Government has announced an initiative to encourage PhD research in areas which address “national and global grand challenges” including a €28,000 stipend for student researchers.
Innovate for Ireland is a collaborative initiative between Government and the private sector industry seeking to attract up to 400 PhD students to undertake research in the areas of climate change, global health, water poverty, digital society and cyber-security.
Several million euros in state funding will be matched by private investors to provide the incentive package. It will be available to researchers across a range of academic disciplines, including arts and humanities subjects, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Announced yesterday by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, the programme will be open to both Irish and international students.
Speaking at the announcement, the Taoiseach said that Innovate for Ireland reflects the government’s “deep commitment to research and innovation and to addressing global sustainability.”
“We need more top-class researchers and innovators to make Ireland a leader in overcoming the grand challenges of our times,” he added.
“That is what this programme Innovate for Ireland will achieve. It will ensure the best minds are advancing solutions here in Ireland and in so doing enhance our talent offering and our dynamic innovation ecosystem. I welcome the private sector’s support for this initiative.”
Minister Harris added that the collaborative project “will help us to ensure our brightest and best stay in Ireland but also that we continue to attract talent to Ireland.”
“Innovate for Ireland aligns with strategic goals in the government’s Impact 2030 Strategy and my own department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. This programme will establish Ireland as a globally renowned hub of talent development and knowledge creation.”
Innovate for Ireland will be coordinated through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), alongside the Irish Research Council and the Health Research Board.
Professor Philip Nolan, the director general of SFI, said: “We welcome this new partnership between government and industry to support the development of future skills and talent through excellent doctoral training.”
“Science Foundation Ireland looks forward to collaborating with all partners to develop and deliver this ambitious programme.”
