TU Dublin receives funding under Shared Island North-South Research Programme
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, recently announced funding for four projects involving TU Dublin researchers under the first funding call from the North-South Research Programme.
The North-South Research Programme is a collaborative scheme funded through the government's Shared Island Fund. It is being administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The awards range in value from €200,000 over two years to €4 million over four years. They are to be made to successful collaborations under three strands:
- bilateral researcher-researcher projects
- emerging hubs of excellence
- partnerships of scale
Among the successful projects involving TU Dublin researchers include the All-Island Cancer Research Institute with Professor Fiona Lyng, the Post-Brexit Security Field on the Island of Ireland: The Role of Civil Society in Everyday Security with Dr Matt Bowden, Developing an Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Preparedness Plan for the island of Ireland with Dr Liz O'Sullivan and Dr Aileen Kennedy, and Bridging the Gap - Developing Professional Skills in Engineering Students through an innovative and inclusive Summer School designed to equip students with the intercultural skills necessary to meet the SDGs with Dr Una Beagon and Professor Brian Bowe.
Announcing the awards, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, said:
“I’m delighted to see such substantial funding being awarded to researchers and Higher Education institutions from the North-South Research Programme.
"These awards will support the government’s Shared Island vision, by bringing researchers from all corners of the island together to work on pioneering projects over the next four years, and is not only strengthening existing relationships, but is fostering new research partnerships.
"I’m particularly impressed by the high level of interest and the calibre of the proposals, and I am confident that these cross-border collaborations will further strengthen the island’s reputation for innovation and research excellence."
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, said:
“Research, science and innovation are invaluable tools in helping us understand the challenges facing us and identify solutions to them.
“Today, we are announcing 62 new research projects developed by researchers across the island on our shared challenges.
“This will deepen relationships between North and South and help create and build new ones. I want to thank An Taoiseach for his support and the funding secured through the Shared Island Fund.”
HEA CEO, Dr Alan Wall, said:
“The North-South Research Programme provides an opportunity for researchers work to combine knowledge, expertise and skills, to work collaboratively to address global, national and regional challenges and to deepen the relationships between researchers and the impact of their research on how we share this island.”
Last year, €40 million was allocated from the Shared Island Fund over five years for the North-South Research programme. This significant development aims to support the deepening of links between higher education institutions, researchers and research communities on the island of Ireland, delivering all-island approaches to research and innovation.
As previously announced and agreed by government, there will be a second call under the programme in 2023. See the full list of North-South Research Programme awardees under the first call.