship programme provides a unique opportunity for researchers, drives research excellence through knowledge exchange, and enhances the industry partners’ competitive advantage.”

The industry partners collaborating on these awards will provide co-funding with a total value exceeding €1 million. Industry partners will benefit from the expertise of the fellow, while fellows are provided with an opportunity to be immersed into industry and gain relevant business knowledge and experience. 

Fellowships can have a duration of between one and 12 months if full-time, and between two and 24 months if part-time. Fellows are from nine higher education institutes.

For more information on the SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme, visit the programme webpage SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme.

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Science Foundation Ireland centre was established in 2015 with initial €65 million investment

A Science Foundation Ireland research centre based at the University of Galway has added more than €750 million to Ireland’s economy, according to a report.

Cúram was established in 2015 with an initial government investment of €64.8m through SFI. 

An economic analysis carried out by the consulting firm Mazars and published in June shows that investment in Cúram up to the end of 2023 has led to direct spending of €210m in the Irish economy and a further €546m in economic activity in Ireland. This puts the total economic value at €756m—a more than tenfold return on government funding.

More than €80m of EU grant funding has been committed to research projects at Cúram, and the centre has supported a total of 2,547 jobs in the Irish economy, the report says.

‘Innovative solutions’

Welcoming the report, research minister Patrick O’Donovan congratulated Cúram for its significant impact on the Irish economy and society. 

“This report demonstrates the importance of the government’s policy of continuing to invest in research and innovation and supporting excellence and scale through the world-leading SFI research centre network, in areas of strategic national importance,” he said. 

“Cúram provides innovative solutions for industry and society, which enable better quality of life for patients. As our population ages, this is helping us to create a better tomorrow for all citizens.”

Medtech collaboration

According to SFI, Cúram has helped to expand Ireland’s attractiveness as a global hub for the medical technology sector by establishing partnerships and by fully funding or co-funding collaborative projects with 47 innovative companies in the sector. 

“Addressing chronic disease to support healthy ageing is one of the most pressing public health and economic challenges of our time,” said Cúram director Abhay Pandit (pictured left).

“Our research programme is developing solutions to help us all live well as we age, with conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.”

‘Deep commitment to education’

Siobhan Roche (pictured centre), director of science for the economy at SFI, joined in the celebration of the centre’s success, saying that Cúram had a strong track record of generating high-quality research and training the next generation of medical device researchers.

“The centre’s deep commitment to education and public engagement is not only inspiring younger generations to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and maths but is also promoting new approaches in the management of chronic illness. 

“Amplifying its impact, Cúram has attracted over €225.7m in additional investment from industry and EU sources, further highlighting the value of publicly funded research to the Irish taxpayer.”

Cúram has a further three years of operation left in its current government funding period to build on its impact. 

SFI said that by connecting the patient voice with the combined expertise and technologies of Ireland’s leading scientists, clinicians and engineers from 10 universities—alongside international industry partners—the centre has ensured that its research is shaped and guided by the invaluable perspectives of people with experience of chronic illness.

The president of the University of Galway, Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh (pictured right), said: “I would like to congratulate Cúram as they mark 10 impactful years of research. The centre epitomises what it means to be for the public good. The real value of Cúram remains its people and its key strength lies in building collaborations and networks that generate impactful research.”

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This week: university recognised for sustainability, protesters reach agreement and chief medical officer appointed

In depth: The World Allergy Organisation has recognised a paediatric allergy research group based in Ireland as a centre of excellence.

Full story: Cork University Hospital and University College Cork allergy research group awarded centre of excellence status

Also this week from Research Professional News

Dorothy programme launches fellowships to tackle health crises—Topics include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing depression among young people

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

University of Galway wins recognition for sustainability

The University of Galway has been named the top university in Ireland for sustainable development for the third year in a row. The accolade has been awarded by Times Higher Education Impact rankings in recognition of the university’s progress in responding to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It has been recognised for a significant contribution to progress on 11 of the 17 UN SDGs. The rankings also place the University of Galway in the world’s top 50.

Agreement reached to end encampment at UCD

University College Dublin has published a statement on the attacks in Palestine and an agreement to end the protest encampment on its Belfield campus. The university agreed to develop a policy on ethical investment by June 2025 and establish a stream of up to eight sanctuary scholarships for displaced Palestinian applicants. Several unions have now ended their encampment and associated protests on the campus.

Chief medical officer appointed

The Irish government has named Mary Horgan as interim chief medical officer at the Department of Health. An expert in infectious disease, the University College Dublin academic’s appointment comes after the departure of former CMO Breda Smyth. The Department of Health described Horgan as a national and international leader in medical education and training in infectious disease and public health.

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Topics include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing depression among young people

A postdoctoral research programme, launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, has announced a €2.6 million fund for 10 fellows tackling public health crises using various disciplines across the sciences, humanities and engineering.

