Science Foundation Ireland director general identifies three key challenges for the State’s research centres: digital change, green transition and ageing
Prof Philip Nolan: 'Science, engineering, social sciences, humanities are equally valuable to society. So we’re going to invest in them and a step change in interdisciplinary research.'
The former president of Maynooth University became a household name during Covid, appearing on television to outline latest trends with the virus; the outcome of advanced modelling of scenarios.Budget 2024 main points “There is real value in sustaining that and pushing it for us as a society to get more out of it,” he adds. “There were talented scientists and academics in Ireland for well over a century, but in terms of the State seriously investing in research because of this very broad societal gain we got out of it, that started at the turn of the millennium.”
We are a sophisticated, influential, wealthy country but he says “we are significantly underinvesting in science… It would be trite to say the weaknesses are we’re not investing enough, but that’s part of the answer. We now need to make some serious investments which put us in a leadership position within Europe in certain areas.”
This is also about supporting engagement in the innovation space by identifying challenges and funding efforts to provide solutions with partners through the National Challenge Fund – €69 million, 90 projects; “each has a transformative impact on the team and the organisation working on the problem”.
“We do need major national centres for digital transition, green transition and healthy ageing, and perhaps one or two other spaces; advanced manufacturing, for instance.” This is a global problem and not due to centres, he believes. Having widely consulted – including the centres – SFI in rebalancing will be investing “somewhat less in centres, and that’s not in any way to diminish their importance”.
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