Publication of the report, ‘North South Research Programme: Insights on Impact’

Posted: 26 May, 2026

Today, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) announced the publication of North South Research Programme: Insights on Impact report.

The North South Research Programme (NSRP) is a Government of Ireland programme, being delivered by the HEA on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education and funded by the Shared Island Unit at the Department of the Taoiseach. It has a total value of €55.6m and is a unique Programme because it funds research collaborations on an all-island basis. A total of 66 collaborative all island research projects were funded under Call 1 and Call 2 of the programme.

The HEA supported AIREN in preparing this report which has provided an additional opportunity to look in detail at some of the NSRP projects and showcase what can be achieved when research is undertaken on an all-island basis. Dr Claire O’Connell, Scientific Writer carried out the interviews with the 11 projects that are highlighted in this report.

The interviews explored the impacts achieved to date, anticipated future developments, and the broader value of the NSRP. Some of the key early impacts identified in the report include the following:

• accelerated growth in cross-border collaboration,
• influence on public policy through new all-island evidence,
• attraction of additional funding from other research sources,
• growth in researcher numbers, including PhD students,
• increased participation of researchers in European-funded consortia,
• improved data production, and a
• deeper understanding of how all-island collaboration can operate effectively.

The report is to be launched as part of a webinar being hosted by AIREN which will include a panel discussion with four Lead Investigators interviewed for the report. Speakers will also include representatives from the Shared Island Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach, the DFHERIS, and the Head of Research Policy at the HEA.

Notes

North South Research Programme

For more information about the NSRP, visit https://hea.ie/policy/research-policy/north-south-research-programme/

For any queries about AIREN or the NSRP, please contact research@hea.ie

AIREN

For more information about AIREN, see https://airen-network.ie/

Led by University College Dublin (UCD), Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University, the All-Island Research Excellence Network connects and supports research managers and administrators (RMAs) across the island of Ireland, strengthens cross-border collaboration, connects existing research support professional networks, and addresses mutual challenges and issues expressed by members.

Bio: Dr Claire O’Connell

Dr Claire O’Connell is a science journalist and communicator. She holds a PhD in cell biology from University College Dublin and a Masters in Science Communication from Dublin City University. She has contributed to The Irish Times since 2005 and has authored two books. In 2016, she was named Irish Science Writer of the Year by the British Association of Science Writers.