The Dorothy programme is a postdoctoral research programme co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Three Irish funding agencies—the Irish Research Council, the Health Research Board and the Environmental Protection Agency—have collaborated to create the interdisciplinary fellowship programme. 

Welcoming the announcement, Peter Brown, the director of the Irish Research Council, said: “The Irish Research Council is delighted to partner with the Dorothy MSCA programme. [It] supports career researchers from a variety of disciplines to conduct and manage research projects that have strong relevance to public health crises.

“The programme aligns with the ambitions of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, to strengthen multi- and trans-disciplinary research to deliver enhanced outcomes for citizens and society, and to develop the national and international talent needed to do so.”

The researchers will embark on a 36-month postdoctoral fellowship with a focus on public health crises including topics such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the consequences of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on displaced women across the island of Ireland, and the global rise in depression and anxiety among young people.

Fellowships will have an international outgoing phase of 18 months, hosted at a higher education institution or research performing organisation outside Ireland, followed by a return phase of 18 months to an HEI or RPO in the country.

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Cork University Hospital and University College Cork allergy research group awarded centre of excellence status

The World Allergy Organization has recognised a paediatric allergy research group based in Ireland as a centre of excellence. 

Operating from Cork University Hospital (CUH) and University College Cork (UCC), the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health focuses on food allergies, particularly how bacteria can affect allergies in the gut, skin and lungs, and patients’ quality of life. 

The group is dedicated to discovering new therapies to diagnose food allergies and prevent the occurrence of allergies.

The accreditation by the World Allergy Organization (WAO) recognises the group’s position as a global leader in allergy and immunology research, education and clinical care. It is the first of its kind in Ireland.

‘Highest level of care’

“This accreditation highlights our dedication to providing the highest level of care to paediatric allergy patients," said CUH chief executive David Donegan. 

“It reinforces our commitment to patient education, advocacy and innovative therapies.”

Benefits of becoming such a centre include opportunities to collaborate with the WAO on educational programmes and suggest topics for educational resources. There are also opportunities to network with other centres of excellence to form international relationships and partnerships.

The WAO Centers of Excellence programme aims to intensify and accelerate multidisciplinary scientific and clinical innovation, education and advocacy worldwide. The two Irish institutions join leading international centres advancing excellence in education, research, and training in allergy, asthma and clinical immunology.

‘Prestigious recognition’

According to UCC, in Ireland, 10 per cent of children and young adults have more than one allergic or atopic disorder such as food allergy, eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis. Allergies in childhood can have a major impact on the overall quality of life of a child. In severe cases, children may experience anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction. Therefore, early identification and management of allergies are crucial in supporting the lifelong health and well-being of children.

The head of college of medicine and health at UCC, Helen Whelton, said: “This prestigious international recognition underscores UCC’s commitment to excellence in multidisciplinary allergy research and education.

“It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and their ongoing translation of new knowledge to clinical care.”

The CUH-UCC allergy research group also delivers education programmes that attract students from across the globe. Pivotal to the WAO accreditation is the success of its online postgraduate programme in allergy and clinical immunology.

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This week: SFI director court case, €34m research awards and investment in Sligo’s education facilities

In depth: Ireland’s first national guidelines for open-access publishing have been created, providing practical support for scholarly publishers and authors.

Full story: Guidelines will support Ireland’s plan to achieve full open access to research publications by 2030

Also this week from Research Professional News

€35m Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems launches—Co-centre will focus on food safety, food production, nutrition, plant and animal science, and more

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

SFI director’s dismissal suspended

The High Court has suspended Science Foundation Ireland’s dismissal of its director Philip Nolan, after senior managers at the funder accused him of bullying behaviour. An investigation commissioned by SFI concluded that his conduct was “at the upper end of inappropriate behaviour and just below bullying”. Nolan categorically denies the allegations made against him, and his lawyers argued that there was “no conceivable justification” for his dismissal. Judge Rory Mulcahy granted him an injunction preventing his dismissal. Another hearing will take place on 11 June. 

SFI Frontiers for the Future awards

Almost 30 SFI Frontiers for the Future awards valued at €34 million have been announced to support research across seven higher education institutions. The awards, of up to five years’ duration, will support 124 research positions including 58 postdoctoral positions, 53 PhD students and 13 research assistants, as well as other positions. The programme has been funded in collaboration with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The awards provide opportunities for independent investigators to conduct innovative, original research on important questions. 

Sligo education facilities

Research minister Patrick O’Donovan has opened three new major education facilities in Sligo. The projects, costing €37 million, are delivered under Project Ireland 2040 with almost €22.5 million provided by the government towards the overall investment in Sligo’s further and higher education facilities. “Today marks a significant investment and enhancement of education and training facilities for Sligo and the north-west to greatly improve the learning experience of students in this region,” said O’Donovan.

