North South Research Programme Conference

The North South Research Programme (NSRP) Conference was held on 28th November 2024 in Croke Park and attracted over 200 participants including lead investigators, early career researchers, project stakeholders from NSRP projects, representatives from higher education institutions, Government departments, and public sector bodies. The NSRP is a collaborative scheme funded by the Government of Ireland through the Shared Island Fund, being delivered by the HEA on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). The conference provided an exciting networking opportunity fostering collaboration among the sixty-two research projects funded by the NSRP.

Conference participants holding NSRP banner

Three researchers posing in front of the NSRP banner

Three researchers posing in front of their project's poster

Conference participants posing with NSRP banner

We were pleased to have Dr Alan Wall, Chief Executive Officer, HEA, Caitríona Ryan, Head of Research Policy, HEA and David Keating, Principal Officer, Research Programmes and Policy, DFHERIS, deliver the Welcome and Opening sessions. Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Provost, Ulster University delivered the conference keynote address which included reflections on her own experience as a participant in the NSRP and on the development of research collaboration on the island of Ireland.

Photo of a table and a screen with the day's itinerary at the North South Research Conference 2024.

Photo of a screen with the day's itinerary at the North South Research Conference 2024.

Image of a number of information boards at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024.

Caitríona Ryan of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) speaking on a podium at the North South Research Programme Conference, 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Alan Wall, CEO of the Higher Education Authority, giving a talk at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 in Croke Park.

The conference offered an opportunity for attendees to connect, share, and showcase their research and was a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovative potential that the NSRP cultivates across the island of Ireland. The conference poster exhibition highlighted the diverse research initiatives being undertaken by the projects. It allowed conference participants to engage directly with researchers and offered insights into the cutting-edge work underway.

Professor Colin McCoy, Dean of the Graduate School, Queens University Belfast, speaking on a podium at the North South Research Programme Conference, 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Dr Gillian McNaull of Ulster University, speaking on a podium at the North South Research Programme Conference, 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Image of an attendant looking at information boards at the North South Research Conference 2024 in Croke Park, Dublin.

Panel discussion on stage at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Three engaging panel discussions brought together experts and research leaders from across the island to explore themes of collaboration, talent development, and healthcare innovation. These discussions provided valuable perspectives and promoted dialogue among participants:

Panel Session I: Research Excellence through Collaboration across a Shared Island was Chaired by Professor Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research, Trinity College Dublin.

This session focused on the experiences of higher education institutions and researchers collaborating with each other and with communities across the island. The discussion explored the challenges and the benefits of collaboration and considered opportunities for the future.

Panel Session II: Nurturing Talent and Early Career Researcher Opportunities was Chaired by Professor Colin McCoy, Dean of the Graduate School, Queen’s University Belfast.

In this session researchers, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers considered the impact of the NSRP on career development.

Panel Session III: Partnering to Advance Healthcare on the Island of Ireland. Chaired by Dr Caitriona Creely, Head of International Cooperation, Evaluation and Targeted Programmes, Health Research Board.

The NSRP has supported twenty-eight projects in health and medical-related fields. This session discussed collaborations supported in these fields, assessing the benefits, and considering future potential.

The NSRP Conference explored the importance of collaboration in driving research excellence and innovation. It demonstrated the transformative impact of the NSRP in advancing an all-island approach to fostering a connected and vibrant research community across the island of Ireland. For more information on the projects funded through the NSRP click into the promotional brochure or navigate through the projects on the programme website.

Panel discussion on stage at the North South Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Image of a seated member of the audience speaking and holding a microphone at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Image of a group of people sitting around a round table watching a presentation on a screen at the North South Research Conference 2024 in Croke Park, Dublin

Image of a blurred face in front of a table on which there are information booklets. Taken at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Image of a blurred face with crossed hands in front of a table on which there are information booklets. Taken at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin.

Image of a hand holding a booklet at a table at the North South Research Programme Conference 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin

Comhdháil an Chláir Taighde Thuaidh Theas

Cuireadh Comhdháil an Chláir Taighde Thuaidh Theas ar siúl i bPáirc an Chrócaigh an 28 Samhain 2024. D’fhreastail breis agus 200 rannpháirtí ar an gcomhdháil, lenar áiríodh príomh-imscrúdaitheoirí, taighdeoirí luathghairme, geallsealbhóirí tionscadail ó thionscadail de chuid an Chláir Taighde Thuaidh Theas, ionadaithe ó institiúidí ardoideachais, ranna Rialtais, agus comhlachtaí earnála poiblí. Is é is an Clár Taighde Thuaidh Theas ann ná scéim chomhoibríoch a gcistíonn Rialtas na hÉireann í tríd an gCiste um Oileán Comhroinnte agus atá á soláthar ag an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas (ÚAO) thar ceann na Roinne Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta (RBATNE). Bhí an chomhdháil ina deis iontach líonraithe lenar cothaíodh comhoibriú i measc an dá thionscadal taighde is seasca a gcistíonn an Clár Taighde Thuaidh Theas iad.

