Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Postgraduate)

Overview

The Irish Research Council’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme is a unique national initiative linking excellent researchers in all disciplines to enterprise; in the context of this call, enterprise partners can range from multinational corporations to SMEs, non-governmental organisations, and, where justified, public sector agencies. The scheme provides researchers with the opportunity to pursue research in collaboration with enterprise while based at an eligible higher education institution.

Through this co-funded programme, postgraduate researchers develop new, advanced knowledge and skills linked with industry and employer needs. The programme trains early-career researchers for the diversity of employment opportunities in industry, the public sector and the non-government sectors. For the enterprise partner, the scheme provides a low-risk, flexible route to research talent and innovation in an area closely aligned with its strategic interests.

With consideration to national and global challenges, the involvement of those organisations, both large and small, who seek technological, social and sustainable solutions and opportunities for people and planet is welcomed.

Information for applicants

The award will support suitably qualified research master’s and doctoral candidates pursuing, or intending to pursue, full-time research in any discipline. The duration of these awards ranges from one to four years and comprise:

• a stipend of €18,500 per annum;
• a contribution to fees, including non-EU fees, up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum; and;
• eligible direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum.

The logos below represent some enterprise partners that have expressed an interest in supporting researchers under this scheme. Their contact details can be found to the right of this page.

Information for enterprise partners

• An enterprise partner can be a company, registered charity, social, cultural or not-for-profit civic organisation, state-owned enterprise or an eligible public body* that will co-fund the researcher for the duration of the award.
• The enterprise partner is expected to commit €9,000 annually towards the cost of funding the researcher. The Irish Research Council contributes the remaining €18,500 per annum.
• The enterprise partner can be based nationally or internationally.
• Eligible NGOs can request a fee waiver in respect of their contribution for the first year of the award. Waiver approval is subject to the availability of funding, is at the sole discretion of the Irish Research Council and may be offered on a ranked or limited basis, with priority given to organisations with limited resources.
• If your organisation would like to feature on this page in order to attract researchers, please send your details to schemes@research.ie.

How to apply

Potential applicants should carefully read the 2023 Call Document to ascertain whether or not they are eligible to apply. Indicative versions of the applicant, academic supervisor and enterprise mentor forms will be provided for information purposes only. All participants must create and submit their forms via the online system.

Key dates

Please note that the timings provided here are indicative and may be subject to change. If you do not find the answer to your query in the call documentation, you should contact the research office in your proposed institution which will provide information and clarification on the call. Research offices can send any queries they are unable to clarify to schemes@research.ie.