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Co-centre will focus on food safety, food production, nutrition, plant and animal science, and more

A new €35 million Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems has been launched in a collaboration across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The centre aims to drive societal and political change in food system transformation and transition to climate neutrality by 2050, and comes just weeks after the launch of the first Co-Centre, the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, based on the same collaborative model.

According to Science Foundation Ireland, the co-centre, managed jointly by Queen’s University Belfast, University of Sheffield and University College Dublin, will bring together world-leading researchers from across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain for the first time, with research expertise in specific shared areas of common interest that are core to food system transformation. 

These include food safety, food production, nutrition, plant and animal science, behavioural change, data science, food system governance, and the political process of food system transformation.

“There is an urgency to provide food system transformation, with local, national and international food solutions that are underpinned by science, safety and governance,” said minister for research Patrick O’Donovan, launching the centre. “This co-centre will lead the charge in collaboratively generating those solutions.” 

The centre is jointly funded for six years by Ireland’s Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through SFI and through the Shared Island Fund. Funding has also come from industry, UK Research and Innovation, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

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Guidelines will support Ireland’s plan to achieve full open access to research publications by 2030

Ireland’s first national guidelines for open-access publishing have been created, providing practical support for scholarly publishers and authors.

The Royal Irish Academy, which co-led the project with Trinity College Dublin, said that open access has several benefits for society, such as increasing the transparency around research findings and broadening access to timely knowledge. The guidelines show how open access can also help researchers and publishers to increase the citation and discoverability of their research.

The guidelines, developed by the RIA and Trinity in consultation with publishers and authors as part of a project called PublishOA, aim to support Ireland’s goal to achieve full open access to research publications by 2030.

‘Rapidly changing landscape’

“For authors and publishers new to open-access publishing, these guidelines provide pointers on what you need to consider and where to find more information,” said Ruth Hegarty, project lead and managing editor at the RIA.

“PublishOA recognises that small Irish publishers and individual researchers need more support to navigate a rapidly changing landscape. We invite publishers and authors to get in touch with comments on the guidelines, which will be updated at the end of the project.”

According to the RIA, the guidelines provide information, advice and practical steps for publishers and authors to meet national and international standards and requirements for open-access publishing. They explain the different models of open access and demystify key terms and jargon.

They also provide a step-by-step guide to open-access publishing across key areas including platforms and technology, copyright and licensing, peer review, digital preservation and funding models and requirements.

The European Commission supports open access for research funded by the EU. For example, all peer-reviewed scientific publications arising from Horizon Europe research programme funding must be available open access. This means that publications are to be made freely available online, immediately upon publication and with no restrictions on use, either by deposit in a public digital repository or publication in an open-access journal.

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Christian Ehler criticises university’s decision to divest from Israeli companies and review student exchanges

An influential MEP has accused Trinity College Dublin of “antisemitic acts” after the university agreed to protesters’ demands for it to divest from Israeli companies and review student exchanges with Israel.

In a social media post, Christian Ehler, a senior member of the European Parliament’s research committee, called the university’s decision “an act against the Jewish people in general disguised as a measured response to a war”.

The university (pictured) has not addressed Ehler’s specific criticisms but defended its record on antisemitism, telling Research Professional News that it “has sought to support all of those affected by the war no matter where they come from or their political stance” since the attacks on Israel on 7 October.

‘University embarking on dark path’

Ehler urged the European Commission “to do everything in its power to move Trinity College Dublin from the dark path it [has] embarked on and to prevent any other universities from following its direction”.

“Israel and the Jewish people are part of our European family, of the European Research Area and are our partners in the framework programmes,” he said. 

“The ERA cannot exist if we allow academic institutions to discriminate against certain people which are part of the ERA by fuelling antisemitism in Europe by giving in to these student movements.”

He added that the university had “committed to punishing the Jewish people for protecting themselves against the terrorists of Hamas operating out of Gaza”.

Trinity College Dublin highlighted its support for Jewish students, saying that in the aftermath of 7 October its vice-president for global engagement “contacted a number of Jewish colleagues and the president of the Trinity Jewish Society outlining the [support] available [and] invited the students to provide Trinity Global with suggestions on what assistance would be helpful”.

It added: “The university has already stated that all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, have absolutely no place here.”

University College Dublin stance

Protests over ties with Israel have also been taking place at University College Dublin. Last week, the university’s president Orla Feely said she supported the “rights of UCD staff and students to peaceful protest within the law”.

She added that UCD has many formal bilateral partnerships with international institutions “but no such partnerships with Israeli institutions”. However, she said the university does participate in EU research projects as a member of a number of multi-partner networks, and that the university has “11 active projects that have Israeli partners within these large networks”. 

