New Connections: Exploring Ireland's International Marine Research
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New Connections: Exploring Ireland’s International Marine Research Partnerships A Review of Irish Participation in EU Marine Research Projects 2007-2010 December 2011 The Marine Institute is the national agency which has the following functions: “to undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development that, in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment” Marine Institute Act - 1991 Strategic Planning and Development Services Strategic Planning and Development Services (SPDS) is a service area of the Marine Institute whose mission is “to stimulate and support the development of strategic R&D actions and programmes (at national and international level) to promote the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resources”. Within SPDS, the Sea Change Management Unit was established to lead the successful development and management of the multiple research programmes associated with Sea Change: A Marine Knowledge, Research & Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013. International Co-operation Programme The focus of the International Co-operation Programme, a unit of SPDS, is to “actively engage in defi ning and infl uencing European Marine Science and Technology policies, strategies and research programmes; add value to the Sea Change Strategy by ensuring appropriate links with and access to matching EU RTD Funds; and provide information to researchers to facilitate and maximise Irish participation in competitive EU funded marine RTD programmes”. Further copies of this publication may be obtained from: Marine Institute Rinville Oranmore Co. Galway Ireland Alternatively you can download a PDF version from www.marine.ie Cover Photo: ROV Victor © Ifremer/Olivier Dugornay Disclaimer: While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the compilation of this Report, the Marine Institute cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions or changes in project descriptions. It should be noted that fi nancial fi gures given are indicative, fi nal grant payments on completion of a project are subject to a strict audit of eligible costs and may result in a fi gure below the level of grant-aid originally offered. New Connections Exploring Ireland’s International Marine Research Partnerships A Directory of Ireland’s International Marine Research Projects 2007 – 2010 December 2011 Compiled by: Geoffrey O’Sullivan, Caitriona Nic Aonghusa & Aine Kenny Strategic Planning & Development Services Marine Institute Irish participation in EU Marine Projects 2007 - 2010 Marine Institute (2011) 2 Irish participation in EU Marine Projects 2007 - 2010 Table of Contents Table of Contents Forward 5 1. General Introduction 6 2. The FP7 Programme 2007 – 2010 11 3. The INTERREG-IV Programme 2007 – 2010 89 4. The LIFE+ Programme 2007 – 2010 129 5. The ERASMUS MUNDUS Programme 2007 – 2010 135 6. Acknowledgements 140 ANNEX: 142 ANNEX 1: Irish participants in EU funded programmes 142 ANNEX 2: National EU Funding Programme Contact Points 144 ANNEX 3: The National Sea Change Strategy (2007-2013) 146 ANNEX 4: Alphabetical Project listing 148 ANNEX 5: Glossary of Acronyms used 151 ANNEX 6: EU Funding Programme website 155 Marine Institute (2011) 3 4 Marine Institute (2011) Irish participation in EU Marine Projects 2007 - 2010 Forward International co-operation is an essential ingredient of a Already in the period 2007-2010, Irish marine researchers are successful research, development and innovation strategy. involved in 98 co-operative projects, working with European This is recognised at a European level and supported and non-European partner organisations from 58 countries, through a number of co-operative research, development and drawing down and leveraging grant-aid in excess of and innovation programmes which join up the three sides €37 million in projects with a total value of over €490 million. of the innovation triangle education, research and innovation/ The FP7 component of this (€23.7m) represents over 8% of entrepreneurship. This is also recognised at a national level the total Irish draw down from FP7 to the end of 2010. This and its importance emphasised by the Advisory Council is a clear indication of the quality and capacity of the Irish for Science, Technology and Innovation (ACSTI) in its 2008 marine research community and its high international standing. Report “Ireland’s International Engagement in Science, Indeed as we go to press, we are aware of a further Technology and Innovation. It is a cornerstone of our own 30 projects with grant-aid well in access of €7 million which national Marine Knowledge, Research and Innovation Strategy are approved subject to successful contract negotiation. – the Sea Change Strategy (2007-2013). But it is not just about money, participation in competitive Maintaining existing international partnerships and generating international research, development and innovation projects: new ones, particularly in the new and exciting areas at the forefront of Science, Technology and Innovation, greatly • adds signifi cant value to national research funding strengthens national capacity and enables Irish researchers investments; and research-based SMEs stay at the forefront of the • ensures that our research efforts are meeting the most knowledge economy. It also creates bridges to foreign markets demanding international standards; for a range of globally traded knowledge-based products • facilitates achievement of the necessary scale of effort and services. An example of this is the new advanced whereby national priorities can be more effectively marine technology programme being pioneered by the addressed; SMARTOCEAN initiative. • supports mobility and career development, enhances While at one level, this report is a directory or compendium domestic quality and stimulates innovative thinking; of Irish participation in cooperative EU funded research, • supports research at a regional scale that would not be development and innovation projects, at another, it is a possible by a single country on its own; homage to those Irish marine researchers in public and third level institutions and in research-based SMEs who compete • helps to reduce duplication and fragmentation of effort; successfully at a European level, fl ying the fl ag for Ireland and • enhances access to international state of the art facilities; promoting our island of research, innovation and culture. • strengthens international alliances and opens commercial This report is a successor to Oceans of Opportunity–II (2007) opportunities for globally traded knowledge based which reviewed Irish participation in the EU’s FP6 Programme products and services. (2002-2007). In New Connections we expand the range of cover to include other EU Programmes such as INTERREG- IV, Life+ and Erasmus Mundus and cover a shorter period (2007-2010), to the mid-point of the Programmes reviewed. Marine Institute (2011) Dr. Peter Heffernan, MRIA Chief Executive - Marine Institute December 2011 5 Irish participation in EU Marine Projects 2007 - 2010 1. General Introduction 1.1. Introduction • to facilitate complementarities and synergies with The European Union provides grant-aid through a nationally funded marine projects by identifying what is being supported under the various EU grant-aid number of competitive research, development and schemes. innovation programmes in support of EU Structural, Cohesion, Regional Development, Research and 1.3. Structure of Report Training policies and strategies (e.g. the Integrated This Report “New Connections” covers the period Maritime Policy for the European Union (2007); 2007 – 2010, which is the half way point of the Europe 2020, the Innovation Union, A Resource programmes in question which run from 2007 to 2013. Effi cient Europe, etc). These Programmes play, and It deals separately with four competitive EU funding have played, a major role in facilitating and supporting programmes, namely: Irish participation in collaborative European marine research, development and networking projects. • 7th Framework Research Programme (FP7) – Section 2 (64 projects); The benefi ts of participation in these European • The Regional Development INTERREG-IV research and development projects, in addition to Programme – Section 3 (32 projects); welcome grant-aid, are many and include that they: • The LIFE+ Environment Programme - Section 4 • add signifi cant value to national research funding (1 project); investments; • The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and Academic • ensure that our research efforts are meeting the Cooperation Programme – Section 5 (1 project). most demanding international standards; Sections 2 to 5 describe specifi c programmes, identify • facilitate the achievement of the necessary scale who can participate, indicate how well Irish researchers of effort whereby national priorities can be more perform, describe who Irish participants cooperate effectively addressed; with (favoured partner countries), identify the top Irish • support mobility and career development, enhances performers and, where appropriate, identify links to domestic quality and stimulates innovative thinking; and synergies with the Sea Change Programme. Each • support research at a regional scale that would not project is summarised in a one page project profi le be possible by a single country on its own; giving specifi c information on that project. • help to reduce duplication and fragmentation of effort;