Marine Research in Ireland

Marine research is cross-cutting in nature, and the breadth and scale of marine-related research, training and innovation in Ireland are impressive. Irish marine researchers have been particularly successful in securing funding for projects at the cutting edge of ocean research, as evidenced by their increasing success in competitive EU funded programmes. As highlighted in New Connections IV, Irish organisations participated in 314 marine-focused collaborative projects through competitive EU funded programmes between 2014 and 2020, resulting in over €158 million total grant-aid. Additionally, the National Marine Research Database shows that from 2017 to 2023, researchers in Ireland were awarded over €345m in grant-aid across more than 1,000 marine-focused projects through national and international competitive funding programmes.

A range of funding instruments for research exists across the Irish public funding system. This reflects the range of government departments and agencies that have a role in the promotion and funding of marine research in Ireland in relation to themes such as food, energy, transport and biodiversity. Research Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Geological Survey Ireland, etc. have built up considerable expertise within marine research themes and have their own mandate to direct research relevant to policy advice, development of research excellence and sectoral development as appropriate.

In addition, there are several agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, BIM, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and the Western Development Commission involved in enterprise development that also have a significant role to play and are of critical importance to achieving a fully translational research capacity in Ireland.

Cooperation and coordination between the national and regional research funding agencies and key stakeholders is essential to ensure a coherent approach to marine research in Ireland. The Marine Research Funders’ Forum plays an important role in enhancing this cooperation.

Current funding opportunities are promoted on the Marine Institute website and a database of marine research projects funded across the system is also available.

Ocean Knowledge 2030

Ocean Knowledge 2030 is Ireland's new Strategy for Marine Research, Knowledge & Innovation, currently in preparation.

National Marine Research Database

This database, developed in collaboration with the Marine Research Funders' Forum, contains marine research projects funded both nationally and internationally.

If you have received marine research funding and your project is not listed, please contact the Marine Institute at MRIS@marine.ie.

National Marine Research & Innovation Strategy 2017-2021

A National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy was published in 2017. As part of the preparation of the Strategy, a detailed review of national and European policies and strategies in relation to the marine was undertaken. This process identified the 15 major themes that are considered under the Strategy.

New Connections IV - A Review of Irish Participation in EU Marine Research Projects 2014–2020

A report illustrating the success of the Irish marine research community in competitive European Union funded programmes from 2014 to 2020.

New Connections III - Exploring Ireland’s International Marine Research Partnerships

A Directory of Ireland’s International Marine Research Projects 2014-2016.