“We fully respect the academic freedom of UCD researchers to continue these research collaborations, most of which are in the areas of health and sustainability,” Feely said.

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This week: Irish universities launch EU election manifesto and ministers announce €104 million for research

In depth: An influential MEP has accused Trinity College Dublin of “antisemitic acts” after the university agreed to protesters’ demands for it to divest from Israeli companies and review student exchanges with Israel.

Full story: Christian Ehler criticises university’s decision to divest from Israeli companies and review student exchanges

Also this week from Research Professional News

€41m climate, biodiversity and water research centre launches—UK-Ireland collaboration brings together researchers, industry leaders and policymakers

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

€104m for Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres 

Ireland’s research and agriculture ministers have announced a €104 million investment in scientific research across the country. The money will go to four Science Foundation Ireland research centres, supporting more than 600 highly skilled research positions in the bioeconomy, agrifood, neurological disease and advanced manufacturing sectors over the next six years. Research minister Patrick O’Donovan said: “While significant scientific advances have been made in these areas by Ireland’s research ecosystem, we need to remain vigilant in addressing challenges old and new and turning these opportunities into real-world impacts that people can see and feel.”

Irish Universities Association releases manifesto

The Irish Universities Association has launched a manifesto ahead of the EU elections, asking candidates and political parties to support three main priorities at the European level for students and universities. These are: securing more research funding for Ireland in the next EU research and innovation programme; expanding the Erasmus+ mobility programme to enable more Irish students to study and gain experience abroad; and providing more support for the European Universities Initiative, which most Irish universities are involved with.

€500,000 for free period products

Funding of €250,000 for Education and Training Boards and €250,000 for publicly funded higher education institutions has been allocated to deliver free and sustainable period products for students as part of a government commitment under the Period Dignity scheme. The funding will build on previous initiatives to ensure no students are disadvantaged in their education by period indignity. The government previously worked on the Worryfree pilot, which was rolled out to nine further education and training colleges across six Education and Training Boards.

The post Ireland news roundup: 8-20 May appeared first on Research Professional News.

UK-Ireland collaboration brings together researchers, industry leaders and policymakers

Over 100 researchers, industry leaders and policymakers from across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain have gathered to launch a €41.3 million centre that will tackle challenges in climate change, biodiversity decline and water degradation.

The Co-Centre for Climate and Biodiversity and Water, which has initial funding for six years, is a collaboration between Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Reading. 

Science Foundation Ireland said it was one of the first international research centres to bring together researchers across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain at such a scale. 

The centre will take collaborative, cross-border approaches to maintaining a stable and liveable climate; securing and restoring biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by nature; adapting to climate change; and reversing water degradation.

‘Timely call to action’

Yvonne Buckley (pictured centre), one of the centre’s co-directors and a Trinity College Dublin professor, said: “This launch event serves as a timely call to action—for researchers, industries in all sectors and those working across government—to come together to co-develop research projects that will help us find new ways to solve myriad climate, biodiversity and water challenges.

“Over the next six years, the unique combination of disciplines, skills and implementation pathways linked to the centre will deliver societal impacts that stretch far into the future. 

“It is the vision and commitment to this cause of the researchers, industry leaders and policy developers who are involved that will be key to tackling the challenges we face now and in the coming decades.”

Fellow co-director Mark Emmerson (pictured right), of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We need a step change in how we harness our collective resources to tackle challenges around sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods, the impacts of new products and processes on our planetary life support systems, implementation of known solutions, and the development of effective new solutions that can be fairly and rapidly adopted across society.”

Funders of the centre include Science Foundation Ireland, the Shared Island Fund, UK Research and Innovation and Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The project will also get more than 30 per cent of its funding from over 30 industry partners.

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This week: student accommodation investment, discussions on inclusivity and a report on north-west higher education

In depth: Ireland’s tánaiste has backed calls for an all-island cancer institute, saying a cross-border approach to cancer research could deliver better outcomes for patients.

Full story: Ireland’s tánaiste backs call for all-island cancer institute

Also this week from Research Professional News

Ireland has no policy on use of AI by grant applicants and holders—There is growing concern that artificial intelligence could compromise research integrity

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

€100m investment in student accommodation

The Government has confirmed an investment of €100m to deliver more than 1,000 student accommodation beds. The state funding will allow 493 new beds to be developed at University College Dublin, the progression of 405 new beds at Dublin City University through tender stage, and the construction of 116 new beds at Maynooth University. State funding will be in return for 30 per cent of the newly built beds being made available for use by students in National Access Plan priority groupings.

Higher Education Authority hosts forum on inclusivity   

The seventh National Access Forum, focusing on inclusivity goals, has taken place, hosted by the Higher Education Authority and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The inclusivity goal underpins all aspects of the higher education system, embraces diversity in the student population and aims to provide all students with an accessible, supportive and inclusive higher education experience while creating a sense of belonging for students.

