The Marine Institute is mandated to "undertake, to coordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development" in accordance with the Marine Institute Act, 1991. Accordingly, the Institute acts as the implementing body, on behalf of its parent department (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), for dedicated national marine research funding, specifically:
The Institute also manages the Beaufort Marine Research Awards, a substantial marine research funding scheme launched in 2007 by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, aimed at developing overall research capacity in priority areas of marine research outlined in Sea Change (A Marine Knowledge, Research and Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013).
In addition to managing dedicated national marine research funding the Sea Change Management Unit seeks to catalyse funding from other funding agencies, e.g. through co-funding initiatives, aimed at achieving the objectives of Sea Change.
The Institute's International Co-operation Programme, via its EU Desk, provides information, advice and training to the Irish marine research community (including SMEs) to facilitate and maximise Irish participation in competitive EU funded marine RTD Programmes (e.g. FP7 and Interreg).
The Marine Institute was the implementing body of the NDP Marine RTDI Measure (2000-2006) and the Marine Research Measure (1994-1999). The Marine Measure was one of six measures on Research, Technology, Development and Innovation (RTDI) supported under the Productive Sector Operational Programme of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. In 1995, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aid of €10.29m was allocated to Ireland under the Marine Research Measure of the Operational Programme for Fisheries (1994-1999).
Further Information
For further information on funding for marine research contact the Sea Change Funding and Administration Office at funding@marine.ie or 091-387200.
See also the Irish Regions Office (Brussels) EU Funding Tracker