The Irish government has plans for a ¡°transformative¡± research funding programme to take up the mantle of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), a €1.2 billion (?1 billion) scheme that ran from 1998 to 2015 and was widely considered a ¡°step-change¡± in Irish research investment.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Irish Universities Association, James Lawless, the minister for further and higher education, research and science, said he envisaged a programme that ¡°responds to today¡¯s needs while retaining the founding spirit of the original PRTLI¡±.

The programme ¡°was a turning point in Ireland¡¯s development as a knowledge economy, and the state¡¯s first major strategic investment in research capacity, infrastructure and training¡±, he said. ¡°It changed the country, and it is time to deliver a new phase of that instrument.¡±

¡°I recognise that research and innovation ambition of that scale has perhaps not been prioritised sufficiently in recent years,¡± said Lawless, who was appointed to the higher education and research ministry in January. ¡°As the new minister I intend to prioritise that area, and I am pleased to have the full backing of the Taoiseach and government in doing so.¡±

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The new scheme ¡°will include targeted support for equipment renewal, recognising that much of what was funded under the original scheme is nearing obsolescence¡±, the minister said. He suggested that equipment too large for one university to host could reside in ¡°shared centres¡± specialising in particular disciplines.

The ¡°majority of funding¡±, however, ¡°will be reserved for a major competitive core based on application quality; one designed to drive institutional ambition, deepen collaborative links and deliver real, system-wide impact¡±.

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The programme ¡°will not duplicate existing schemes¡±, Lawless said. ¡°Instead, it will create space for excellence to flourish, independent original priorities, responses to strategic visions, and open to new ideas that can transform Ireland¡¯s research landscape once again.¡±

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) is ¡°actively progressing the proposal for [the scheme] with stakeholders¡±, the minister said, adding, ¡°This significant, multiannual funding, for a genuinely strategic, open-ended, capacity-building programme will be transformative.¡±

Ireland is also likely to join several other European schemes in setting out plans to attract US-based researchers, Lawless said, amid funding cuts and academic freedom restrictions under the Trump administration. He noted the €500 million package announced by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week, intended to ¡°make Europe a magnet for researchers¡±.

¡°The last few months have undoubtedly changed how people view the United States in terms of research and indeed higher education,¡± Lawless said. ¡°It has unfortunately become a cold place for free thinkers and talented researchers.¡±

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Ireland ¡°can offer a stable, open, EU-aligned environment where world-class researchers can thrive, contribute and shape the future of science¡±, he said. ¡°Ireland will be a welcoming host for the best and brightest, and I intend to bring plans to the government in the coming weeks to enable that.¡±

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com