Research Ireland announces €4.3m enterprise-focussed funding for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers

Development of spray-on, wash-off bandages; reducing carbon emissions in Ireland’s construction industry; and genetic analysis to assist red squirrel conservation in Britain and Ireland among the successful projects.

Research Ireland has today announced funding of €4.3m that will enable 35 postgraduate and postdoctoral candidates across 13 higher education institutions to collaborate with an enterprise partner on a research project of mutual interest.

The Enterprise Partnership Postgraduate and Postdoctoral schemes provide postgraduate and postdoctoral candidates, hosted by a research-performing institution, with the chance to gain valuable experience in the early part of their careers, with participating enterprise partners benefitting from having fresh perspectives, expertise, ideas and knowledge.

Announcing the awards, Research Ireland Interim CEO, Celine Fitzgerald, said:

I am delighted to see these latest projects selected for funding under Research Ireland’s Enterprise Partnership Schemes. These co-funded programmes train early-career researchers for the diversity of employment opportunities in industry, the public sector and the non-government sectors. For enterprise partners, the schemes provide a low-risk, flexible route to research talent and innovation in an area closely aligned with their strategic interests. It’s exciting to see the broad experience and benefits that these partnerships will give to researchers and their enterprise-employer partners.

Among the successful projects are:

  • ‘Spray-on, wash-off bandages (SOWOB): Reversible temperature-controlled polymers for painless bandage changes in Epidermolysis Bullosa’: Hilal Kırpık (Maynooth University), in partnership with DEBRA Ireland, aims to develop and validate spray-on, wash-off bandages based on thermo-responsive hydrogels, for painless bandage changes in Epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
  • ‘Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Irish Construction Industry by Employing Soil Stabilisation Methods in Unsuitable Soils.’: Daniel Cagney (University of Limerick), in partnership with MWP, will focus on optimizing the design of binders, which are used to increase the strength and stiffness of the soil in construction sites. In 2021, over 7.5 million tonnes of soil waste was removed from construction sites in Ireland and replaced with crushed quarried stone, which has financial and environmental impacts. Improved binders could be mixed with onsite soil to improve rigidity, the reuse of the soil also reduces carbon emissions and contributes to the circular economy.
  • ‘Isle of Bute: A genetic case study with implications for red squirrel conservation in Britain and Ireland: Rebecca Synnott (South East Technological University), in partnership with Vincent Wildlife Trust will investigate the genetic composition of red squirrel and assess the relatedness and health of the population. Understanding the genetic links and health of the red squirrels will lead to informed conservation strategies. While partners Vincent Wildlife Trust will gain actionable insights from this research, to safeguard key strategic red squirrel populations coinciding with broader conservation and restoration goals.
  • ‘Beyond CHIME: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Investigation Examining the Changes in Emotions, Behaviours and Thought Processes that occur During A Person’s Recovery Journey from Mental Health Challenges.’: Michael Norton (RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences), in partnership with Office of Mental Health Engagement and Recovery, endeavours to be a catalyst for change, fostering a more nuanced and effective approach to supporting individuals on their path to recovery.

Welcoming the announcement, Peter Brown, Director, Researcher Development at Research Ireland,  said:

The Enterprise Partnership Scheme links excellent research talent with enterprise and innovation in Ireland. The initiative helps to future-proof the careers and skills of academic researchers, while connecting employers with a high-quality pool of talent within Ireland’s research community. Research Ireland is delighted to work with our enterprise partners this year, building on previously established partnerships and working with new companies and organisations. I congratulate all our awardees and wish them every success as they begin their research projects.

Enterprise organisations range from multinational corporations to SMEs, public-sector agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and through this co-funded model, postgraduate or postdoctoral researchers are given the opportunity to develop new, advanced knowledge, and skills linked with industry needs.

Project list of Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postgraduate Scholars