Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology

Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology or simply IRCSET is an independent and autonomous research funding and monitoring body established in June 2001 by the "Minister for Education and Science" in order to promote science and engineering research in Ireland. [ [http://www.ircset.ie/about_embark/research.html The Research Council] ] IRCSET is one of the two research councils in Ireland through which Irish government provides its state-funded scholarships to a limited number of talented researchers each year who are designated as "Government of Ireland Scholar". [ [http://www.ucc.ie/en/SIN/supgfinance/Scholarships/IRCHSSIRCSET IRCHSS/IRCSET] ] IRCSET through its main program The Embark Initiative mainly aims to encourage doctoral and masters level researchers to initiate and continue their research work in different Irish Higher Educational Institutes. In addition to doctoral and masters level funding, IRCSET also provides necessary supports and financial assistance to a large number of post-doctoral researchers as well. [ [http://www.ircset.ie/grant_schemes/postdoctoral.html Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme] ]

The Embark Initiative

The Embark Initiative is the main program managed by IRCSET. Thus the words "Embark Initiative" and "IRCSET" became synonymous and also commonly referred as the "IRCSET - Embark Initiative" [ [http://perc.nuigalway.ie/site/collaborator/4 A project page from National University of Ireland, Galway] ] [ [http://www.rince.ie/rince/127-EE.html A project page from RINCE] ] or the "Embark Initiative, operated by the IRCSET" [ [http://srg.cs.ucd.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=31 A project page from University College Dublin] ] in practice. In July 2007 the Embark Initiative scheme supported fifty masters and doctoral researchers which costs €3.6 million. [ [http://www.irishdev.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=5531 IRCSET launches 3.6 million scheme to fund new doctoral and masters researchers] ] This year same scheme called for application to support 165 researchers which worth €11.8 million. [ [http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0111/ircset.html IRCSET launches scheme to fund post-graduate research] ] [ [http://www.ircset.ie/grant_schemes/postgrad.html 2008 Programme NOW OPEN] ] Person who is awarded this scholarship is officially designated as "Government of Ireland Scholar".

Mission

Funded by the State under the National Development Plan, the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) operates research funding initiatives which support talented researchers in their early stage career formation across Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral levels in the sciences, engineering and technology. They are also designed to ensure that Ireland will become an internationally attractive location for high-level research. The emphasis of its funding programmes is on exploratory research aimed at yielding new concepts, findings and innovations within Ireland. The main scheme which IRCSET operates is called The Embark Initiative.IRCSET also operates an Enterprise Partnership Scheme where it co-funds researchers in co-operation with leading industry partners.

Since its inception in 2002, the Council has thus far allocated €60 million to support the career formation of over 1,000 researchers in Ireland. Funding is made available through a series of strictly competitive calls for applicants. Selection for funding is based on merit and the decision process is overseen by independent assessment panels.

Further details, including information on all current schemes, are available at www.ircset.ie.

The current IRCSET chairperson is [https://www.cs.tcd.ie/Jane.Grimson/ Professor Jane Grimson] , of Trinity College Dublin.

Timeline

*2001: Established in June of this year by the Minister for Education and Science in Ireland. Launched the basic research grant scheme, jointly with Enterprise Ireland in December
*2002: Launched the postgraduate research scholarship awards
*2003: Launched the postdoctoral fellowship awards
*2006: Launched the Graduate Research Education Programme exploratory grant awards
*2007: Launched the call for funding for the Graduate Research Education Programme

The Embark Initiative is part of Ireland's drive to encourage 4th level or postgraduate research in Ireland. The aim is to promote Ireland as an international centre of excellence and achievement in research by encouraging students and researchers to pursue a full-time career in their chosen research area.

External links

* [http://www.ircset.ie Official website of IRCSET]

References