Minister Halligan launches Irish Research Council International Engagement Strategy
Posted: 20 June, 2018
Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD has today launched a new international engagement strategy on behalf of the Irish Research Council.
The new strategy aims to work collaboratively to position Ireland as a centre of excellence for higher education and research ‘post-Brexit’ and will seek to exploit Ireland’s already positive scientific, and academic standing among the international community.
Over the next three years, the Council aims to put in place formal partnerships with a number of UK, European and other international research funders to encourage and enable research collaboration. This is in addition to the work the Council currently carries out to support engagement by Ireland-based researchers in Horizon2020, the European Union’s research framework programme.
Launching the new strategy, Minister Halligan said: “I am delighted to launch the Irish Research Council’s international engagement strategy which will generate new opportunities for international collaborations.
“Innovation 2020 strongly recognises the importance of international cooperation to maximise the impact of international and national investment in research and innovation, underscoring and enhancing excellence in our education system.”
Speaking today, Peter Brown, Director of the Irish Research Council said: “This strategy recognises that Ireland is part of an interdependent, international research community that together can achieve mutually beneficial outcomes that would not be possible in isolation.
“It is clear that Irish researchers are held in very high esteem internationally, as is the contribution to knowledge and innovation by the Irish research system in many areas across both science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) the arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS).
“We encourage research and innovation leaders and policymakers around the world to learn more about the unique but complementary role of the Council in the Irish system, and to consider the potential for cooperation and collaboration.”
