Research Newsletter – Issue 65: Information and Updates
Please find further information on the following:
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has launched a public consultation on the future of research and innovation in Ireland. As part of this public consultation you are invited to share your views that will help inform the national R&I strategy.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 9th July.
The consultation document along with more information and a link to the online submission tool can be found here.
The DPU have put together a short guide which summarizes a number of issues for researchers to consider in relation to the retention of personal data (PD) in a research context. This is now available via the DPU website.
The Horizon Europe Work Programmes for 2021-2022 have been finalised and are now available from the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities portal.
The press release and associated links can also be found here.
The Irish Research Council (IRC) have updated the Terms and Conditions for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, the Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Postgraduate), the Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Postdoctoral) and the Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme:
- The salary and stipend information has been updated in line with the announcement of 29 January 2021.
- Effective 1 January 2021, the Irish Research Council no longer provides funding for pension costs as a matter of course. Research staff who are Single Public Service Pension Scheme members may not require an employer contribution where the funding is coming mainly or wholly from Exchequer funds (i.e. the Irish Research Council), as this is provided by the State centrally. The Council stipulates that as the vast majority of Irish Research Council-funded research posts are wholly or mainly funded by the Exchequer and researchers will be members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. Hence the Irish Research Council will no longer provide funding for pensions within the relevant research awards.
- The Irish Research Council attaches considerable importance to procedures for monitoring research performance and ensuring effective progress under the awards that it funds. Failure to submit the required progress reports by the specified deadline, or submission of an unsatisfactory report, may result in the Irish Research Council reducing, suspending, terminating or revoking the award.
- With effect from June 2021, an amount of €1,500 will be withheld from the final payment of each award, pending receipt and approval by the Irish Research Council of all applicable progress and financial reports. If final progress reports from the award holder and their supervisor or mentor, satisfactory to the Council, are not received within one month of the end date of the award, and a final financial report from the host institution within 60 days of the end date of the award, the Irish Research Council shall be entitled to withdraw the final award payment. Upon receipt of all required reports, a final payment will be made to the host institution in the next quarterly payment.
A new portal has been created for Horizon Europe, which potential applicants may find useful. Its user-friendly design makes it easy to search for events (e.g. brokerage days), training (e.g. proposal writing tips), resources (e.g. Horizon Europe glossary) and guides (e.g. partner search guide).
You can access it here.
The Health Research Board is the main funder of health research in Ireland and believe it is critical that they support Public, Patient and Carer Involvement (PPI) in that research.
Based on information from a survey that they conducted in 2016, they subsequently undertook a number of initiatives to advance PPI in Ireland.
They are once again requesting input to find out what researchers and research managers' experiences have been so far and what you think is important for Irish funders to do.
They would greatly appreciate your input by completing the survey and would ask that you share this with colleagues, partners, and other interested parties in your network.
The survey can be accessed here: HRB PPI Survey 2021
It should take no more than about 10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please contact Chiara Mizzoni at ppi@hrb.ie.
Your participation will assist the HRB in advancing PPI in Irish health research.
The European Commission is collecting information on data sharing, cloud services, portability rights, Intellectual Property Rights and the use of data in an international context via an open public consultation that is open until 3 September 2021.
By responding to the consultation, you will be influencing EU policies and initiatives in this field. The online consultation is expected to provide important feedback and insights on measures that would create a fair data economy by ensuring better control over and conditions for data sharing for citizens and businesses.
There are many important structural changes in the next EU framework programme Horizon Europe as well as novelties in the preparation and coordination of a Horizon Europe project.
To ensure that you are familiar with all the new requirements, EMDESK have developed a handy checklist in cooperation with Europa Media Trainings.
The following two Research Whisperer articles may prove useful for writing your grant applications:
Jonathan O'Donnell (University of Melbourne) discusses the benefit of knowing your audience , while Dr. Wade Kelly (La Trobe University) provides some practical advice for any researcher who is trying to write a research impact statement.
The Commission is looking for experts in areas relevant to tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy within the education and training context and have experience in drafting guidelines, recommendations or other policy documents in the field. Deadline of the call for experts is 29 June 2021.
The group’s primary task will be to assist DG EAC and DG CNECT with the preparation of common guidelines for teachers and educators on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training. The members of the group will support cooperation and the exchange of information, expertise and best practices on these topics between the Commission and relevant stakeholders. They will also assist the Commission in identifying how education and training can best foster digital literacy and enhance critical thinking and engagement with information online.
Please note that DCU REC will be closed from the 5th of July - 5th of August 2021.
The current REC Calendar of meetings and submission deadlines can be found here.
DCU REC would like to thank the DCU Research Community for their engagement since the beginning of the year. Despite the impact of COVID-19, researchers across the University have proposed creative and innovative solutions to continue and conduct their research. This has resulted in DCU REC continuing to see an increase in engagement from researchers and overall research activity across the University.
DCU REC has received 178 applications for review for 2021 to date. This is a 14% increase from the same point in June 2020 and a 43.5% increase from the same point in June 2019.
All of this would not be possible without the hard work of DCU REC members who have facilitated and continue to facilitate the review of research applications.