Research Ireland strategy to help deliver stronger, more resilient Ireland through research and innovation
- 3,800 PhDs and 2,000 postdoctoral fellows to strengthen Ireland’s research talent pipeline, fuel future workforce and grow FDI and indigenous enterprise
- Target of 50 active spin-out companies founded by Research Ireland-funded researchers
- Pledge to fund 150 Research Ireland awards in partnership with Government departments, targeting societal impact
- Research and innovation will drive a new economic model
Research Ireland today launched its inaugural strategy Curiosity, Capability, Competitiveness – Charting Ireland’s Research and Innovation Future 2026–2030, aimed at building a research and innovation system that delivers prosperity for the people of Ireland.
Launching the new strategy, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said:
“A stronger, more resilient Ireland enabled through research and innovation is a priority for Government. Our future success hinges on our ability to prepare and compete in a rapidly-changing world. The establishment of Research Ireland was an important step forward for Ireland’s research and innovation system. This ambitious strategy positions research and innovation not as a support function, but as a national capability essential to Ireland’s prosperity and our ability to contribute at the core of Europe and beyond.”
Acknowledging the enormous progress made over the last 25 years in terms of establishing a research and innovation capacity in Ireland, the new strategy points to a new phase of that evolution, and reflects the realities of an increasingly-competitive global research and innovation landscape. It emphasises the need to harness curiosity-driven excellence and translate it into outcomes that strengthen enterprise performance, enhance national competitiveness, and deliver societal benefit.
Speaking at the strategy launch, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD said:
“Research Ireland will play a central role in strengthening Ireland’s research and innovation system, supporting excellent researchers and driving real impact for our society and economy. For my Department, research and innovation are essential national priorities, critical to our future competitiveness and resilience. This strategy aligns with the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan, Impact 2030, and the Action Plan for Competitiveness, underscoring a strong, shared commitment across Government to back this ambition. I look forward to working with the Research Ireland team as we deliver on this strategy and continue to support talent, discovery and innovation across the country.”
Addressing the launch, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO, Research Ireland commented:
“Research Ireland’s new strategy sets out a clear ambition – to support all disciplines towards building an internationally-renowned research and innovation system that delivers real outcomes for people, communities and enterprise. Over the coming five years, we will focus on strengthening the talent pipeline, supporting FDI investment and indigenous capability, and fostering greater innovation-driven collaboration, all of which underpins our future competitiveness and societal wellbeing. Acting as a leader, partner and connector across the research and innovation ecosystem, our measure of success is impact: a stronger, more resilient Ireland, and an innovation system that earns its place among the best in the world.”
The strategy is based on three pillars, targeting growth of the system, with the aim of:
Talent – Empowering People
- Delivering 3,500 PhDs and 2,000 postdoctoral fellows, creating a stronger pipeline of trained researchers across disciplines;
- Supporting 1,000 investigator-led grants and strengthen international competitiveness with 29 international recruitment grants;
- Enabling a transformation in research infrastructure through the Inspire initiative (announced November 2025), delivering cutting-edge equipment;
- Partnering with higher education institutions and research bodies to ensure the effective transition of research talent to address economic and civic needs;
- Supporting mobility of researchers between academia, industry and public services.
Economy – Strengthening Competitiveness
- Supporting 14 enhanced Research Centres at an international scale, focusing on areas of critical importance for our economy;
- Accelerating translation and commercialisation, targeting 50 spin-out companies founded by Research Ireland-funded researchers;
- Enabling 10 strategic partnerships of scale (>€10million total) between organisations and the research community;
- Embedding Foreign Direct Investment and grow indigenous capability through increased enterprise co-investment, targeting 36% co-funding from MNCs and 16% from SMEs;
- Creating the Intellectual Property that will grow indigenous innovation capability, underpin spin-out creation and provide the future deal flow for venture capital.
Society – Driving Solutions
- Investing €650 million in multidisciplinary research;
- Strengthening Ireland’s resilience and wellbeing by supporting evidence-based research that informs public policy and national responses to challenges e.g. climate change, AI regulation and health;
- Delivering 150 research awards with Government Departments targeting societal impact, strengthening the link between research and public policy;
- Supporting 1,250 engagements between Research Ireland-funded researchers and Government Departments and Agencies;
- Strengthening collaboration with enterprise, NGOs, national cultural institutions, and the arts and culture sector to drive and showcase greater benefit to society.
Image caption: At the launch of the Research Ireland Strategy today were (left to right) Research Ireland CEO, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien; Minister James Lawless TD; Olivia Waters, ADAPT Research Ireland Centre; and Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. Photo: Jason Clarke.
