1. So just to give you all a bit of context
So just to give you all a bit of context. Following on from the brain storming sessions that John Hennessy chaired a few months ago along with Eucharia & Padraic regarding how the HEA can best adapt in line with the potential changes coming down the tracks from the National Strategy, a few themes emerged from which volunteers were sought to form working groups – Communications and Enhancing Processes working group.
Myself, along with X volunteered for the communications working group and I think we represented a good cross section of grades and sections within the HEA.
In our terms of reference we agreed that the group would examine both internal and external communication issues. As a result of our meetings we drafted 23 recommendations which are contained in our report now available on the intranet. While 23 sounds like a lot we felt that small changes can make a big difference so we have attempted to summarise these recommendation into three broad priority areas.
A version of this presentation was already made to Management last week by Sarah and Niamh and was received positively. While some recommendation will needs to be developed further and require further consultation in the main we would be hopeful that they would be implement. Just to note that our terms of reference did not include the implementation of the recommendations which is a decision to be made my management as to who would be responsible for implementation.

2. Two Councils become one
The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant and creative research community in Ireland

3. OVERVIEW OF MANDATE Investing in people:
‘ … one central funding body for supporting individual researchers at all stages of their career development, with a particular focus on early career development’
‘…embedding structure and transferable employment skills in our graduates’ experiences…..incl. facilitating employer collaboration
Investing in Ideas
….cover the full range of disciplines
….encourage independent exploratory research
….build on the synergies between disciplines
Policy advisory role - postgraduate education and research

4. So just to give you all a bit of context
So just to give you all a bit of context. Following on from the brain storming sessions that John Hennessy chaired a few months ago along with Eucharia & Padraic regarding how the HEA can best adapt in line with the potential changes coming down the tracks from the National Strategy, a few themes emerged from which volunteers were sought to form working groups – Communications and Enhancing Processes working group.
Myself, along with X volunteered for the communications working group and I think we represented a good cross section of grades and sections within the HEA.
In our terms of reference we agreed that the group would examine both internal and external communication issues. As a result of our meetings we drafted 23 recommendations which are contained in our report now available on the intranet. While 23 sounds like a lot we felt that small changes can make a big difference so we have attempted to summarise these recommendation into three broad priority areas.
A version of this presentation was already made to Management last week by Sarah and Niamh and was received positively. While some recommendation will needs to be developed further and require further consultation in the main we would be hopeful that they would be implement. Just to note that our terms of reference did not include the implementation of the recommendations which is a decision to be made my management as to who would be responsible for implementation.

5. SCHEMES 2013 Postgraduate Scholarships Government of Ireland
Deadline March 2013
Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Andrew Grene Scholarship
Employment Programme
TBC
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Enterprise Partnership
Elevate Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship
PI led Schemes
(AHSS only)
Government of Ireland Research Projects Grants Scheme
Research Development Initiative
Other
Ulysses
New Foundations

6. International Opportunities
NORFACE
ERA-NET
FP7, ERC – leverage monies in
ESF, HERA, NORFACE – only participating because we contribute/fund

7. Enterprise-academia-social engagement
Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Employment-based Postgraduate Programme
Elevate Postdoctoral Programme
Masters, PhD, Postdoc
Masters, PhD
Postdoc
Irish Research Council, 66% €
Enterprise Partner, 33 €
IRC €16,000 & fees
Employment 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
Researcher employed by Company with placement in Irish HEI
Researcher 2 years abroad in HEI or Company and 1 year in Irish HEI
Company based anywhere
Company based in Ireland

8. Elevate postdoctoral Programme
Encouraging international and inter-sectoral mobility of postdoctoral researchers
Giving postdoctoral researchers an insight into business aspects of research and innovation.
Facilitate research collaboration, knowledge transfer and networking between Irish based Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and international host (e.g. enterprise, social or cultural organisations, NGO).
Project is agreed between HEI and international host and IP agreement signed at start
Open to SMEs and multinationals

9. Elevate postdoctoral Programme
Marie Curie 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
Years 1 & 2: based in international host (HEI or enterprise, social or cultural organisation, NGO)
Year 3: based in Irish HEI maintaining link to international host
2 Calls – 1st Call closing early 2013: 20 awards covering all disciplines (10 non-academic awards).
– 2nd Call closing early 2014: 25 awards covering all disciplines (15 non-academic awards).

10. Elevate FINANCE
If international host is HEI: If international host is non-HEI:
40% EU Commission funding 40% EU Commission funding
60% IRC funding % IRC funding
30% Host Partner funding
3 year Postdoctoral Fellowship
Total Award, circa €87,747 per annum x 3 = €263,241
Includes all costs of researcher (e.g. salary, mobility/travel allowance, pension, health insurance, contribution to research costs)
Cost to enterprise, circa €26,324 per annum x3 = €78,972.
Quarterly or annual invoices paid to the Irish Research Council in advance
Postdoctoral Researcher is an employee of the Irish HEI for the duration of the award

11. Host Commitment
Eligible host organisations are research teams in HEIs or research locations that can demonstrate a sufficiently high international research reputation:
national research institutions
well-founded enterprise research facilities
social, cultural and non-government organisations (e.g. library, archive, museum, institute of scientific, cultural, social or economic relevance to the proposed project)
Capacity to provide professional guidance and mentoring to the individual researcher
Access to experimental facilities or data
If non-HEI, a commitment to co-fund at 30% for the duration of the award

12. Researcher To be eligible, the applicant must:
Be an experienced researcher of any nationality (e.g. hold a PhD or have 4 years full-time equivalent research experience)
Be a resident of an EU or Associated Country, who is currently living in Ireland, but does not have to be an Irish citizen.
Have been an ER for no more than 5 years (career breaks of up to 5 years are taken into account).
Have spent no more than 40% of his/her time during their ER career period carrying out research outside Ireland

13. Value for Companies Benefits for Researchers
Access to exceptionally talented pre-assessed researchers & potential future employees
Mentoring from Enterprise Experts
Build research networks and collaborations with Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology
Enhanced Employability
Low level of bureaucracy – Streamlined process from application to award
Transferable skills
Maximise potential for innovation – People and Ideas
Exposure to commercially orientated research environment

14. Postgraduate Scholarships
One call at start of year (further EPS call later in year)
All disciplines
Who eligible to apply (non-EU)
One start date – Oct 2013 (apart from EPS)
Duration (1 or 2 yr Masters; 3 or 4 yr PhD)
Structured PhD endorsement
Value of Award (Stipend €16k; Fees <€5,750)
Scoring (Project 50%, Applicant 30%, Environment 20%)

15. Postdoctoral Fellowships
One call at start of year (further EPS call later in year)
All disciplines
Who eligible to apply (< 5 yrs)
One start date – Oct 2013 (apart from EPS)
Duration (1 or 2 yr Fellowship)
Value of Award (€31,275 + PRSI + Pension)
Scoring (Project 50%, Applicant 30%, Environment 20%)

16.
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