Implementing Sea Change through Co-ordination & Collaboration
Sea Change is a Government approved national strategy. A national partnership of government departments, development and funding agencies, research performers and industry is therefore required to ensure successful implementation. The Sea Change implementation framework brings all of these partners together in a co-ordinated and structured manner to facilitate ongoing input to the implementation of the Strategy via:
- A High-Level Steering Group to provide high-level direction, co-ordination and monitoring of the Strategy;
- External Advisory Groups to advise on research priorities and to ensure Sea Change evolves in a transparent manner and is responsive to changes in the industrial, scientific and policy environments; and
- A Sea Change Management Unit - set up within the Marine Institute to lead the delivery and management of the Strategy.
High-Level Steering Group
Throughout 2007/2008 the Marine Institute held three meetings of the Sea Change High Level Steering Group (HLSG). The group is chaired by Barry McSweeeney, Research Co-ordinator in the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources. The membership consists of:
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6 Departments of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources; Dept. of Environment, Heritage & Local Government; Dept. of Enterprise Trade & Employment; Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food; Dept. of Transport; Dept of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
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15 Agencies: Science Foundation Ireland; Marine Institute; Higher Education Authority; Environmental Protection Agency; Enterprise Ireland; Bord Iascaigh Mhara; Fortás; IRCSET; Udarás na Gaeltachta; IDA; BMW Regional Assembly; Teagasc; Irish Research Council for Humanities & Social Science.
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3 Industry Organisations: Irish Chamber of Shipping; Seafood Strategy Implementation Group; Irish Offshore Operators Association.
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2 Higher Education Representative Organisation: Irish Universities Association; Institutes of Technology Ireland.
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4 International Experts: Research Council of Norway; Icelandic Marine Research Institute; International Council for the Exploration of the Seas; Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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1 NGO: Economic & Social Research Institute.
Terms of Reference & Membership
External Advisory Groups
External Advisory Groups were established in 2007 to support the implementation of Sea Change. The groups incorporate a range of stakeholders (industry, academic and multi-agency representatives) to provide a source of advice and guidance on the development of specific research programmes within each of the Sea Change Research Measures.
Sea Change Management Unit
As lead implementing agency for Sea Change, the Marine Institute has created a dedicated unit to lead the successful development and management of the multiple research programmes associated with Sea Change. Established within the Strategic Planning and Development Services (SPDS) Group, the unit is led by Ms. Yvonne Shields, Director of SPDS.
The Sea Change Management Unit interacts closely with the Marine Institute's International Co-operation Programme (a unit within SPDS), one of whose functions is "to add value to the Sea Change Strategy by ensuring appropriate links with and access to matching EU R&D Funding Programmes".
Sea Change Management Unit
