Ireland wins EU Funding of €57 million to support talent development and create 400 high-value research jobs and studentships
Posted: 15 July, 2016
Ireland has secured over €57 million in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation projects which support the development of research talent across all sectors of the economy. Around 400 high-value research jobs and studentships will be created in these projects. They are funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) This initiative ensures talent development and focuses on research mobility, between countries and sectors, backed up by professional development and training.
The €57 million won since the start of 2014 makes MSCA the top-performing area for Ireland in Horizon 2020.
A large portion of the funding is going to projects with strong interactions between academia and industry across the indigenous and MNC sectors. The funding is also supporting links between academia and the community and voluntary sector.
Dr. Jennifer Brennan, Ireland’s National Contact Point for the MSCA, said “I am very pleased with the outcomes so far. It’s clear that the strong links that academic researchers are developing with industry and civil society are an essential part of this success. I am particularly pleased to see newcomers such as Concern Worldwide and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre partnering with academia to work on solutions to societal problems. My colleagues and I are looking forward to continuing to support the wider research community in Ireland to continue to improve on our performance in the programme”.
The Director of the Irish Research Council, Dr Eucharia Meehan, speaking about the importance of the outcome said “Ireland’s new strategy for research and development, science and technology – ‘Innovation 2020’ – highlights the importance of research talent development to the economy and to the grand societal challenges that we face now and in the future. The MSCA plays a key role in developing that talent, supporting researchers in all areas from Arts to Zoology to work across and break down the boundaries between academic, industry and civil society. The Council is pleased to jointly operate the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office which has assisted researchers to achieve this successful outcome for Ireland.”
The MSCA will celebrate its 20th birthday later this year, and has consistently been a high-performing area of EU funding for Ireland. The funding has benefitted researchers in all disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law.
