A guide to Science Foundation Ireland and what it does

Science Foundation Ireland is the statutory body in Ireland with responsibility for funding basic and applied research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) with a strategic focus.

The agency was established in 2003 under the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003 and is the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research.

Its investment focuses on academic researchers, who work in teams in an effort to generate new knowledge and applicable technology in Stem fields.

The Stem research carried out by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) promotes and assists the development and competitiveness of industry, enterprise and employment in Ireland.

The majority (80pc) of Science Foundation Ireland’s funding is currently committed to basic research projects.

Approximately 50pc of its budget is committed to SFI Research Centres which perform Applied and Basic Combined research (ABC). Over €100m worth of investment in six new SFI Centres for Research Training was announced by the Government last month.

The SFI board is responsible for setting the broad strategy and policies of SFI and is responsible for the system of internal financial control and oversight responsibility for the activities of the organisation.

The board delegates to the management and sub-committees the responsibility for the implementation of these policies. It is currently made up of 11 scientists, consultants, academics and private sector leaders.

Board members are appointed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Patrick O’Donovan holds this role since last month’s cabinet reshuffle. The Government is represented on the board by Declan Hughes, assistant secretary general at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

SFI’s executive committee is chaired by the director general, who is currently Professor Philip Nolan, who assumed the position on January 17, 2022.

As part of its major functions, the SFI board says it works to “direct, support and evaluate the director general to ensure that the agency complies with all statutory and administrative requirements for the use of public funds”.

Another major function of the board is to “oversee and assure the agency’s system of internal financial control, operations compliance and risk management”. The executive committee also comprises of a senior management team.

The purpose of the executive committee is to assist the director general in carrying out responsibilities in managing and controlling the administration and business of SFI.