What Research Ireland does

Research Ireland is Ireland's statutory national research funding agency, established under the Research and Innovation Bill 2024 and operating under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It succeeded Science Foundation Ireland and broadened its predecessor's mandate from STEM-only research to all disciplines, distributing competitive grant funding to academic researchers, higher-education institutions, and industry partners via the SESAME grants management platform. The agency is led by CEO Dr Diarmuid O'Brien and operates from a Dublin-headquartered organisation of 101-250 employees.

The agency's core programmatic instruments include the Rinn Network of 7 large-scale research centres backed by €460M of government investment matched by €500M of industry co-investment, the consolidated MSCA Office for Horizon Europe researcher mobility, the US-Ireland R&D Partnership, Royal Society University Research Fellowships, and a Defence Innovation Challenge delivered with the Department of Defence. It also administers the €22.5M MSCA Choose Europe for Science initiative for displaced researchers and an MSCA Presidency Conference in Dublin in November 2026. The operating model is grant administration rather than commercial productisation: funding is awarded competitively, with industry contributions levered through the Rinn centres and public engagement programmes (Curious Minds, Science Week, Dublin Maker) supporting STEM literacy in primary education.

Research Ireland's ecosystem spans 17 research-performing institutions and over 200 industry partners, supports 577 named research positions and 800+ PhDs, and acts as Ireland's designated national contact point for major European and bilateral research frameworks. Direct programme funding is supplemented by partnership programmes such as NordicPharmaTrain and clinical-research co-investments such as the ASET-DCB OCT study. Revenue mechanics are public appropriation plus administered industry co-funding rather than commercial pricing.

Name

Research Ireland

Legal name

Research Ireland

Website

https://researchireland.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Research Ireland is Ireland's statutory national research funding agency, established 2024 under the Research and Innovation Bill, distributing competitive grants across all disciplines to universities, researchers, and industry via the Rinn Network, MSCA Office, and US-Ireland, UK-Ireland, and Defence programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Research Funding

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Space Research and Technology (927)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB), Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Research funding agency
• National grants administration
• Academic research support
• STEM education programmes
• EU research coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Hatch Street Upper, Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public funding allocation: Research Ireland is a statutory body funded by the Irish Government (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science). It allocates competitive grant funding to researchers, institutions, and research centres. It is not a revenue-generating commercial entity.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Research Ireland is Ireland's national research funding agency that distributes competitive grant funding to academic researchers, higher education institutions, and enterprise partners across all research disciplines. It administers the €460 million Rinn Network of seven national research centres, manages Ireland's drawdown from EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, runs the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme, and operates the Curious Minds STEM education programme for primary schools.