Report examines higher education policy

A new discussion paper, published by the Royal Irish Academy, has examined approaches to higher education policy and provision across the north-west region of the island of Ireland. Supported by funding from the government’s Irish Research Council New Foundations scheme and the Shared Island Unit, the report is intended to contribute to the wider debate and stimulate further discussion with the ultimate aim of benefitting the north-west region.

The post Ireland news roundup: 23 April to 7 May appeared first on Research Professional News.

There is growing concern that artificial intelligence could compromise research integrity

The Irish research funding agencies Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council—soon to be amalgamated as Taighde Éireann—have no established policies directly addressing the use of artificial intelligence in grant applications and research.

Although the Irish government has a formal national strategy on AI and is funding AI research projects—such as the recently announced €2.5M Voices project researching women’s lives in 16th and 17th centuries, as well as university spinouts—there is not yet a policy on the use of AI chatbots by grant applicants and holders.

The current status is a growing cause for concern internationally, as it is believed that research integrity will be compromised by chatbox inaccuracies. This includes so-called AI hallucination, which may be generated and used in grant applications and research papers, potentially flying under the radar when up against funding panels and peer reviewers. 

As the use of AI grows, national funding agencies in Ireland will need to develop policy and grow with the rapidly evolving international policy on the matter, with two possible ways forward.

First, as the EU develops policy on the use of AI in grant applications and research, Ireland will likely align. 

Second, without an EU guideline, Irish funders might establish their own policy on responsible AI use in research. This might be by following the example of the Swiss National Science Foundation, which has developed a clear approach to AI in funding applications, addressing concerns about originality and ethical research conduct.

SFI did not respond to request for comment.

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Micheál Martin gives his support to cancer collaboration scheme at Joint Euro-American Forum

Ireland’s tánaiste has backed calls for an all-island cancer institute, saying a cross-border approach to cancer research could deliver better outcomes for patients. The scheme would build on the work of the Ireland-Northern Ireland-US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium.

Speaking at the Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer last month, Micheál Martin cited successful initiatives under the consortium, such as the All-Island Cancer Research Institute, a partnership of 10 universities led by University College Dublin.

Wider support

William Gallagher, professor of cancer biology at UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences, and co-lead of AICRI, said he agreed with the Martin’s call.

“Our work in AICRI has demonstrated the benefit of working together on a cross-border basis,” he said. 

“Projects such as AICRIstart, funded through the shared island-funded North-South Research Programme, emphasise the importance of collaborative research. Critical areas of all-island partnership should encompass cancer biobanking, cross-border cancer clinical trials and survivorship research.”

Support for an all-island cancer institute was also raised by Deirdre Heenan, a professor at Ulster University, and Mark Lawler, a professor at Queen’s University Belfast and co-lead of AICRI, as they jointly launched Cancer Knows No Borders, an all-island blueprint for cancer research and care, at the Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer.

‘Unparalleled benefits’

“Our data are compelling, demonstrating how the quality of research increases with cross-border collaboration, coupled with the evidence linking quality research to better care and improved outcomes for patients,” said Lawler.  

“We firmly believe that a data-enabled patient-centred all-Island cancer institute would deliver unparalleled benefits for the health and wealth of our societies North and South. Cancer Knows No Borders, neither should we.” 

Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, who, with Lawler, was Scientific Co-Chair at the Forum, said: “These two days of discourse and debate have firmly embedded the concept of enhanced transatlantic cooperation as a means of delivering research-enabled enhanced cancer care on the island of Ireland. An All-Island Cancer Institute would be the logical next step.” 

Policy background

In 2022 the All-Island Cancer Research Institute initiative secured funding to examine the area of precision cancer medicine. At the Cancer Knows No Borders Showcase Event in April last year, the Tánaiste said the funding “supported the All-Island Cancer Research Institute to further strengthen and enhance existing collaborations, deepening links between higher education institutions and research communities across the island”.

“Our North South Research Programme is also supporting a number of other cancer research projects, including in the areas of digital health and liquid biopsies, as well as cancer survivorship and quality of life,” he said.

According to Heenan, the goal is “to bring together the combined strengths of cancer researchers, clinicians, academics, and service users across the island of Ireland to create a blueprint to tackle this common enemy.

“This is an opportune time to redouble our efforts to significantly improve services and outcomes for cancer patients throughout this island.”