Bhí áthas orainn gur sholáthair an Dr Alan Wall, Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin, an ÚAO, Caitríona Ryan, Ceann Beartais Taighde, an ÚAO, agus David Keating, Príomhoifigeach, Cláir Thaighde agus an Beartas Taighde, RBATNE, na seisiúin Fáilte agus Tosaigh. Thug an tOllamh Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Propast, Ollscoil Uladh, spreagaitheasc na comhdhála, ar lena linn a rinne sí machnamh ar a heispéireas féin mar rannpháirtí sa Chlár Taighde Thuaidh Theas agus ar fhorbairt an chomhoibrithe taighde ar oileán na hÉireann.

Bhí an chomhdháil ina deis don lucht freastail chun a gcuid taighde a nascadh, a chomhroinnt agus a thaispeáint agus ba léiriú í ar an spiorad comhoibríoch agus an acmhainneacht nuálaíochta a chothaítear leis an gClár Taighde Thuaidh Theas ar fud oileán na hÉireann. Le taispeántas póstaer na comhdhála, léiríodh na tionscnaimh éagsúla thaighde a bhí á ngabháil de láimh ag na tionscadail. Lena linn sin, tugadh deis do rannpháirtithe sa chomhdháil labhairt go díreach le taighdeoirí agus tugadh léargais ar an obair cheannródaíoch atá ar bun.

Le trí phlé painéil spéisiúla, tugadh le chéile saineolaithe agus ceannairí taighde ó áiteanna ar fud an oileáin chun téamaí an chomhoibrithe, na forbartha tallainne agus na nuálaíochta cúraim sláinte a fhiosrú. Sna pléití sin, tugadh dearcthaí luachmhara agus cuireadh idirphlé i measc na rannpháirtithe chun cinn:

Rinne an tOllamh Sinéad Ryan, Déan Taighde, Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, cathaoirleacht ar Sheisiún Painéil I: Sármhaitheas Taighde trí Chomhoibriú ar fud Oileán Comhroinnte.

Sa seisiún sin, díríodh ar eispéiris na n-institiúidí ardoideachais agus na dtaighdeoirí i gcomhoibriú lena chéile agus le pobail ar fud an oileáin. Sa phlé sin, fiosraíodh dúshláin agus tairbhí an chomhoibrithe agus breithníodh deiseanna don todhchaí.

Rinne an tOllamh Colin McCoy, Déan na Scoile Céimithe, Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste, cathaoirleacht ar Sheisiún Painéil II: Daoine Cumasacha agus Deiseanna do Thaighdeoirí Luathghairme a Chothú.

Sa seisiún sin, bhreithnigh taighdeoirí, mic léinn PhD agus taighdeoirí iardhochtúireachta an tionchar a bhí ag an gClár Taighde Thuaidh Theas go dtí seo ar an bhforbairt gairme.

Rinne an Dr Caitriona Creely, Ceann um Chomhar Idirnáisiúnta, Meastóireacht agus Cláir Spriocdhírithe, an Bord Taighde Sláinte, cathaoirleacht ar Sheisiún Painéil III: Dul i gComhpháirt chun an Cúram Sláinte ar Oileán na hÉireann a Chur ar Aghaidh.

Tá tacaíocht tugtha ag an gClár Taighde Thuaidh Theas d’ocht dtionscadal is fiche i réimsí a bhaineann leis an tsláinte agus leis an leigheas. Sa seisiún sin, pléadh na comhoibrithe a bhfuiltear ag tacú leo sna réimsí sin, agus na tairbhí á measúnú agus an acmhainneacht sa todhchaí á breithniú.

Le linn Chomhdháil an Chláir Taighde Thuaidh Theas, fiosraíodh a thábhachtaí atá an comhoibriú maidir le sármhaitheas taighde agus nuálaíocht taighde a bhrú chun cinn. Taispeánadh inti tionchar claochlaitheach an Chláir Taighde Thuaidh Theas maidir le dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar chur chuige uile-oileáin i leith pobal taighde nasctha beoga a chothú ar fud oileán na hÉireann. Chun tuilleadh faisnéise a fháil faoi na tionscadail a chistítear tríd an gClár Taighde Thuaidh Theas, cliceáil ar an mbróisiúr promóisin nó déan nascleanúint trí na tionscadail ar shuíomh Gréasáin an chláir.