Scientists to get €47 million for new research projects

More than 200 scientists in the Republic are to receive €47 million in funding through Science Foundation Ireland’s investigators programme.

The programme aims to support scientific research that has the potential to bring economic and social benefits to the country.

It will provide funding for up to five years for a total of 36 research projects.

The successfully funded projects have links to 62 companies, and include research in areas such as sustainable food production, enhancing communications networks to enable high quality internet video, developing innovative wave energy devices, biopharmaceutical production, cancer detection and investigating the control of epilepsy development.

Funding for each project will range from €400,000 to €3.1 million.

The chosen projects were selected by competitive peer review by 400 international scientists, on the basis of excellent research with potential impact.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said the investment will help develop Ireland's international reputation for excellent research with impact.

“This allows us to continue to attract foreign-direct investment, as well as to support Irish companies, long-term economic competitiveness and most importantly ultimately job-creation.”

Minister for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock the investment would support world-class research in key priority areas that support economic and social development in Ireland.

Professor Mark Ferguson, director deneral of Science Foundation Ireland, said the funding would provide direct support for over 200 researchers, and would have an indirect impact on many other research programmes by allowing for the development of further research links with industry.

Of 210 applications, 36 projects were successful - a similar success rate to other international research funding programmes, he said.