The Centre for Cross Border Studies (CCBS) has given funding of between £20,000 and £25,000 sterling each to three projects. The centre promotes cross-Border co-operation and research.
The chosen education project is a study on how third-level colleges in Northern Ireland and the Republic can better co-operate. It will be carried out by the former Belfast Telegraph education correspondent, Mr Paul McGill, and Dr Mark Morgan, of St Patrick's College in Dublin.
The health project is a study on potential co-operation between health services in both jurisdictions. It will be carried out by Dr James Jamison, former director of the health and social care research unit at Queen's University, Belfast.
The public administration project is studying the crossBorder networks which are evolving out of EU funding programmes in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
It will be carried out by a team from the Institute of British Irish Studies at University College Dublin, led by Prof Brigid Laffan, Jean Monnet Professor of European politics, and Dr Diane Payne.
A fourth project, in the transport and communications sector, will be approved for funding in the next month, a statement said.
The CCBS is financed by the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation. It is a joint initiative between Queen's University, Dublin City University and the Workers' Educational Association (Northern Ireland). The director of the centre is the former religious affairs correspondent and education correspondent of The Irish Times, Mr Andy Pollak.