1. The Irish Research Council March 6 th 2014 Dr Eucharia Meehan Director, Irish Research Council

2. The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant and creative research community in Ireland The Irish Research Council – who are we?

3. 3 Higher Education Institutions Science Foundation Ireland Enterprise Ireland IDA Higher Education Authority Irish Research Council Health Research Board EPATeagasc Marine Institute Dept of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Dept of Education and Skills Dept of Health Dept of Environment Dept of Ag, Food & Marine

4. Time of great change ……… National Strategy for Higher Education / Research Prioritisation Exercise 4 www.education.ie www.hea.ie www.forfas.ie

5. What do we do?

6. Excellence Investing in Ideas All Disciplines

8. Excellence Exploratory Research Investing in Ideas All Disciplines Interdisciplinary

10. Investing in People Excellence Exploratory Research Individual researchers Early stage career development Investing in Ideas Policy advisory role Structure & transferable skills All Disciplines Interdisciplinary

11. Council – ‘SEEDCORN’ Providing balance in the system: – Excellent People and their ideas across all areas regardless of timeframe for impact – Only funder for AHSS – Charged to foster inter-disciplinary research Providing opportunities to harness all talent – PEOPLE THE FOCUS – Cultivating - enhancing education and skills development for PhDs (largest national funder of PhDs) – Career development (NB early stage career…. – European engagements and opportunities ; ERC, Marie- Curie, AHSS – Fostering relationships between employers/knowledge users and individuals

12. Postgrad Government of Ireland 12 th March 2013 Enterprise Partnership Scheme Andrew Grene Scholarship Postgraduate Scholarships Government of Ireland Deadline Jan 2014 Enterprise Partnership Scheme Employment ProgrammeTBC Postdoctoral Fellowships Government of Ireland Deadline Feb 2014 Enterprise Partnership Scheme Elevate Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship Research Project (AHSS) Starter Grants Advanced Grants Interdisciplinary Grants TBC Networking & Travel Grants UlyssesTBC New FoundationsTBC Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting AwardsTBC IRC Schemes 2014

14. Partnerships

16. Diverse Careers…. Enterprise Partnership Scheme (EPS) Are you looking to engage with exceptional researchers? Employment Based Postgraduate Programme (EBP) Would you like to have an exceptional researcher based onsite? International Postdoctoral Programme (ELEVATE) Would you like to host an exceptional researcher at an International base?

17. Enterprise Partnership Scheme Pilot Employment-based Postgraduate Programme Elevate Postdoctoral Programme Masters, PhD, PostdocMasters, PhDPostdoc 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/Employer Researcher employed - ‘co- educational’ initiative with min. of 30% of time in Irish HEI Researcher 2 years abroad in HEI or Company and 1 year in Irish HEI Company based anywhereEmployer based in IrelandCompany based anywhere Employer-academia-social engagement New Programme In 2013

18. www.horizon2020.ie

19. NORFACE ERA-NET EU Networks & Opportunities

20. National Delegate = Dr Gemma Irvine Vote & agree on Commission’s management of programmes Ensuring Irish interest in future calls Proposal negotiation results (ERC - AHSS, Societal Challenge 6, Marie Curie) National Contact Point = Paul Kilkenny Support and advice for current calls Organising training sessions Briefing and awareness of future calls Feedback to Commission services (ERC – AHSS, Societal Challenge 6) Roles in Horizon 2020 – ERC and Societal Challenge 6

21. Planned Events & Supports Information Briefing Sessions Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies European Research Council (ERC) Gender Dimension Training Workshops Enterprise Partner Workshops Events for information exchange and matchmaking Role in cultivating interdisciplinary research under National Strategy for H2020; Creative Connections in H2020 Workshops to be held throughout the year

22. The Psychological Factors Affecting Distress an The Effects of Social Identity, Perceived Discrimination and Social Support on Well-Being, Duration, and Transitioning from Homelessness in Irish Homeless Adults d Perceptions of Breast Cancer in Irish Women Andrea Gibbons (NUIG) Investing in Excellence and Understanding

24. Thank you!