SFI announces scheme to attract world’s best researchers

Science Foundation Ireland has announced a new initiative to attract the world's top researchers to the country's seven universities.

The Targeted SFI Research Professorship programme is seeking to strengthen Ireland’s research base by attracting research professors with world-class research profiles who are undertaking research in areas of key national importance and priority.

A total of €5 million in funding will be given to each successful applicant to enable them to carry out research in Ireland.

Successful applicants will be expected to perform cutting edge research, develop significant research programmes with industry, discover and develop new technologies that could be spun-out into new enterprises and train students and young researchers.

Run in partnership with the seven Irish universities and the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the programme will target a number of areas including advanced manufacturing, bio-manufacturing, energy, marine, ICT, medical devices, agrifood, climate change, smart cities, ageing, connected health, and digital platforms, content and applications.

"This programme will help to boost Ireland's international research standing and to continue to foster innovation in our higher education sector. Ireland's research excellence and output is well-documented and we want to continue to attract the very best international research talent here - we are very much open for business," said Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock.