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US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme

This is a ROLLING CALL and is currently OPEN for enquires and applications

Background

The US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership, launched in July 2006, is a unique initiative involving funding agencies[1] across three jurisdictions: United States of America (USA), Republic of Ireland (RoI) & Northern Ireland (NI). The overall goal of the Partnership is to increase the level of collaborative R&D amongst researchers and industry professionals across the three jurisdictions[2]

This collaboration aims to generate valuable discoveries and innovations which are transferable to the marketplace, or will lead to enhancements in health, disease prevention or healthcare. The US Ireland Partnership is co-ordinated by IntertradeIreland and the US State Department.

The Partnership achieves its goals through tri-partite research projects in which the funding agencies fund the elements of research undertaken in their own jurisdiction. Importantly, the Partnership must add significant value to each research programme above that achievable by the PI in each jurisdiction working alone. To date (end of 2024) the 98 projects funded under the Partnership have secured funding of $182m

The current focus of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme, as agreed by the Partnership Steering Group, is on the following six thematic areas: Health, Sensors & Sensor Networks, Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Telecommunications, Energy & Sustainability, Agriculture.

The findings of a 2022 survey of Principal Investigators (PIs) involved in projects funded under the US-Ireland R&D Partnership can be found here: PI Survey findings>

 

Application Procedure for HEALTH related research projects

Health research has been prioritised as an important challenge for the health and prosperity of the citizens of the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland. The partner agencies involved in the Health theme are: USA: The National Institutes of HealthNI: The HSC Research & Development Division & UKRI Medical Research Council [3]RoI: Research Ireland and the Health Research Board.

To view the portoflio of successful Awards click here>

Applications for funding are made through the grant process operated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A ‘single-proposal, single-review’ mechanism is facilitated by NIH who accept submissions from tri-jurisdictional (USA, NI and ROI) teams to their existing R01 funding programmes. All proposals submitted under the auspices of the Partnership must have significant research involvement from researchers in all three jurisdictions.

Since the review mechanism is facilitated by NIH, the deadline for applications is dependent on the NIH Call.

However it is important that funders in NI/RoI are aware and approve potential applications. Therefore applicants in NI & RoI must complete an 'Intention to Submit' (ItS) for their respective funding agencies. In NI this is submitted to HSC R&D and is required at least 10 weeks in advance of the chosen NIH deadline. Following the ItS, a copy of the 'near to final' application (which will be submitted to NIH) must be provided to HSC R&D at least 6 weeks in advance of the NIH deadline. For more information please see the FAQs and call document (below).

Frequently Asked Questions (HSCRD) - provide additional guidance on the NIH application process

 

NI & RoI Call Document

USIreland application form and guidance (.docx)

USIreland application form and guidance (.pdf)   

 

 

email HSC R&D Division about the US Ireland R&D Programme

 


[1] The partner agencies are: USA: The National Institutes of Health (NIH);  The National Science Foundation (NSF);  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); NI: The Health & Social Care Research & Development Division (HSC R&D);  Department for the Economy (DfE);  Invest Northern Ireland (InvestNI);  Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA); RoI: Research Ireland (RI);  The Health Research Board (HRB);  Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM);  Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI)

[2] http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/perspective/2014/trilateral-partnership-...

[3] HSC R&D Division has an agreement in place with UKRI MRC to co-fund the NI element of successful US Ireland Awards which meet the MRC remit. Co-funded Awards will be badged as HSC R&D Division and MRC funded and must be acknowledge appropriately.