Minister Harris announces Taighde Éireann- Research Ireland as the official name of the new Research and Innovation funding agency

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today announced Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland as the official name of the new Research and Innovation funding agency.

The official naming marks another landmark moment in the process to establish the new agency, which will be created on the passing of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023.

The legislation, which will be published in the coming weeks, will amalgamate the activities and functions of the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to create a new competitive funding agency for research and innovation.

Announcing the official name of the agency today, Minister Harris said: “I am to very glad to announce Taighde Éireann- Research Ireland as the official name of the new Research and Innovation funding agency.

“It has the clarity and impact needed to communicate the mission of the new agency effectively, both at home and further afield.

“This is an essential element of my Department’s commitments under the Programme for Government, and Impact 2030. The new agency will deliver enhanced added value and ambition as part of the wider research and innovation system.

“Researchers can be reassured that there will be no interruption to ongoing services and funding programmes while the new agency is being set up. This work is underway and the CEO Designate is working closely with my Department on getting ready for the establishment in 2024.”

Professor Philip Nolan was appointed as CEO Designate of the new agency in May.

Speaking today, Professor Nolan said: “The creation of the new agency, Taighde Éireann- Research Ireland, offers the opportunity, as outlined in Impact 2030, to place all research areas on an equal and statutory footing and to drive a step-change in interdisciplinary research.

“The agency will be building on the recognised strengths of the IRC and SFI, but will also be a cornerstone of a more connected and ambitious research and innovation system for Ireland.

“The choice of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland as the name for the new agency is important in transmitting to stakeholders at home and abroad this sense of ambition and purpose.”

The Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 requires that the name of a new agency promotes and puts priority on the Irish language.

The name Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland will accomplish these aims, and also allow the new agency to promote the success and excellence of Irish research and innovation in Europe and wider international arenas.

Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland will capitalise on the recognised strengths of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland in driving world class research and innovation in Ireland.

The new agency will fund research and innovation excellence in all disciplines across the spectrum of Arts, Engineering, Humanities, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, Technology and others.

The Research and Innovation Bill 2023 will place Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research on a statutory footing for the first time.

The establishment of the agency in statute also ensures parity of esteem for the IRC’s critical mission of supporting researchers at all career stages.

In making competitive funding awards across all disciplines and of varying sizes, the agency will significantly broaden the access of researchers in all areas to an improved range of research funding programmes.

It is expected that Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland will come into operation in 2024.