Research for Ireland’s Future Science Foundation Ireland Dr. Roisin Cheshire 31 st January 2013 “ Accessing funding from Science Foundation Ireland”

Accessing funding from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) 1.Science Foundation Ireland - Overview 2.National Prioritisation Exercise 3.Funding Programmes Open/Planned 4.Relevance to Environ Conference 5.Summary/Conclusions Research for Ireland’s Future

Innovation Ireland Supporting Indigenous Irish Companies Building Irish Academic Base Supporting Multinational Companies in Ireland 1.Science Foundation Ireland - Overview Research for Ireland’s Future

1.Science Foundation Ireland - Overview  SFI ( is an Irish government agency reporting to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (DJEI)  Established in 2000  SFI’s current legal remit:  Biotechnology (BIO),  Information and communications technology (ICT)  Sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies (ENERGY)  > 1.57Billion invested over last 12 years  Budget of €152M for 2013 Research for Ireland’s Future

Scientific Excellence with Impact SFI funds outstanding people with innovative ideas and strategic partnerships through competitive research proposals  Ensuring Quality/Excellence both of the person and of the proposed programme via International Peer/Merit Review  Increase focus on applicants demonstrating and delivering impact from research due to an absolute need to demonstrate to government and the public, the value to the Irish economy and society of public funds spent on research Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Investigators Recruitment Industry Fellowships Conferences Workshops €25M €7M €1M €250K 1.Science Foundation Ireland - Overview International Peer Review

1.Science Foundation Ireland - Overview SFI Agenda 2020 – sets out key objectives  Collaboration with industry and alignment with areas of demonstrable potential economic impact for Ireland  Increased level of early career researcher support  Increased number of ERC awards secured  Attraction to Ireland of leading iconic scientists  New partnership programmes  Centre Development  Industry academic exchange  Lead major EU and other initiatives  Increased international collaboration with Ireland’s strategic partners  Joint funding initiatives with key agencies  Public dissemination of knowledge and impact  SFI Internships and Fellowships Research for Ireland’s Future

 Exercise to evaluate areas into which State funding for research should be prioritised  Stakeholders from industry, academia, Government, funding agencies  Adopted as government policy since March 2012  14 areas of National Priority identified  Some SFI programmes are aligned with NRP areas 2. National Prioritisation Exercise Research for Ireland’s Future

14 Priority Areas  A Future Networks & Communications  B Data Analytics Management, Security & Privacy  C Digital Platforms, Content & Applications  D Connected Health & Independent Living  E Medical Devices  F Diagnostics  G Therapeutics - synthesis formulation, processing and drug delivery  H Food for Health  I Sustainable Food Production and Processing  J Marine Renewable Energy  K Smart Grids & Smart Cities  L Manufacturing Competitiveness  M Processing Technologies and Novel Materials  N Innovation in Services and Business Processes 2. National Prioritisation Exercise Platform Science & Technology (PST) Areas  Basic Biomedical Science  Nanotechnology  Advanced Materials  Microelectronics  Photonics  Software Engineering

3. Funding Programmes Available

Who is Eligible to Apply? Each programme has eligibility criteria relevant to  Track record of the applicant (years post PhD, number of senior author publications, independent research funding)  Alignment with SFI legal remit area (BIO, ICT, ENERGY)  Alignment with NRP areas  Refer to individual call documents available on  Refer to SFI’s Agenda 2020 and SFI Annual Plan 2013 Research for Ireland’s Future

3. Funding Programmes Available Investigator Programme 2013  Call launched on Wednesday, Jan 30th  Two components, themed and non-themed  Research topic must align with BIO, ICT or ENERGY  Themed - Future Agri-Food – SFI/Teagasc  For non-themed – research must be aligned with NRP areas  Exemptions for ERC award holders  Award size €300k - €2.5M  Research must be scientifically excellent and have potential impact  Pre-proposal deadline March 28 th

3. Funding Programmes Available Technology Innovation Development Award  Planned launch in Q in partnership with Enterprise Ireland  Supports one year feasibility study  Award size €100k for one year  Topic must be aligned with SFI legal remit areas  Must have commercial potential  Open to SFI award holders, postdoctoral researchers in SFI funded labs  Researchers holding an independent research award > €200k also considered, require pre-approval  Success rate ~ 50% Research for Ireland’s Future

Starting Investigator Research Grant  Planned for Q  In line with Agenda 2020 SFI plan a 50% increase in support for early career researchers by  SIRG open to post doctoral researchers and newly appointed faculty in an Irish HEI and to overseas researchers wishing to hold the award at an Irish HEI  SIRG provides an opportunity for excellent early‐career investigators to carry out independent research  Awards around €0.5M  Salary support for awardee and 1 PhD student the foundation of the smart economy 3. Funding Programmes Available

US-Ireland Partnership Programme – Rolling  A cooperation between the United States, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland  Enables researchers from NI, ROI, USA to submit a tri-partite proposal to the NSF or NIH in the USA  Funding for each jurisdiction provided by the relevant funding agency  Remit Areas – Nanoscale Science & Engineering – Sensors & Sensor Networks – Telecommunications – Energy & Sustainability – Health (must be aligned with NRP)  Award size available from SFI – €350k 3. Funding Programmes Available Research for Ireland’s Future

3. Funding Programmes Available Research for Ireland’s Future

President of Ireland Young Researcher Award (PIYRA)  Rolling Call – Open!  (PIYRA) is SFI’s most prestigious award to recruit and retain outstanding young researchers.  Awards up to €1M (50% salary contribution from SFI)  For investigators 3-8 years post-PhD, excluding eligible leave  Supports the early development of researcher careers.  Aligned with SFI legal remit areas 3. Funding Programmes Available Research for Ireland’s Future

Research Professorship  Rolling call – open!  Supports recruitment of iconic scientists  Assisting research bodies in recruitment of world‐leading researchers for Professorial Chairs  The programme is also open to candidates holding senior positions in industry  Funding of up to €5M will be provided to successful candidates for a five-year programme of work.  REMIT: 14 NRPE areas OR any area under SFI’s legal remit where strong evidence can be provided of significant industrial relevance and strong economic impact 3. Funding Programmes Available

SFI Research Centres Hub & spoke model Hub:  Core operations  Platform research Spokes:  Targeted projects, each with at least one industry partner REMIT: 14 NRPE areas OR any area under SFI’s legal remit where strong evidence can be provided of significant industrial relevance and strong economic impact 3. Funding Programmes Available

SFI International Strategic Collaboration Award (ISCA) Strategic international research collaboration Training, mobility and career development Development of capabilities and expertise of Irish research groups Support from international partners Increased impact through outputs Recruitment Enhanced scientific and technological reputation Policy dialogue Fellowships, placements and events that will act as the basis for the collaborative venture the foundation of the smart economy 3. Funding Programmes Available

4. Relevance to Environ Conference Conference Theme - "Environment: From Ecosystem Functioning to Human Health". Climate change and energy Water Quality Environment and health Socio economics and environmental policy Environmental technologies Biodiversity and bio resources Marine and coastal processes Environmental management and ecosystem services the foundation of the smart economy

5. Summary/Conclusion  SFI has an ambitious plan as outlined in Agenda 2020  A number of calls are open currently with more to come!  Funding aligned to SFI legal remit areas of BIO, ICT and ENERGY  SFI has chosen to align certain programmes with NRP areas  Increased emphasis on themed calls and partnerships  Calls are very relevant to the majority of topics of Environ conference the foundation of the smart economy

Thank you for your attention Q&A the foundation of the smart economy