Introduction

Ireland’s research and innovation system is a cornerstone of Ireland’s economic resilience, social cohesion, cultural vitality, and scientific advancement. At the heart of this system are the country’s higher education institutions (HEIs); they drive the generation of new knowledge, attract domestic and international investment, support balanced regional development, and equip graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. A high-performing, well-resourced research ecosystem is essential to sustaining Ireland’s international competitiveness and addressing the complex challenges of our time, from climate change and public health to digital transformation, inclusive growth and social cohesion.

The HEA performs a pivotal role in the development of an ecosystem that is coherent, strategically aligned, and sustainable. As the statutory agency responsible for the funding and oversight of higher education, the HEA works to ensure that research capacity, infrastructure, talent development, and institutional strategies are fully integrated and supported across the system. Within higher education, research is fundamental to teaching excellence. It keeps curricula aligned with the latest knowledge, nurtures critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and prepares graduates to lead innovation across sectors for the future. Research is not only an economic driver but also a public good supporting curiosity, critical inquiry, and cultural enrichment. The HEA’s oversight helps ensure that higher education fulfils this broader civic mission in tandem with economic priorities.

The HEA’s remit is distinct from, but complementary to, that of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, which leads on programme-based competitive funding. Together, these two agencies provide a coordinated national architecture to support Ireland’s long-term research and innovation goals.

How does the HEA deliver?

The HEA delivers on its responsibilities under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 and the Research and Innovation Act 2024 through a blend of core investment, competitive funding, strategic capacity-building initiatives, and oversight mechanisms.

The core of the HEA’s research support is the annual recurrent grant provided to HEIs. This funding sustains the core functions of teaching, research, and institutional development. This is the bedrock funding that provides the foundation enabling students and academics to undertake research in our HEIs.

In addition, the HEA supports the development of research talent and infrastructure across all disciplines and institution types, historically through the landmark Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) that transformed the research landscape in Ireland, and currently through the INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, performance-based funding allocations, and Technological University capacity development programmes such as TU RISE.

The HEA’s contribution to the national research agenda is wide ranging. It is built on the core funding provided to all HEIs and can be summarised around the following four key themes:

1. Supporting the development of research talent and skills

People are at the heart of the research system, and the HEA provides supports for research career development, structured PhD education and capacity-building across the sector. The HEA strengthens Ireland’s talent pipeline through initiatives such as the National Framework for Doctoral Education (NFDE) and reviews and supports researcher needs through channels like the Postgraduate Researcher Experience Survey (PGR StudentSurvey.ie).

Core funding provided to HEIs, and research funding programmes such as the North South Research Programme and TU RISE contribute to the development, sustainability, and diversity of research talent across all career stages. By supporting institutions to grow and retain research talent, the HEA contributes to the development of researchers needed to address current and future societal challenges.

2. Fostering the right culture for research to flourish

This is achieved by:

• encouraging institutional strategies that integrate research, teaching, innovation, and engagement and support the responsible use of research metrics in assessing research.
• promoting research integrity and responsible research practices through its work in the National Research Integrity Forum and funding of initiatives such as Research Integrity Training and the Survey on Research Integrity in Ireland.
• supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion as core principles of a vibrant research environment through the Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• using strategic dialogue and the System Performance Framework to reinforce long-term, mission-led approaches to research such as Ireland’s transition to an open research environment.

3. Enabling the strategic development of the national research infrastructure

World-class research requires access to high-quality research infrastructure. As a steward of national research infrastructure in higher education, the HEA plays a key role in enabling the physical and digital foundations that support research excellence.

Funding and managing the INSPIRE programme will help to address research infrastructure needs across the higher education sector on a strategic basis rooted in institutional strategies and national priorities.

In addition, HEA support extends across a range of critical national assets including:

• IReL – The Irish e-Library: IReL provides access to digital research content, open access publishing agreements, and open science infrastructure.
• Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI): Hosted by the Royal Irish Academy, the DRI provides long-term preservation and access to social and cultural data.

4. Advancing strategic research themes and collaborations between HEIs, including all-island collaborations

The HEA supports collaboration within and across institutions, sectors, and on the island of Ireland, thus helping to create a more connected research system that maximises shared expertise, resources and outcome. Key activities include:

• managing allocations under the INSPIRE programme – INSPIRE is a strategic investment in Ireland’s research system and the HEA has responsibility for awarding funding following a competitive process based on HEI strategies aligned with national priorities.
• supporting all-island collaboration through the North South Research Programme, which focuses on delivering an all-island approach to research and innovation by strengthening links between higher education institutions, research communities, and researchers across the island of Ireland.
• encouraging inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration in the higher education system.
• supporting engagement and collaboration with enterprise, public bodies and communities.
• providing seed funding for HEIs involved in European University Alliances to support research collaborations with alliance members that enables them to be more competitive in Horizon Europe funding programmes.

The HEA is committed to supporting and promoting people in higher education in Ireland in advanced research. We do this by channelling funding to support the implementation of institutional research strategies that are aligned with national objectives; by developing innovative schemes to enable new research to begin and by working in close collaboration with all stakeholders to foster a flourishing research community on the island of Ireland.