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This week: clinical and AI researchers are rewarded and Dublin hosts an EU alliance event

In depth: A taskforce from the European nuclear research organisation Cern has visited Ireland to evaluate the country’s application for associate membership

Full story: Irish research minister welcomes Cern membership evaluation

Also this week from Research Professional News

University launches 60 PhD scholarships with Irish-EU funds—Atlantic Technological University announces scholarships funded by regional collaboration scheme TU Rise

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

Innovation winner announced

The chief executive of ATXA Therapeutics, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, has won this year’s NovaUCD Innovation Award, which recognises successes achieved in the commercialisation of University College Dublin research. Therese Kinsella founded the company at the university’s school of molecular and biomedical science. “It is…a great honour for me to accept this award from UCD both personally and on behalf of everyone on the ATXA team who have been part of our success journey so far,” she said.

‘Godfather of AI’ awarded UCD’s highest honour

Renowned artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton has received University College Dublin’s Ulysses Medal—the university’s highest honour—in recognition of his immense global contributions. Hinton, referred to in a UCD statement as the “godfather of AI”, is credited with the idea of backpropagation, a way of training artificial neural networks without the need to have continuous human input. He is the great-great-grandson of logician George Boole, whose work in Ireland underpins the foundations of modern computer science, UCD said.

TU Dublin hosts university alliance talks

Technological University Dublin, a member of the European University of Technology alliance, hosted more than 100 colleagues from the EUT’s eight European members earlier this month as they discussed the future of the European Universities Initiative. Events took place across the university’s campus in Grangegorman. Speaking at the opening session, Timothée Toury, secretary-general of the EUT, emphasised the impact of the recent higher education package presented by European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas and research commissioner Iliana Ivanova. It will tackle the legal and administrative barriers to partner universities setting up competitive joint degree programmes.

The post Ireland news roundup: 9-22 April appeared first on Research Professional News.

Atlantic Technological University announces scholarships funded by regional collaboration scheme TU Rise

Atlantic Technological University has launched 60 new PhD scholarships with funding from the Irish government and the EU.

The ATU scholarships, which are now open for applications, cover a range of disciplines, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, medical technology and renewable energy.

The funding came from a call for applications under the Technological University Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise scheme, or TU Rise, which is co-financed by the Irish government and the EU through the European Regional Development Fund. The scheme, which is run by the Higher Education Authority, aims to build research capacity between academia and regional enterprises.

‘Extremely welcome funding’

ATU president Orla Flynn said the TU Rise allocation “underlines ATU’s commitment to advancing research and innovation across the northern and western region”.

“The funding is extremely welcome and provides ATU with the resources to develop our own capacity, foster collaborations and grow our research community,” she said.

“I want to thank colleagues from both the Higher Education Authority and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly for their support throughout this funding call.”

Scholarship recipients will build expertise in their fields and develop stronger collaborations with regional enterprises, ATU said. They will “become highly skilled researchers and proactively serve as a bridge between the university and enterprise through placements”.

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“Membership would open doors for Ireland’s researchers,” says new minister Patrick O’Donovan

A taskforce from the European nuclear research organisation Cern has visited Ireland to evaluate the country’s application for associate membership.

Over two days last week, the taskforce met government officials and representatives from Ireland’s higher education institutions and enterprise, research and innovation communities.

Joining as an associate member will allow Ireland’s researchers to participate in Cern’s scientific programmes and will make Irish citizens eligible for staff positions, fellowships and formal training schemes at the organisation.

“These include master’s and PhD programmes, apprenticeships, a graduate engineering training scheme, internships for computer scientists and engineers and technical training experience,” the Irish government said in a statement on 17 April.

Membership will also allow Ireland’s enterprises to compete in Cern procurement programmes. Much of the organisation’s instrumentation and equipment requires the development or exploitation of novel technologies, which can spur enterprise innovation. Many of these technologies have applications in other spheres such as medicine, space, energy and ICT, the government said.

“Cern is an inspiring example of international cooperation,” said tánaiste Micheál Martin.

“Ireland’s application for associate membership fits with our ambition for strengthened international collaborations and global partnerships that is at the heart of the Global Ireland strategy.

“Membership of Cern will bring research, industry, skills, science outreach and international cooperation benefits to Ireland.”

Financial commitment

The expected financial commitment for Ireland is around €1.9 million per year for an initial period of five years. After that time, Ireland and Cern will work together to consider the best membership options for the country.

Cern is an international research organisation focused on experimental particle physics. It operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world and is the leading global collaboration investigating the fundamental composition of matter. 

Established in 1954 and straddling the French-Swiss border, just outside Geneva, the organisation has 23 member states—including most of the EU member states—and has cooperation agreements with over 40 other states. 

Irish scientists and researchers have been calling for Ireland to become a member for decades.

