DCU appoints Professor Bill Harris, Former DG of Science Foundation Ireland, Adjunct Professor
Wednesday 15 November 2006

Professor Bill Harris

Professor Bill Harris, former Director General of SFI and current Head of Science Foundation, Arizona, has been appointed Adjunct Professor at Dublin City University.

In this capacity, Professor Harris will chair DCU’s recently established Faculty of Science and Health Advisory Panel.

DCU President, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, said, “DCU is particularly delighted to announce the new appointment of Bill Harris to the post of Adjunct Professor. He has been a dynamic leader in developing Ireland’s R&D agenda. He has played a major role in promoting academic-industry research centres in Ireland and has helped to ensure knowledge-intensive multinational corporate investments. Most importantly for the Irish economy, however, he has initiated effective national policies on technology transfer and intellectual property, from which all third level institutions have benefited.

The university looks forward to continuing its relationship with Professor Harris through this new appointment and benefiting from Professor Harris’s expertise in the area of R&D. We are also pleased that, through this appointment, Ireland will continue to benefit from his leadership and advice”.

From 2001-2006, Professor Harris was instrumental in the development of Ireland’s strategic research policy, managing a €646m grant programme. Professor Harris is also an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy.

The SFI was established in 2000 to build high-tech research programs with national economic impact, to support outstanding Irish scientists and recruit distinguished scientists from around the world to Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology.