Kildare North TD & Minister for Higher Education James Lawless says "Research Ireland will play a central role in strengthening Ireland’s research and innovation system"
Research Ireland has launched a new five-year strategy aimed at delivering what the Taoiseach described as a “stronger, more resilient Ireland through research and innovation.”
The plan, titled Curiosity, Capability, Competitiveness – Charting Ireland’s Research and Innovation Future 2026–2030, sets out ambitious targets including the delivery of 3,800 PhDs and 2,000 postdoctoral fellowships to strengthen Ireland’s research talent pipeline and future workforce.
Launching the strategy, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said research and innovation would be central to Ireland’s future prosperity and competitiveness in a rapidly changing world. He said the strategy positions research not as a support function, but as a core national capability.
Among its economic targets, Research Ireland aims to support 50 active spin-out companies founded by agency-funded researchers and to deepen collaboration with enterprise, including increased co-investment from multinational companies and SMEs. The strategy also commits to funding 150 research awards in partnership with Government departments to deliver societal impact.
Kildare North TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless said research and innovation are critical to Ireland’s competitiveness and resilience, and that the strategy aligns with wider Government priorities.
The agency will invest €650 million in multidisciplinary research under the plan, while also backing 1,000 investigator-led grants and 14 enhanced research centres operating at international scale.
Chief Executive Dr. Diarmuid O’Brien said the measure of success would be real-world impact — strengthening enterprise performance, informing public policy and building an innovation system capable of competing globally.
The strategy runs from 2026 to 2030 and is available on the Research Ireland website.
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