Research and Innovation Act 2024

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PART 3

Arrangements for Funding of Research and Innovation

Schemes for funding of research and innovation

35. (1) The Agency shall, having regard to—

(a) the objects of the Agency specified in section 8 , and

(b) the functions of the Agency specified in section 9 ,

put in place a range of schemes for the funding in accordance with this Part of research and innovation to be undertaken in the State and, to the extent provided for in sections 47 and 48 , outside the State.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer shall, for the purposes of subsection (1), prepare draft schemes for the funding of research and innovation for submission to and approval by the Board.

(3) The Board may approve a draft scheme for the funding of research and innovation without modification or, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, approve such a scheme with such modifications as it considers appropriate.

(4) A scheme for the funding of research and innovation referred to in subsection (1) that is approved by the Board (in this Act referred to as a “funding scheme”) shall specify the following:

(a) the purpose of the scheme;

(b) the area or topic of the research and innovation to which the scheme shall apply;

(c) the criteria for eligibility of the institutions, providers, organisations, bodies or companies which may be invited by the Agency under section 36 (1) to apply for funding under the scheme and, where appropriate, the criteria for eligibility of persons to undertake the research and innovation to which the scheme shall apply;

(d) the criteria for the selection of successful applicants and the criteria for the award of funding under the scheme and, where appropriate, the weighting that shall apply in respect of such criteria against which applicants and applications thereunder shall be assessed;

(e) the conditions referred to in section 37 (9) to be complied with by a recipient of funding under the scheme;

(f) the arrangements for the assessment of applications for funding under the scheme;

(g) the arrangements, including those under this Part, for monitoring compliance with the conditions of funding under the scheme;

(h) the arrangements for monitoring the standard and quality of the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded under the scheme;

(i) the arrangements for the assessment and evaluation of the outcomes and, where appropriate, the impact of the research and innovation undertaken for which funding is awarded under the scheme;

(j) the arrangements for applicants to seek a review of the procedures applying to the assessment of applications for funding under the scheme.

(5) The Agency shall promote and disseminate information concerning funding schemes to such extent and in such manner as it considers appropriate.

(6) The Agency shall administer funding schemes in an independent and transparent manner in accordance with their terms and this Part.

(7) The funding awarded under funding schemes shall be provided by the Agency from moneys at its disposal, including moneys received by the Agency pursuant to funding partnerships under section 49 , and it shall be disbursed by the Agency in accordance with the terms of the funding scheme concerned.