merrion street

The Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock TD, together with the French Ambassador, Mme. Emmanuelle D'Achon, formally launched a new round of funding under the Ulysses Programme at the Alliance Française in Dublin today.

The funding award allows researchers to spend a period of time in a partner institution. Now in its fifteenth year, almost 250 projects have been funded under the programme to date.

The scheme, which is being expanded this year, is open to researchers from all disciplines spanning science, engineering, technology, humanities, and social sciences.

Minister Sherlock welcomed the initiative saying, “Developing further and deeper collaborations with international researchers and research institutions is a priority for the Irish research system. Irish researchers are already competing very successfully in European programmes, and we are now securing, on average, €1.5m of European research funding each week. National programmes like Ulysses provide the seed funding that can lead to lasting international relationships and enhance researchers’ potential of success under these EU programmes.”

The awards are particularly targeted at researchers in the early stages of their careers, providing them with new experiences, and the opportunity to develop international connections.

The Minister added, “These awards can be a real stepping-stone for young researchers, and will stand to benefit them throughout their career.”

Note to Editors

Ulysses is managed (in Ireland) by the Irish Research Council and the French Embassy, and (in France) by Campus France, the French exchange agency.

Scholars can apply at www.research.ie.