06 November 2009
The Applied Research Enhancement Programme (ARE) is not accepting any new Expressions of Interest for New Starts and Pioneers until further notice.
Enterprise Ireland’s National Conference of Applied Research Centres was held in Cork on 30th September 2009. Mr. Billy Kelleher T.D. Minister for Trade and Commerce highlighted the opportunity for companies to engage with research teams at the Institute's of Technology.
The conference entitled ‘Innovating for Regional Industry’ showcased how research teams in Irish Institutes of Technology can assist companies to identify and develop new products, services and market opportunities through research and innovation. For further information see contact details below.
The Applied Research Enhancement (ARE) programme builds applied expertise within the Institutes of Technology (IoT's) and makes this knowledge accessable to local and national industry.
Enterprise Ireland has restructured the Applied Research Enhancement Programme to increase its effectiveness and widen its capacity to enhance the research capabilities of the Institutes of Technology and other colleges that host the AREs.
ARE Centre contact details February 2010
The restructured ARE Programme has 3 constituent parts:
Phase 1: ARE Pioneer Call for Proposals is now closed
ARE PIONEER will provide start-up funding of €250,000 per project to young or new research groups in the IoTs to assist them in building up applied research capability and initiating contacts with industry.
The ARE Pioneer has been established to enhance and develop the applied research capabilities within the Institutes of Technology to benefit of the regional and national economy. The benefits may be in the development of the research capabilities of existing companies in the region or the creation of new companies within the region.
The objectives of the ARE Pioneer are to:
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Establish an applied research capability within Institutes of Technology with a commercialisation focus for the existing research competency,
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Build the applied research competency of research teams in the Institues of Technology to compete successfully for national and international research funding to support a growing applied research presence in the Institutes of Technology,
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Submit a full proposal to the ARE Programme before the end of the 2 year period.
Eligibility
The ARE Pioneer is open to all IoTs and publicly-funded research organisations excluding Universities, private colleges and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland.
Phase 2: ARE NEW START
Funding will target those centres which have identified the applied research areas to be developed and have generated a commercialisation strategy to maximise collaboration with local and if necessary national industry. Funding from €1.25m up to €2m for 4 years will be awarded to each Centre.
- The ARE New Start will be opened up to applied research groups in other colleges outside the Institutes (Excluding Universities, private colleges and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland).
- Additional measures will be implemented to increase and strengthen the interactions between the ARE centres and local industry. These activities will focus on awareness and dissemination, networking and personnel.
Objectives of the ARE New Start
- To generate regional economic activity through the creation of a strong applied research base for the Region by bringing together researchers into the Institutes of Technology.
- To provide a centre of excellence in applied research capable of exploiting opportunities in science, engineering, and technology to the benefit of the regional and national economy.
- Compete successfully for national and international research funding to support a growing applied research presence in the Institute of Technology.
- To provide an opportunity for the Institutes to develop research capability in areas of strategic importance to the individual colleges and of relevance to industry in the region.
Application Process
- Initial discussions with the Enterprise Ireland ARE Programme Management team.
- Submission of an Expression of Interest form, available from the Enterprise Ireland ARE programme management team.
- After an evaluation process, a successful expression of interest will lead to invitation to submit a full proposal.
- The proposal is evaluated by 4 evaluators and a independent chairperson on a one day site evaluation.
- Recommended proposals are presented to the Industrial Research Commercialisation Committee for final approval.
Phase 3: ARE+
Funding will provide performance linked funding for high performing Centres. A baseline funding of €800,000 for 4 years will cover operational costs. At the mid-term review, if the independent evaluation panel determines that the centre is meeting its agreed targets, additional resources will be allocated to the ARE centre by Enterprise Ireland to increase and strengthen the interactions between the ARE centres and local industry. These activities will focus on awareness and dissemination, networking and personnel.
Enterprise Ireland will invite existing ARE centres near the end of their current ARE funding, to submit a proposal to EI ARE+ programme. This phase is exclusive to existing ARE centres.
Applied Research Enhancement Centres
Since 2005 17 applied research centres of excellence in 11 Institutes of Technology across Ireland have been funded with seed funding in order of €1.25 to €2.0 million for a 3 to 5 year period. These centres cover a broad range of research themes and are contributing directly to regional development by the commercialisation of their applied research outputs. Brief descriptions of the current ARE centres research interests and contact details are given in the document below:
ARE Project Guidelines and Financial Report Forms
Click here for ARE Financial Form and ARE Quarterly Form
Contact Details
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Deirdre Brougham, Manager, Applied Research Enhancement (ARE) Programme, Enterprise Ireland, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork.
+(353) 21 4800233
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Paddy Byrne, Applied Research Enhancement (ARE) Programme, Enterprise Ireland, Waterford Industrial Park, Cork Road, Waterford.
+(353) 51 333531
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This programme is co-funded with the European Regional Development Fund