Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2023
286. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure an invitation is extended to an organisation (details supplied) to the Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum; whether there are defined criteria within his Department for the selection of representatives at the advisory forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34570/23]
View answerThe Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum is being established as provided for under Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy.
This Forum reflects international good practice in the development of national R&I systems and forms the final piece of the governance and oversight aspect of Impact 2030, along with the Steering Group and the Implementation Forum.
I will be chairing the Forum which will comprise approximately 15 international and national experts which will bring relevant experience and perspectives to the discussions.
The objective of the Forum will be to inform and support national research and innovation policy development on system-level strategic issues that would benefit from national, as well as international, expertise and experience.
Sample policy themes include, for example:
• How to better evidence research and innovation impact
• Researcher career pathways beyond academia
• How equality, diversion and inclusion can affect, and contribute to, national R&I policy objectives and ambitions
• Future of research prioritisation and the use of strategic foresight
• Advancement of a synergistic and cohesive national R&I system
The Expression of Interest process for the Advisory Forum closed on Friday 30 June 2023 and my officials are currently assessing the applications received. The process was an open one and available to all interested parties.
As part of the process, the interested parties were asked to provide the following information:
1. Relevant expertise in the strategic advancement of national research and innovation systems.
2. Current role.
3. Indicative policy themes that they may wish to table at the Forum.
4. If a member of a representative organisation, description of the constituency being represented and powers to represent same.
Applicants were also advised that:
• In line with best practice as set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, it is open to the Minister to consider suitable nominees other than those identified through this process.
• The Minister may have regard to the desirability for diversity and for gender balance on the forum as the Minister considers appropriate and determines from time to time when making appointments.
• Participation is the Forum is unremunerated.
The assessment of the expressions of interest will be considered against a range of criteria including:
• Experience – at system-level – in the strategic development of Ireland’s research and innovation system.
• Ability to engage with, and add value to, the totality of the Forum’s prospective working themes.
• Experience in the strategic development of R&I systems internationally, at national level and/ or multilateral level.
• Knowledge of the Irish system and the overarching longer-term objectives of Impact 2030.
For representative bodies additional criteria will include:
• Scale of representation and their powers to represent same.
• Experience – at system-level – in the strategic development of the Irish R&I system.
• Ability to engage with, and add value to, the totality of the Forum’s prospective working themes.
It is anticipated that the inaugural Forum meeting will be held in autumn 2023.
