SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT 2015 21
External funding secured increased by 36 %
Leveraging Funding from Other Sources
Research that is scientifically excellent and that brings direct economic and social benefits should have multiple sources of support . Equally , large research projects require a level of funding that can realistically be met only by multiple investors . Evidence of scientific excellence is supported by the winning of funding from international sources such as the ERC and in the coordination of EU projects .
Science Foundation Ireland-supported researchers leveraged € 158 million in external funding in 2015 , which represents a 36 % increase on 2014 . € 79 million was secured from the European Union , which was triple the amount secured in 2014 .
Amount of External Funding secured by SFI-Funded Researchers in 2015 By Source ( All awards )
Total Funding Secured 2015
European Union 79,394,690 Private Enterprise 38,079,193 Enterprise Ireland 12,912,309 Irish Research Council 5,239,410 Health Research Board 5,202,901 Other International Government Source 3,430,484 Other Source 3,291,119 Other International Interest Organisation 2,951,968 Wellcome Trust 1,717,332 Environmental Protection Agency 1,246,414
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food
953,294
Charity / Non-Profit Organisation ( Irish ) 859,300 Marine Institute 781,250
Charity / Non-Profit Organisation ( International )
716,523
Teagasc 530,000
Department of Communications , Energy and Natural Resources
451,650
Other Irish Government Source 423,075 Higher Education Authority Ireland 176,000 National Institute of Health USA 70,000 National Science Foundation US 38,695 Total 158,465,608
* Data from SFI outputs 2015 . This indicates commitment secured ; not in year funding .
Agreements with UK funding agencies including the Royal Society , the Wellcome Trust and the BBSRC , have produced joint funding opportunities for Irish-based researchers . This support builds complementary research competence for Ireland and Irish companies . Three prestigious early career fellowships were made in 2015 under the SFI-Royal Society University Research Fellowship scheme . These awards made by the Royal Society , in competition with applicants across the UK , demonstrate the excellence of researchers in Ireland . Similarly , three awards were made under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Partnership , which has been extended for another five years and now incorporates investigator , seed and collaborative awards , and the Wellcome Trust Centres scheme .
A new partnership was established with the BBSRC ; the first call will issue in January 2016 . This scheme allows the BBSRC to support UK applicants , while Irish applicants will be funded by Science Foundation Ireland . This partnership will increase collaboration between Ireland and the UK and will enable Irish researchers to access and utilise UK facilities .
Science Foundation Ireland is committed to supporting Horizon 2020 wins through a number of initiatives including :
Participation in cross-departmental and High Level Strategic Research Proposal Projects Group .
The two primary mechanisms for joint programming are Joint Programming Initiatives ( JPIs ) and European Research Area Networks ( ERA- Nets ). JPIs in which Ireland is involved include Neurodegenerative Disease Research , Agriculture , Food Security and Climate Change , Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life ( HDHL ), Climate , Water Challenges for a Changing World and Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans .
Science Foundation Ireland , the Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine and the HRB are actively engaged in the JPI HDHL . Science Foundation Ireland has agreed to double its original commitment and fund two proposals . The Irish parties in these European consortia are Prof Paul O ’ Toole ( APC and UCC ) and Prof Douwe Van Sinderen ( APC and UCC ) with Science Foundation Ireland ’ s contribution being € 500,000 in each case .
A Brussels Events Fund of up to € 50,000 per application is availabe through the Conferences and Workshops Scheme . This fund enables conferences to be held in Brussels for European policymakers and H2020 roadmaps . SFI Research Centre Insight launched their “ Towards a Magna Carta for Data ” discussion document through this forum in Brussels .