The European Commission’s Director General for Research, Mr José Manuel Silva Rodríguez, today launched the portal euraxess.ie at a special event in Dublin attended by members of the Irish research community and hosted by the Irish Universities Association (IUA). Operated by Euraxess Ireland, based at the IUA, the website guides researchers to information on R&D funding, job opportunities, social security and tax issues and other topics relating to researcher mobility.

Euraxess.ie also provides access to the Government’s Hosting Agreement Scheme to fast track researchers to Ireland. This scheme enables approved organisations to recruit researchers from outside the EEA to carry out research in Ireland without the need for a Green Card or Work Permit. This mechanism facilitates researchers and their immediate family for the duration of their contract making Ireland much more attractive than many other European countries.

Commenting on the value of the portal in aiding researchers; “The European Commission recognizes the commitment by Ireland to supporting the free movement of researchers which is a critical part of European R&D policy. It will certainly support Ireland’s goal of developing the Smart Economy”, said Mr. Silva Rodríguez

Mr Silva Rodríguez is on a two day visit to Ireland to view projects funded in Irish Universities and companies by the European Commission under the highly competitive Framework Programme. Between 2006 and 2008, 1,800 Irish research groups and organisations have participated in submitted proposals of which 418 have been successful, resulting in the influx of EU funding of some €107million.

Over the first two years of the 7th Research Framework programme (FP7) Irish researchers have been very active and successful in applying for funding to complement national resources. Mr Rodríguez went on to say that “Ireland is a strong participant in competitive European R&D funding programmes and is clearly using the national investments made over the past 10 years to lever further EU funding

Over €10million has been awarded to a number of Irish Institutions under the Marie Curie COFUND action. This success has been achieved by the Irish Research Councils (IRCSET & IRCHSS), the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI). These programmes are bringing EU money to boost national investments and will enable some 100 researchers to move between an Irish and a foreign research organisation to support their career development.

Despite the difficult economic situation, Irish institutions continue to be attractive also for individual researchers from other countries, especially at post-doctoral level. Marie Curie fellowships allow them to carry out their projects in an Irish research team for 1-2 years, making an important contribution to the Irish knowledge economy.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Lia O’Sullivan, Communications Manager, Irish Universities Association, 6764948, lia.osullivan@iua.ie

Note:

Photo: Jennifer Cleary, Marguerita Lardner, Andras Siegler, Ann Sophie Ronnlund, Mr José Manuel Silva Rodríguez, Conor O’Carroll, Mary Minch, Magda Wislocka, Brendan Hawdon, Dagmar Meyer pictured at the launch of EURAXESS.ie on September 8th 2009.

The EURAXESS Ireland office is run by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment and the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Established in 2004, EURAXESS Ireland (formerly the Researcher Mobility Office Ireland) is a free information and advice resource for internationally mobile researchers wishing to come to Ireland or go abroad. Research active organisations advertise their research and funding opportunities for free.