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This week: €11.6m cerebral palsy initiative, US-Ireland cancer consortium and narrative CV programme

In depth: A combined investment exceeding €7 million has been announced through a tripartite R&D partnership between the US, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Full story: US-Ireland research scheme announces €7m investment

Also this week from Research Professional News

Irish research centres tackle renewable energy projects—Science Foundation Ireland groups will collaborate with Electricity Supply Board to “maximise green energy use”

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

€11.6m cerebral palsy initiative

A new €11.6 million research programme focusing on cerebral palsy has been launched at University College Cork. The five-year Elevate scheme has been funded under Science Foundation Ireland’s strategic partnership programme, alongside co-funding partner The Cerebral Palsy Foundation. The programme will be led by the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research at University College Cork, partnering with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin and all the tertiary-level maternity hospitals in Ireland.

US-Ireland cancer consortium

An influential US congressional cancer caucus has heard how a partnership resulting from the Good Friday Agreement has helped save thousands of lives across the island of Ireland. The briefing to US Congress members marks the 25th anniversary of the Ireland-Northern Ireland-US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium, which has acted as a catalyst for enhancing cancer research in Ireland and Northern Ireland and partnering institutions in the US. “With over half of the leading oncologists on our island having trained in the top 10 cancer centres in the US, the linkages between our countries in fundamental,” said William Gallagher, professor of cancer biology at University College Dublin.

Narrative CV collaboration scheme welcomed

Science Foundation Ireland has welcomed the launch of a free online platform to help researchers write narrative CVs, with the aim of making researcher assessment fairer. “PEP-CV is a free and open resource available to everyone in the research and innovation sector, buttressing existing guidance on narrative-style CVs, while supporting efforts to further develop their use and implementation globally,” said the national research body. The initiative is a collaboration between six research funding agencies, including Science Foundation Ireland, the Marie Curie Alumni Association and the Young Academy of Europe.

The post Ireland roundup: 18 March to 8 April appeared first on Research Professional News.

Science Foundation Ireland groups will collaborate with Electricity Supply Board to “maximise green energy use”

Two Science Foundation Ireland research centres are collaborating with the country’s leading energy company to help large energy consumers make greener, more efficient choices.

Adapt and Connect, both based at Trinity College Dublin, will work with the Electricity Supply Board on two 18-month research projects, which Science Foundation Ireland said would have clear benefits for society in terms of managing the climate crisis.

It is hoped that the research will put the ESB on track to meet its net zero target by 2040.

“Tackling these defining challenges requires collaboration with like-minded partners, so this investment will help set a new standard for energy consumption,” said Geraldine Moloney, the ESB’s head of new ventures. “I look forward to seeing the creative solutions developed through these collaborations.”

‘Maximising green energy use’

The Connect project will look at the effect of providing large energy users—such as data centres and pharmaceutical plants—with accurate real-time data on fluctuating energy prices so they can optimise their energy demand.

“This will have the effect of considerably reducing the overall operational expenditure and maximising the use of green energy,” said Marco Ruffini, a principal investigator at Connect.

The Adapt project will focus on making energy users aware of the origin of their power. It will use blockchain technology to generate “guarantee of origin” certificates in real time, giving energy consumers a high level of confidence that they are consuming electricity from renewable sources.

Hitesh Tewari, a funded investigator at Adapt, said this would allow “large numbers of these enterprises [to] consume renewable energy and then reduce their carbon footprint”.

Michelle Olmstead, chief innovation and enterprise officer at Trinity College Dublin, said: “Trinity is committed to creating real impact from our research expertise, in partnering with ambitious organisations like the ESB, collectively driving a culture of innovation and a spirit of entrepreneurship to realise solutions to climate change.”

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Partnership continues to encourage strong relationships between the two countries, says Science Foundation Ireland director

A combined investment exceeding €7 million has been announced through an R&D partnership between the US, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Under the programme, six awards have been announced spanning 11 institutions, which will support more than 11 research positions in Ireland, 10 research positions in Northern Ireland and over 20 positions in the US. 

The funded projects, covering three to four years, include research in the areas of sustainable collection and management of water, photonic integrated circuits, wearable sensors to monitor health, telecommunications, and microbial activity.

‘World-class projects’

“I am delighted to congratulate the award recipients and their collaborators on their work addressing challenges in the realms of sustainability, telecommunications, healthcare, biosensors and engineering,” said Philip Nolan, director general of Science Foundation Ireland. 

“The US-Ireland R&D partnership programme continues to support and encourage strong, collaborative relationships between our countries. These are world-class, innovative research projects that will greatly benefit our collective societies and economies.”

Launched in 2006, the US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership aims to increase the level of collaborative R&D among researchers and industry professionals across the three jurisdictions. 

The programme involves multiple funding partners across the three jurisdictions, working collaboratively to support research. The funding agencies involved are Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in RoI, the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA, and the Department for the Economy (DfE) in NI.

Since the US-Ireland programme started, agencies have committed €148.4 million of government funding across a total of 92 awards.

