SFI Targeted Research Programme Opens

The Irish Government has announced a major new drive by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to attract the world’s top research talent to the seven Irish universities as part of its strategy to build research capacity in key areas of economic importance. The Targeted SFI Research Professorship Programme 2014 will provide research funding of approximately €5 million for each successful applicant.

“By developing the highest quality of research in Ireland we can help deliver on our aim to turn more good ideas into good jobs,” said Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, T.D.  “The initiative... is part of our strategy through the Action Plan for Jobs to make Ireland a truly world-class location for leading edge research. By launching this targeted Programme to attract top international research talent to Ireland we are pursuing in a very concrete way that highly ambitious goal. The Irish Government is committed to providing a world-class research environment that fosters the very best innovation to support both short and long-term competitiveness and ultimately create the jobs we need.”

 It is expected that the successful applicants would perform cutting edge research, develop significant research programmes with industry, discover and develop new technologies which could be spun-out into new enterprises, train students and young researchers and  leverage significant further research funding e.g. from the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr Sean Sherlock, T.D. said, “This Programme will help to boost Ireland’s international research standing and to continue to foster innovation in our higher education sector. Ireland’s research excellence and output is well-documented and we want to continue to attract the very best international research talent here – we are very much open for business.”

Run in partnership with the seven Irish universities and the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the programme will target key areas aligned with national strategic priorities, including advanced  manufacturing, bio-manufacturing, energy, marine, ICT, medical devices, agrifood, climate change, smart cities, ageing, connected health and digital platforms, content and applications.

For further information on the 2014 targeted programme and submission dates see: http://ilmt.co/PL/6pl funding calls.