For government agencies
Reflecting the continuing centrality of people and knowledge to Ireland’s economic and societal development, and with the help of relevant stakeholders, Ireland is positioning itself as a leader in doctoral provision.
The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 sets out a clear vision and roadmap for the development of all aspects of Irish higher education. A key objective of the Strategy is the creation of a coherent and well-coordinated system of higher education institutions, each contributing to national economic and social objectives.
In order to enhance the international reputation and capacity of Irish higher education for doctoral education, the National Strategy calls for greater collaboration among providers and the development of a consistent quality framework: the National Framework for Doctoral Education, by means of which Irish higher education institutions will embed a series of core principles to enhance Irish doctoral education.
PhD students are highly valuable members of the academic workforce. While learning and acquiring new skills they also contribute to the advancement of new knowledge in their particular field, working on national Research Priority Areas and meeting Ireland’s commitment to Green Transition. In addition to contributing to knowledge, postgraduate researcher education drives participants to develop their own research and innovation skills that can be applied in a range of environments - in academia, the public sector or industry, at home or abroad.
Across the world, governments have invested in PhD education as part of a broader strategy to develop knowledge-based economies. The availability and quality of graduates is essential if we are to maintain our attractiveness as a location for investment and grow our reputation. There is also a need for developing entrepreneurial and innovation skills for, and within, enterprise to support commercialisation of research and innovation. This includes supporting postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers in developing skills which can enable them to transition between academic and industry environments.
How government investment in doctoral education provides added value to Irish society
Ireland will strategically intensify its commitment to building a knowledge-based economy, building on existing competitive strengths and engaging intensively with the adoption of new and emerging technologies which will be central to long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability at national and regional level.
Our success in strengthening enterprise driven research, development and innovation will directly impact on Ireland’s ability to:
- create and maintain a thriving and prosperous economy;
- grow employment;
- achieve our national goals to create a cleaner, greener economy and society; and
- to maximise the opportunities of digital transformation for the benefit of all our citizens.
There is a need also to ensure that the research and innovation system is fully engaged in making an impact across many other fields, including dealing with grand challenges and informing better public policymaking.
The dedicated National Framework for Doctoral Education (NFDE) is in place, supported by all national agencies and HEIs. It provides core principles and emphasis on training and personal and professional development.
Impact 2030: Ireland's Research and Innovation Strategy will strengthen our support for all-island, EU and global research collaboration, guaranteeing our position as an international island, a leader in research and innovation on the international stage.
Ireland’s research base is one of the true Irish success stories of recent years – our standing in the global research community has continually been enhanced. As a country our international standing in the quality of our research has been greatly increased and in 2023 Ireland was in the top 20 countries in overall scientific global rankings. In the same year the European Commission announced that Ireland was one of four EU countries getting the most out of innovation, according to a new indicator of innovation output. This is highly significant as it measures the extent to which ideas from innovative sectors are able to reach the market, providing better jobs and making Europe more competitive. This is a very positive indication of improvement in Ireland’s competitiveness in key areas of the economy. The indicator measures factors such as – an economy with a high share of knowledge-intensive sectors, fast-growing innovative firms, high levels of patenting and competitive exports.
The European Research Area (ERA) is a policy initiative of the European Union (EU) to create a unified and open research area across Europe. The ERA aims to promote cooperation and coordination between EU member states and associated countries in research and innovation activities, with the goal of enhancing Europe's scientific and technological capabilities and improving its competitiveness on the global stage.
The ERA is supported by a range of funding programs and initiatives, including the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe), which provides funding for research and innovation projects across Europe. The ERA also encompasses a range of thematic research initiatives, such as the European Research Council (ERC), which funds cutting-edge research in all scientific disciplines, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), which provides scientific advice and support to EU policymakers.
Overall, the ERA aims to create a more cohesive and integrated research community across Europe, with the goal of driving scientific and technological progress, promoting economic growth and social development, and addressing global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and digital transformation.
ERA has successfully fostered mobility of researchers, removed barriers to circulation and career development through, among others, the Charter and Code and its implementing mechanisms, including the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers and EURAXESS, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and widening measures.
Overall, Irish researchers are important to the ERA because they bring expertise, innovation, and collaboration to the European research community, and contribute to the development of a more competitive, innovative, and sustainable Europe.
- Irish researchers have expertise in key research areas such as ICT, life sciences, and renewable energy, which are of strategic importance to the ERA. This expertise can contribute to the development of innovative solutions to global challenges, such as climate change, healthcare, and digital transformation.
- Irish researchers consistently produce high-quality research output, including publications in top-tier journals and contributions to international conferences. This research output contributes to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields and helps to drive progress in the ERA.
- Irish researchers actively participate in European research initiatives, including the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe). This participation helps to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the ERA, and ensures that Ireland remains an active and engaged member of the European research community.
- Irish researchers collaborate closely with industry partners, including multinationals and SMEs, to develop innovative solutions and commercialize research findings. This collaboration can help to drive economic growth and create jobs, and contributes to the development of a more competitive and innovative European economy.
- Irish researchers contribute to policy development at both the national and European levels, providing evidence-based insights and recommendations to policymakers. This contribution helps to ensure that research and innovation policy is aligned with societal needs and priorities, and can help to drive progress in key policy areas such as sustainability and digital transformation.