Research Ireland Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Strategy for Innovation

Research Ireland introduced its inaugural five-year strategy on March 2, 2026, during an event at the Mansion House in Dublin. Titled Curiosity, Capability, Competitiveness – Charting Ireland’s Research and Innovation Future 2026–2030, the plan seeks to enhance the nation’s research and innovation landscape by concentrating on the development of research talent.

The strategy is built on three foundational pillars: Talent, Economy, and Society. The Talent pillar aims to create a robust pipeline of researchers, setting an ambitious target of delivering 3,500 PhDs and 2,000 postdoctoral fellows. Additionally, Research Ireland plans to support 1,000 investigator-led grants and collaborate with higher education institutions and research organisations to ensure that research talent efficiently addresses both economic and civic needs.

The Economy pillar focuses on bolstering Ireland’s competitiveness through sustained support for 14 Research Centres. The strategy sets a goal of establishing 50 spin-out companies founded by researchers funded by Research Ireland, alongside an increase in enterprise co-investment. The target includes securing 36% of co-funding from multinational corporations and 16% from small and medium enterprises.

Under the Society pillar, the strategy outlines a substantial investment of €650 million in multidisciplinary research. This includes enhancing collaboration with enterprises, non-governmental organisations, national cultural institutions, and the arts and culture sector.

During the event, Dr. Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, articulated the strategy’s ambitious goals: “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.” He emphasised the importance of strengthening the talent pipeline, supporting foreign direct investment, and fostering greater innovation-driven collaboration.

Dr. O’Brien noted that success will be measured by the impact of the strategy, aiming for a stronger, more resilient Ireland and an innovation system that ranks among the best worldwide. He further explained the shift in focus from merely being a funding agency to becoming a development agency.

“What we’re trying to do is move away from being seen as a funding agency to be seen as a development agency,” Dr. O’Brien stated. “For Ireland to succeed from a research innovation perspective, we need to build an internationally credible research and innovation capability. That’s not just about funding research, but it’s about how we connect all of that together.”

The strategy’s development process acknowledges the importance of nurturing curiosity from primary and secondary education levels. Dr. O’Brien expressed optimism regarding ongoing efforts to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through initiatives like Science Week and programming by national broadcaster RTE.

“We have actually done well in attracting our secondary school students into engineering and science disciplines within the university system,” he remarked. However, he identified a challenge in making PhD and research careers appealing to undergraduates upon graduation.

“The real opportunity there is for them to take a step back and recognise that there’s not just a pathway into an academic career. It’s about a pathway into a very broad array of opportunities, including working in industry or working within government or public policy environments,” Dr. O’Brien added.

Through this comprehensive strategy, Research Ireland aims to invigorate the nation’s research ecosystem, bridging gaps between academia, industry, and government to create a vibrant and impactful innovation landscape.