Geoscience Ireland (GI) has welcomed the announcement of the new Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience (iCRAG). The new initiative brings together all of the main geoscience research units in Ireland, with strong links to government and industry. It will have a total value over six years of c. €24 million, with 70% funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and 30% by 53 industrial partners. Led by University College Dublin, the centre also includes principal investigators from Trinity College Dublin, National University of Ireland Galway and University College Cork, with academic collaborators at Dublin City University, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and Maynooth University. GI has been involved with the initiative from the outset, when ‘Geoscience underpinning economic development’ was included as a theme in the SFI 2013 call for research centres. GI staff assisted in the development of the proposal and helped to garner industrial support, which includes the members of the GI/Enterprise Ireland-managed Geoscience Ireland business cluster. As befits an applied centre that is focused on research into developing Ireland’s natural resources, the Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme is a leading industrial sponsor. In total, the 53 companies that are partners in the centre will provide data and staff time equivalent to 20% and cash to 10% of the cost of the centre. The iCRAG initiative is part of the recently announced SFI funding of almost €250 million to be invested in the establishment of five research centres with collaboration from industry, third-level education institutions and the Government. The Department of Enterprise will invest €155 million in the five SFI research centres over the next six years, while industry partners are to provide a further €90 million in cash and in-kind contributions. The centres, which follow the establishment of seven others last year, will undertake research in areas of national importance closely aligned to industry and enterprise needs, job opportunities and societal goals.

Science Foundation Ireland and the five new centres

New PictureThe centres will support 700 researcher positions. They will also be involved in more than 165 industry collaborations. The five new centres are:
  • Adapt: committed to research and development of global digital connectivity allowing businesses to engage globally in real time;
  • Connect – Centre for Future Networks and Communications: focused on broadband, cellular and internet-of-things networks across areas such as mobile internet, connected health and smart agriculture;
  • Curam – Centre for Research and Medical Devices: research for patients with chronic diseases through implantable smart medical devices;
  • iCRAG – Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences: researchers will carry out work in the discovery and harnessing of raw materials, water and energy resources;
  • LERO – Irish Software Research Centre: developing software to assist manufacturing, medical devices and cloud computing.
Geoscience Ireland is a business cluster of 22 companies providing design and contracting services in mineral exploration, geotechnical and environmental engineering, water services and capacity building. Formed in 2012, GI member companies employ over 1,200 people, turnover €160 million and work in over 50 countries. GI is supported by the Geological Survey of ireland and Enterprise Ireland in winning business in international markets.