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Scheme will track Ireland’s goal of all publicly funded research becoming open access by 2030

Several Irish research groups have announced the launch of the National Open Access Monitor, a milestone in Ireland’s shift towards a fully open-access research ecosystem.

The National Open Research Forum, the Irish Research eLibrary and OpenAIRE revealed the launch, which marks a new phase in a project that began in 2023, following OpenAIRE’s selection through a competitive tendering process.

Transparency and accessibility

The initiative aims to support the shift towards transparency and accessibility of Irish research publications, and track Ireland’s goal of all publicly funded research being open access by 2030.

Currently in its pilot phase, the National Open Access Monitor is dedicated to improving data quality and expanding functionalities, with the final delivery set for June.

According to the Irish Research eLibrary, the platform “offers an assortment of features allowing for the customisation of monitoring, benchmarking and evaluation, facilitating evidence-based decisions to advance open science initiatives”.

‘National dashboards’

The group said the monitor will encompass ‘national dashboards’, allowing users to measure their progress effectively in alignment with community standards and assess the impact of their open-science initiatives.

It said the national dashboard will feature in-depth breakdowns specific to Ireland, serving as a key resource for policymakers, publishers and anyone interested in a comprehensive overview of the national open-science landscape.

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Funds will subsidise 80 per cent of course fees for around 14,000 students

Ireland’s research minister has announced €9.7 million in funding to subsidise fees for around 14,000 students taking microcredential courses.

The subsidy will fund 80 per cent of fees for the courses, which address skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, ICT and electronic engineering. Other courses will offer a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate.

Promoted as an alternative to traditional degrees, microcredential courses are designed boost candidates’ employability. Some of the courses offer the potential for ‘stackability’, encouraging learners to return for further qualifications.

‘Degrees not always right option’

“While traditional degree programmes are essential, they may not always be the right option to equip individuals with the targeted, up-to-date skills required in the modern workplace,” said research minister Simon Harris.

"Microcredentials bridge this gap, offering a flexible and accessible solution to empower individuals in excelling in their chosen fields. These subsidies are a fantastic opportunity for individuals to access microcredential courses at reduced rates, providing flexible learning and upskilling opportunities for learners and enterprises alike.

“It’s also important to note that these courses cover critical areas, such as new and emerging technologies, construction and climate/sustainability and energy, and align with the priorities outlined as part of Housing for All and the government’s Climate Action Plan.”

Lifelong learning

According to the government, microcredential courses are designed to meet the evolving needs of learners, enterprises and society, and allow learners to access education in “small, manageable units, accommodating their life and work commitments”.

Project lead Jools O’Connor, based at the Irish Universities Authority (IUA), said the courses “offer a fantastic opportunity to upskill and engage in lifelong learning. Microcredentials make education easier and more accessible for people with busy lifestyles, and help them commit to learning in a flexible way that suits their personal and work commitments.”

She added: “It is fantastic to receive this funding towards these courses and we look forward to welcoming more learners.”

Target for adult training

The IUA said Ireland is the first European country to establish a national framework for quality-assured and accredited microcredential courses. It said that universities in Ireland would collaborate to develop, pilot and evaluate the building blocks required for a transformation in lifelong learning.

It added that the courses will be instrumental in attaining national targets in lifelong learning and reaching the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan ambition to have at least 60 per cent of all adults participating in training every year.

Courses approved are available from March 2024 to October 2025.

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This week: a literacy and numeracy boost, agriculture innovation and a scheme for female researchers

In depth: Ireland’s research minister has announced €9.7 million in funding to subsidise fees for around 14,000 students taking micro-credential courses.

Full story: Irish minister pledges €9.7m for microcredential course fees

Also this week from Research Professional News

Irish research groups announce open-science initiative—Scheme will track Ireland’s goal for all publicly funded research becoming open access by 2030

Here is the rest of the Irish news this week…

€1.25m boost for literacy and numeracy 

The Irish government has announced €1.25 million in funding for the Collaboration and Innovation Fund to support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital skills. The fund can be used to support projects and activities that enable adults to gain the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. Organisations that work in the public, not-for-profit, community and voluntary sectors can apply.

Scheme to keep women in research

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, researchers at seven universities called on academics across the country and beyond to join the Promote project, an initiative funded by the Higher Education Authority and supported by the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, to provide networks and training aimed at keeping women in research. There is currently no digitised network that focuses specifically on early-stage female researchers.

€7m food and agriculture programme

A new government-funded €7 million food and agriculture entrepreneurship training programme is to be delivered by University College Dublin in partnership with Teagasc. Based at the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm, the Food and Agriculture Sustainable Technology Innovation Programme is designed to “increase innovation knowledge” in the food and agriculture sector, and kickstart the creation of more high-potential startups and jobs in the sector.

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