THE HEAD of research funding body Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is preparing to leave Ireland and take up a new post abroad.
The move relates to professional advancement rather than dissatisfaction with his current position, according to sources in the Government.
Prof Frank Gannon is four years into a five-year contract as director general of SFI, one of the two biggest agencies that allocate funding for research. SFI will distribute €150 million this year and about €166 million in 2011 to academic and private sector scientists who conduct research here.
Prof Gannon would not comment on the issue yesterday other than to say he was considering “the possibility of a new career move that is closer to the research community at a location on the Pacific Rim”.
It is understood that he has been offered a position as head of a research institute. He has not yet tendered a resignation to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the department responsible for SFI.
He is unlikely to do so until contracts have been agreed and signed at his new research institute, according to sources within Government. He will be expected to provide three months’ notice before actually leaving SFI.
It is understood that while he enjoyed directing SFI he remained strongly research orientated and would have welcomed an opportunity to return to the laboratory.
This opportunity has now arisen and Prof Gannon seems intent on taking up the post. He considered the offer as something he “just couldn’t ignore”, according to a source.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the Board of SFI, and all SFI staff members had been notified of the invitation, according to a statement released yesterday by SFI.
Minister of State for science, technology and innovation Conor Lenihan yesterday praised Prof Gannon’s contribution to Ireland’s research effort.
“Frank has done a marvellous job. He will be a difficult man to replace. Ireland’s reputation in the area of science and technology has been hugely advanced by his efforts,” Mr Lenihan said.
“He was very pleased about our recent capital investment and research spend and he will leave his position knowing that a great deal has been accomplished,” he added.
Prof Gannon joined SFI in 2007, moving from his role as executive director of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and senior scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), based in Heidelberg, Germany, where he had worked since 1994.
Prof Gannon was also formerly director of the National Diagnostic Centre and associate professor in the department of microbiology at University College Galway.