Ninth Level Ireland

“AMBER, Ireland’s materials science research centre, announced the creation of 350 jobs today as part of their second phase of research. The new research positions will be created between 2019 and 2025. This research will focus on the creation of new materials and technologies that minimize environmental impact, improve health, and build a sustainable future …” (more)

[Áine Kenny, Independent, 24 June]

“Investment of almost half a billion euro in cutting-edge science research is set to support the work of up to 850 researchers over the coming years. The Government announced on Thursday that it will invest €230 million in six Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centres …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 May]

“Presidents and Vice-Chancellors of ten universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have met at Queen’s University Belfast. At this meeting, all universities confirmed their commitment to collaborating, on an all-island basis, across a broad range of research and education initiatives …” (more)

[IUA, 12 April]

“The University of Limerick is to lead a new €21 million research training centre for data science, it has been announced. In partnership with University College Dublin and Maynooth University, UL is to lead a new €21 million SFI Centre for Research Training in Foundations of Data Science, with industry partners coordinated by Skillnet Ireland …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 6 March]

“Some 90 companies are going to partner with Irish third-level colleges in running postgraduate courses and research programmes to train students in key skills needed in the digital science, data, and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 5 March]

“I was quite excited the other day when I got an email notifying me that Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has announced a new funding programme called Frontiers for the Future. What particularly caught my attention are the so-called Frontiers for the Future Projects …” (more)

[In the Dark, 9 February]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the location of each SFI research centre; and the amount of funding allocated to each such centre in 2018 and 2019, by county, in tabular form …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 January]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the capital and current funding allocated to Science Foundation Ireland on an annual basis since it was established up to 2018; and the 2019 allocation for same …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 January]

“The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Chairperson of the Board of Science Foundation Ireland. The ideal candidate for the position should demonstrate in their application evidence of: a proven record of achievement at an appropriately senior level that demonstrates the necessary vision, leadership and management skills, as well as personal resilience; prior experience of Board membership or of Chairing a Board …” (more)

[StateBoards.ie, 16 January]

“Dr Maria Prencipe, UCD Conway Institute, and Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, discusses the launch of Science Foundation Ireland’s annual plan that will be finding 20 research projects across a range of sectors” (podcast).

[RTÉ – Drivetime, 16 February]

“There’s an interesting news item in the Education section of the Irish times about the appointment of Prof Séamus Davis to positions at both the University of Oxford and University College Cork, under a Science Foundation Ireland scheme intended to capitalize on Brexit (and the imminent loss of EU funding it implies) and the unhappy situation for science in the USA …” (more)

[In The Dark, 19 December]

“The first in a series of world-class academic appointments aimed at capitalising on Brexit and uncertainty in the US is to be announced on Wednesday. UCC has made a joint appointment with Oxford University of a leading experimental quantum physicist, Prof Séamus Davis …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 19 December]

“A senior Trinity College Dublin academic has said she is not sure if the creation of ‘women-only’ professorships in third level institutions is the way to improve gender balance in the education system. Prof Linda Doyle, dean of research at the university, said that from a feminist perspective there was a need to do something for women to ensure a greater number of them fill senior academic posts …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 12 November]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated to the strategic partnership programme for SFI in each year since it was established; and the number of approved applicants in tabular form …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 25 October]

“Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the criteria and qualifications required to sit on the Science Foundation Ireland oversight review panel; the make-up and format of the panel; the remit of the panel to consider the funding allocation 2019-2025; the reason for the necessity of an additional panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 16 October]

“The outgoing CEO of the Higher Education Authority, Dr Graham Love has outlined some of the reasons for his unexpected resignation from the body in August after 18 months in the role. He was speaking as both the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority appeared before the Public Accounts Committee this afternoon …” (more)

[Edel McAllister, RTÉ News, 18 October]

“Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development, John Halligan TD, has welcomed the latest figures on Government investment in research and development (R&D) published today by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, which show that over €750m is estimated to have been invested in R&D in 2018 …” (more)

[Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, 5 October]

“Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour): I thank the Minister of State with responsibility for this issue for coming before the House today. I want to raise the issue of the defunding of the INFANT research centre, a perinatal healthcare centre in University College Cork. It is a Science Foundation Ireland funded research centre that is led by female investigators and the only one of its kind in the State. The centre deals specifically with ensuring better health outcomes for pregnant women and their children and babies, both in utero and after birth …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 3 October]

“A leading expert in the health research landscape said she quit her governance position at a perinatal research centre because the university where it is based failed to challenge Science Foundation Ireland’s decision not to fund it …” (more)

[Catherine Shanahan and Elaine Loughlin, BreakingNews.ie, 3 October]

“Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) said its decision not to provide a new round of funding for a high-profile research centre was made following a robust process. SFI has decided not to provide a new round of funding to the University College Cork-based INFANT centre once its current allocation comes to an end next year, RTÉ reported on Monday …” (more)

[Vivienne Clarke, Irish Times, 1 October]