Cash injection for postdoctoral research
12-06-2007
by Stephen Errity

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) announced Tuesday offers of research funding totalling over EUR4.7 million.

The council's Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme will award funds to 55 researchers planning to complete postdoctoral level research in Ireland in the fields of science, engineering and technology over the next two years.

Chair of IRCSET Professor Jane Grimson described the scheme as a 'key element' of equipping the Irish economy with the required research infrastructure for the future.

"The scheme allows talented researchers to develop their careers in Ireland, contributing to and gaining from the experience of established research teams. It also facilitates international mobility within the research community by attracting researchers from other countries to Ireland," she added.

The chosen researchers will each receive funding for two years of EUR33,000 available in the first and second year, plus expenses of up to EUR5,000 each year. All applications to the scheme were subject to assessment by an international committee. The decision to grant funding was based on research career to date, project description, proposed research environment and references from recognised research leaders.

The council says the scheme is targeted at developing Ireland's international reputation as an important location for carrying out world class research, so that Ireland retains and attracts the highest level R&D capabilities for the future. The scheme was open to applicants worldwide, but work must be carried out in Ireland.

IRCSET also announced Tuesday that it would be providing additional funding under its Enterprise Partnership Scheme. Under this scheme, researchers are co-funded with an industrial partner. Applicants for this scheme are to be contacted by the council directly.

Both the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme and the Enterprise Partnership Scheme form part of IRCSET's Embark initiative, which aims to support innovative and original research, aimed at generating new knowledge within Ireland in the national interest. The council operates within the National Development Plan under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science.

IRCSET's schemes are the latest in a round of research funding announced recently, including EUR15.8 million for Cork's Tyndall Institute, EUR20 million for research and teaching in the engineering sector and EUR26 million for various third-level research projects under the Government's Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation as part of the 2006-2013 National Development Plan.