Minister Halligan joins Irish Research Council to celebrate 20 years of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Posted: 29 November, 2016
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are grants for researchers in Europe and further afield. They have consistently been a high-performing area of EU funding for Ireland, benefitting researchers in all disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law.
The Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan TD, joined the Irish Research Council for today’s event. Commenting on the impact of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions over the past 20 years, the Minister said: ‘The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are a key part of Horizon 2020, the EU framework programme for research and innovation. Over the past 20 years, this programme has supported 98,000 researchers across Europe, including thousands of talented Irish researchers. Over the past 10 years alone, researchers here have accessed €100 million in funding through the programme’.
The Irish Research Council funds the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie office, and operates it in partnership with the Irish Universities Association. The Minister congratulated both organisations on their work in promoting this excellent research programme over the past 20 years.
CAROLINE scheme
The Irish Research Council also outlined details of their CAROLINE scheme in Trinity College Dublin to mark 20 years of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions in Ireland.
The CAROLINE (Collaborative Research Fellowships for a Responsive and Innovative Europe) scheme will see 30 researchers awarded with international fellowships for a period of three years, while 20 researchers will be selected for two-year fellowships based in Ireland.
The Minister said that ‘The aim of CAROLINE is to promote mobility amongst European researchers and to provide career development opportunities. A key feature of the programme will be the collaboration between researchers and non-governmental organisations at national and international levels’.
Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Chair of the Irish Research Council, said: ‘Under CAROLINE, funding will be provided for research of relevance to the themes of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for shared economic prosperity, social development, and environmental protection.
‘The 17 goals within Agenda 2030 are relevant for researchers across all academic disciplines. Successful applicants will gain international and inter-sectoral experience thanks to placements within non-governmental and international organisations of their choice.’
The scheme is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions strand of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Pictured L-R: Dr Adam Narbudowicz (Irish Research Council ELEVATE Fellow), Mr John Halligan TD (Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation) and Dr Mark Jones (Irish Research Council ELEVATE Fellow).