Product overview

Research Ireland is Ireland's national research funding agency that operates a comprehensive portfolio of research funding programmes and public engagement activities. The core offerings include various funding programmes (Research Ireland Funding Programmes, MSCA, US-Ireland R&D Partnership, Defence Innovation Challenge), the Rinn Network of seven major research centres (€460M investment), the Research Ireland Fellowship Programme for postdoctoral researchers, and the Curious Minds STEM education programme for primary schools. The organization also manages the SESAME grants management system for application submission. Key products include funding mechanisms (core funding, supplemental grants for displaced researchers, University Research Fellowships), research centres (Rinn Network spanning AI, Quantum, Energy, Medical Devices, Pharma, Semiconductors, Advanced Therapies), and public engagement initiatives (Curious Minds awards, Discover Centres, ESERO Ireland, Research in Ireland Barometer). The structure is a platform-plus-programmes model where the central funding agency coordinates multiple distinct programmes and research centres under unified governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Ireland Funding Programmes
• Rinn Network of Research Ireland Centres
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Programme Support
• Research Ireland Fellowship Programme
• Supplemental Grant for Displaced Researchers – Ukraine
• US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme Tri-partite research collaboration involving USA, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland funding agencies across seven thematic areas: Sensors & Sensor Networks, Nanoscale Science & Engineering, Telecommunications, Energy & Sustainability, Cybersecurity, Health, and Agriculture.
• Royal Society – Research Ireland University Research Fellowship Fellowship for outstanding scientists in Republic of Ireland in early stages of research career, providing opportunity to build independent research career over up to 8 years, co-funded with the Royal Society at Research Ireland Research Fellow scales (Level 3 and Level 4) with institutional overheads at 30% and research expenses up to €90,000 per annum.
• Defence Innovation Challenge Challenge funding programme developed in partnership with Irish Department of Defence and Defence Forces supporting research addressing defence challenges in areas including space-enabled situational awareness, land-based defence, emergency response, and societal resilience. A Defence Liaison from the Defence Forces is assigned to each funded team.
• Curious Minds STEM Education Programme STEM education programme for primary schools supporting inquiry-based learning, classroom resources, awards system (Silver, Gold, Platinum), and CPD for teachers. Previously known as Discover Primary Science and Maths (DPSM), founded 2003 and run with ESERO Ireland since 2010.
• SESAME Grants Management System Online grants management portal for submitting and managing research funding applications, used for various Research Ireland funding calls. Researchers and institutions submit applications, manage grants, and access award management functions.
• Research in Ireland Barometer National project designed to understand how people across Ireland experience research in their everyday lives, with community-based focus groups and qualitative engagement. Introduces more qualitative, community-engaged approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rinn network will support 577 research positions and develop over 800 PhDs across 17 research-performing organisations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NordicPharmaTrain (NPT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2026Rinn Pharma & Biopharma, Ireland's national centre for Research & Innovation in Making Medicines, joined the NordicPharmaTrain (NPT) network, expanding collaborative research and training across the Nordic and European innovation landscape. The partnership includes hosting visiting researchers and PhD students, providing access to state-of-the-art laboratories and infrastructure for secondments and hands-on training. CMAC (UK) and DTU Health Tech at the Technical University of Denmark have also joined the NPT consortium. The partnership promotes researcher mobility, open knowledge-sharing, and joint publications and grant proposals.
• B. Braun Melsungen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB. Braun Melsungen AG is co-funder of the €2 million ASET-DCB OCT study on a new treatment approach for coronary artery disease. The four-year clinical study is led by Prof. Patrick Serruys, Prof. Yoshinobu Onuma, and Prof. Faisal Sharif at University of Galway, examining whether aspirin can be eliminated after treatment using a drug-coated balloon with advanced imaging guidance.
• Abbott LaboratoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbbott Laboratories provides in-kind support to the €2 million ASET-DCB OCT clinical study led by University of Galway researchers, examining a new treatment approach for coronary artery disease using drug-coated balloons and optical coherence tomography imaging.
• CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core Laboratory at University of Galway is the primary research hub for the ASET-DCB OCT clinical study, collaborating with Galway University Hospital, St. James' Hospital Dublin, and University Hospital Cork as clinical delivery sites.
• Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Ireland)coreOthersParent government department for Research Ireland. Minister James Lawless TD announced the €460 million Rinn investment. The department oversees Research Ireland's statutory functions as defined in the Research and Innovation Bill 2024.
• 200+ Industry Partners (Rinn Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 7 Rinn centres have leveraged €500 million in additional funding from over 200 industry partners comprising more than 100 multinational corporations and approximately 100 SMEs, spanning sectors including pharma, biopharma, medtech, AI, quantum, semiconductors, and energy. These partners collaborate with Rinn centres on research programmes, secondments, and talent development.
• European Commission (DG EAC / REA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Ireland co-funds the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) with the European Commission. Ireland's MSCA drawdown of €196 million in Horizon 2020 was the highest of any EU member state. The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office (housed at Research Ireland since January 2026) administers MSCA support in Ireland. MSCA is co-funded by the EU and Research Ireland.
• Irish Universities Association (IUA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously jointly operated the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office with Research Ireland until December 2025. In January 2026 the office moved fully to Research Ireland.
• Royal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Ireland co-funds the Royal Society University Research Fellowship for outstanding early-career scientists in the Republic of Ireland. Research Ireland meets the full cost of the fellowship, providing salary contributions at Research Ireland Research Fellow scales (Level 3 and Level 4) and institutional overheads at 30%, with research expenses up to €90,000 per annum, for up to 8 years.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme. The tri-partite programme involves researchers from the USA, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland. NSF-funded Engineering Research Centres can link with Research Ireland Research Centres through the Centre-to-Centre mechanism.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme for Health theme proposals. Research Ireland and the Health Research Board (HRB) co-fund Irish applicants at 50% each. NIH provides the primary review and funding decision.
• Department for the Economy Northern Ireland (DfE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland elements. DfE manages the NSF section of the programme for NI applicants and co-manages the tri-jurisdictional research partnership alongside Research Ireland.
• Health Research Board (HRB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder (with Research Ireland, at 50% each) of Irish applicants to the NIH section of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme. Both agencies have agreed to co-fund and operate a rotating administration of the programme.
• Irish Department of Defence and Defence ForcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Ireland developed the Defence Innovation Challenge programme in partnership with the Irish Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The programme funds interdisciplinary research teams to address defence challenges. A Defence Liaison from the Defence Forces is assigned to each funded team to provide operational and mission context.
• European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESERO Ireland has been partnered with Research Ireland (and previously Science Foundation Ireland) since 2010. ESERO uses space as a context to inspire and engage young people in science and technology. It collaborates on the Curious Minds programme, contributing to the Curious Minds/ESERO Framework for Inquiry, classroom resources, and the ESERO Ireland newsletter.
• IDA Ireland, SEAI, Enterprise IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment development agencies with whom Research Ireland shares information and collaborates on research funding and policy, as referenced in Research Ireland's privacy policy regarding data sharing for fulfilment of statutory functions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): Germany's central research funding organisation supporting all academic disciplines through competitive grants to universities and research institutions. Analogous mandate to Research Ireland at much larger scale, with established centres of excellence programmes.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state agency supporting indigenous Irish businesses in global markets. Sister agency to Research Ireland with overlapping enterprise R&D collaboration; both co-fund industry-academic research partnerships under government industrial policy.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): US federal agency funding biomedical and health-related research. Partner in Research Ireland's US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme; both fund translational and clinical research through competitive grants across universities and hospitals.
• National Science Foundation (NSF): US federal agency funding non-medical basic research across all STEM fields and some social sciences. Larger and broader in scope than Research Ireland, but operates an analogous competitive grant funding model across universities and is an explicit US-Ireland R&D Partnership partner.

