Background
The Marine Research Sub-Programme is one of eight priority Science, Technology and Innovation Sub-Programmes identified in the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The objectives of the programme are to:
- Strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the marine sector in Ireland and the economic base of regional communities
- Influence or create new industrial and commercial opportunities associated with the marine resource
- To provide scientific foundation for policy and regulation of the marine sector
- To support innovation and the commercialisation of R&D outputs
- To facilitate access to specialist marine research infrastructure
The objectives of the Marine Research Sub Programme are fully consistent with the National Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (SSTI 2006 – 2013) and Sea Change: A Marine Knowledge Research and Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2103 which was adopted by government in February 2007.
Operation of the Marine Research Sub Programmes
The Marine Institute, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is responsible for the management and implementation of the Marine NDP Sub-Programme. The Sub-Programme is managed in tandem with the framework established to implement the overall Sea Change Strategy and includes management of all financial and administrative aspects associated with administering a competitive research fund, and management of the technical/scientific progress/commercialisation aspects of funded projects.
Investment in Marine Research
A number of dedicated marine research funding schemes were launched and awarded in 2007/2008, comprised of the following funding sources:
Details on individual research projects funded under these schemes is available from the Projects Database.