Welcome to the website of The Embark Initiative, operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). Funded by the State under the National Development Plan, the Embark Initiative is aimed at knowledge creation for the long term benefit of society and the economy.

Embark takes a unique approach to funding people and ideas, providing direct financial support for researchers & research students. Its programmes do not target research projects with an industrial or economic focus but instead aim to support researchers in exploring ideas and bringing vision to reality.

The emphasis is on innovative, original and exploratory research, aimed at generating new knowledge and energising Ireland's future growth, development and national competitiveness.



Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and IBM to jointly fund advanced research.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, has linked with IBM to fund talented researchers in a number of new placement fellowships at IBM’s Centre for Advanced Studies in Dublin. The IRCSET initiative with IBM is intended to broaden Irish academic experience through exposure to commercially orientated research practices and technological advancements within industry.

Link here for more details.



Embark Postgraduate Research Scholarship Call [2004]

The Embark Initiative has announced offers of funding totalling over EUR6.9 million arising from the first call in its 2004 Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme. The scheme will support 120 new Doctoral and Masters level researchers in science, engineering and technology.

Please link here for more details.



120 research proposals awarded funding under Joint IRCSET / SFI Basic Research Grants Programme

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) is pleased with the new direction the Basic Research Grants Programme has taken under the auspices of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). The resources allocated to external review by leading scientists have significantly improved. The overall funds allocated to the programme have also improved while maintaining support for excellent proposals across the wide range of research disciplines represented.

It is especially encouraging for the Irish Research Council to see so many less experienced researchers being given the opportunity to lead research teams for the first time. This organic development of existing research talent is essential to a sustainable future for Ireland.

Note: the programme now operates under the administrative auspices of SFI, in association with the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, having previously been administered by Enterprise Ireland. SFI and IRCSET recently announced funding approval for 120 research proposals. The awards have been made to academic scientists and engineers in fields embracing the Earth Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Biosciences and Computer Science.

Please link here to the SFI web site for more details.



Research Excellence (Book of Abstracts)

A major Book of Abstracts has been published following from the first National Research Symposium of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. The Book of Abstracts demonstrates the breadth of work currently being researched by Embark award recipients across multiple disciplines. To download a PDF version of this document [2.63 MB], please link here.


Significant Scientific Research Collaboration Agreement

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) and The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) sign significant scientific research collaboration agreement, in the presence of His Excellency Yannick Gérard, Ambassador of France to Ireland. Link here for further details.

Embark IEI Research Achievement Award

Ken Healy, a researcher working in the Department of Electronic Engineering at UCC has won the inaugural Embark IEI Research Achievement Award for his work in "Nanopore DNA Detection". Link here for further details.

First Annual Symposium

The first IRCSET Research Symposium was held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on 7th November, 2003. Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Education and Science, toured the poster session early during the event. Over 430 delegates viewed the presentations and participated in the debate. Link here for further details.


European Young Investigator Awards – Call for Proposals

Applications are invited for the European Young Investigator Awards (EURYI) 2004, established under the auspices of EuroHORCS - The European Union Research Organisations Heads of Research Councils. The aim of the awards is to enable and encourage outstanding young researchers to work in a European environment for the benefit of the development of European science and the building up of the next generation of leading European researchers. The call is open to researchers from anywhere in the world who have between 2 to 10 years of postdoctoral experience at the closing date of the call, taking into account career breaks. The closing date for applications is 15th December, 2004.

Please click here to download a PDF version of the details from the ESF web site [273 Kb].


Funding of Research and Development

"More advanced economies such as Ireland must now build on new competitive advantages which reflect their stage of development,” writes Irish Research Council Member, Liam Connellan, in an article from Engineers Journal. Please click here to download a PDF version of this article [181 Kb].



Research Funding in Ireland: Agencies & Programmes

Arising from co-operation between the various research funding bodies, including the Embark Initiative, a guide has been developed to provide indicative 2004 closing dates for applications to research funding programmes in Ireland. Please note this is a general guide and that you should contact the body concerned in order to confirm specific closing dates, if required. Click here to download the guide.