Direct peers

• Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet): Sweden's largest governmental research funding body, supporting basic research across all scientific disciplines. Comparable mandate and scale-class to Research Ireland; both fund national and international research collaboration via competitive calls.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): UK's national research funding agency covering all academic disciplines through nine councils. Direct comparable to Research Ireland in mandate, structure, and breadth — both are statutory national funding bodies distributing competitive grants to universities and research institutes.
• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF): Switzerland's primary research funding body supporting all academic disciplines through competitive grants. Comparable in mandate, structure, and small-country national funding role; operates similar fellowship and research infrastructure programmes.
• European Research Council (ERC): EU-level competitive research funding body supporting investigator-driven frontier research across all fields. Direct comparable in grant-making model; Research Ireland co-funds EU-level programmes (MSCA) and supports Irish ERC applicants.
• NWO (Dutch Research Council): Netherlands' national research council funding scientific research across all disciplines. Comparable small-country national funding body; collaborates with Research Ireland through bilateral European research programmes and similar curiosity-driven and theme-driven funding instruments.
• Health Research Board (HRB): Ireland's lead agency funding health and social care research. Direct domestic comparable for the health research portion of Research Ireland's portfolio; HRB co-funds the NIH strand of the US-Ireland Partnership Programme with Research Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MarieCurieActionsIre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/research-ireland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Research Ireland