Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland are delighted to invite you to the National European Research Council (ERC) Support and Information Forum to be held virtually on September 16^th and 17^th, 2020.

The aim of Ireland’s first inter-agency online ERC forum is to:

• raise awareness of the prestigious funding competitions run by the European Research Council
• build on Ireland’s success in the competitions to date
• provide potential applicants with information on the supports available
• provide Research Office staff training through a “train the trainer” session

Speakers at the event include successful awardees from across the three domains, Social Sciences and Humanities, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences and Engineering, representatives from the European Research Council and former ERC panel members.

Ireland set a total national target of €100 million over the seven years of the H2020 Framework Programme (2014 through to 2020) with an aspirational target of €125 million. To date, Ireland has won just shy of €140 million in ERC funding under H2020 – well beyond the indicative ambitious national target, with hope for more success in the remainder of the work programme and beyond, as we transition to Horizon Europe.

ERC competitions contribute to the growth of fundamental research in Ireland and to the development of world leading researchers who challenge the frontiers of knowledge. We hope the event will encourage continued and increasing engagement with ERC competitions across the higher education and research sectors.

Registration

Potential applicants to ERC calls through Irish institutions over the coming years and supporting research office staff are invited to attend this FREE National ERC Support and Information Forum and are encouraged to register early.

To register your interest in attending this event, please click the registration button and complete the requested information.

Register here

IRC engagement with Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 (H2020) is built around three pillars — excellent science, industrial leadership and research to tackle societal challenges.

With nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years, from 2014 to 2020, H2020 is:

• supporting the best ideas
• developing talent within Europe
• providing researchers with access to priority research infrastructure
• making Europe an attractive location for the world’s best researchers.

Ireland participated strongly in FP7 and secured €625 million worth of awards. Ireland’s H2020 strategy, published in 2014, EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014– 2020): Ireland’s Strategy and Target for Participation, set an ambitious target for the new programme: to double its financial draw down to €1.25 billion.

How we support Irish engagement with H2020

Our specific actions to support Irish engagement with H2020 include:

• Acting as joint national contact point for the European Research Council to raise awareness, advise on funding opportunities and support the preparation, submission and follow-up of grant applications > Find out more here
• Funding the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office, operated in partnership with the Irish Universities Association, to support researchers at all stages of their careers, across all disciplines and in all employment sectors > Find out more here
• Leading as national delegate and national contact point to support applications under Societal Challenge 6 ‘Innovative, Inclusive and Reflective Societies’ > Find out more here
• Developing and maintaining Irish links within European research networks and alliances, including Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA), GENDER-NET and New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE).
• Preparing the Irish research community for interdisciplinary engagement with the European societal challenges by fostering creative connections across all disciplines
• Instigating a frontier research programme across all disciplines and all career stages to continue supporting the next generation of researchers to compete effectively on the global stage > Find out more here

Statement from UK Government on underwriting Horizon2020 proposals

UK Government paper on collaboration in science and innovation