Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2017
297. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions the director general of Science Foundation Ireland has had with his counterparts or other relevant officials in the UK on the permutations for Ireland on research collaboration between the two states when the UK exits the EU; and if funding for pre-existing awards will be guaranteed. [7717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last five years, SFI has put significant effort into enhancing Ireland’s scientific collaborations with the UK. SFI co-funds with Wellcome, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the Royal Society and more recently has agreed collaborative arrangements with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Centre (EPSRC). SFI also fosters collaborations between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US through the US-Ireland Partnership programme. This programme invites researchers in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US to work together on research projects that are then co-funded by SFI and the Health Research Board in Ireland, the Dept. of the Economy in Northern Ireland and the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation in the US. These collaborative arrangements are bilateral/trilateral and are, therefore, not impacted by Brexit. A key objective for SFI is to strengthen its research funding partnerships including with the UK with the goal of supporting further and stronger scientific collaboration. This will help to ensure that the Irish research community is well-positioned for all post Brexit scenarios. Funding from SFI for pre-existing awards is not impacted by Brexit.
