Ireland: Launch of the new R&I agency to "engage national challenges"; a combined budget of € 270 M

Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland, the new research agency born from the merging of the Irish Research Council (IRC) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), is officially established, announces the Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan, on 01/08/2024.

Ireland’s new competitive research and innovation funding agency is set to "capitalise on the recognised strengths of these two agencies in driving world-class research and innovation in Ireland".

According to the Research and Innovation Bill 2024, "in addition to benefitting from existing staff expertise, this new agency will have a combined budget of € 270 M (i.e. circa three-quarters of total national competitive research awards)."

"This new agency will be a vital support in building the successful future of research and innovation in Ireland, engaging national challenges like the green and digital transitions, and boosting our international standing as research innovators in emerging fields and the opportunities ahead", says the Minister.

Michael Horgan has been named…