![]() ![]() Last year I led the development of an action plan for the universities on how to access Horizon 2020 funding (“Horizon 2020: Sustaining Excellence in University Research and Innovation”). How are you preparing Irish universities for preparation in Horizon 2020? You have been the Research Director of the Irish Universities Association since 2001. The consequence here is that the COFUND Marie Curie scheme has acted as a catalyst in changing national policy.Ĥ. This leads me to another really positive development the COFUND scheme that allows national funding schemes to leverage Marie Curie funds as long as they focus on the career development of the fellows and maintain international openness in peer review and recruitment. Another really positive effect is that similar schemes have sprung up in many national schemes. This most certainly has helped to reduce brain drain. It facilitates researchers going to world class organisations outside of Europe but with close links to a European organisation to which they return. In my opinion, the introduction of the outgoing fellowships has been a real success. The global nature of research has been well recognised and this has led to the now international nature of the Marie Curie Fellowships. In the past there was a fortress Europe attitude reflected in the fact that mobility was allowed only within Europe. This in turn leads to greater employment opportunities. ![]() For example, the introduction of the European Industry Doctorate in 2012 has recognised the specific need to give researchers more opportunities to carry out their research in the private sector. That being said, the schemes have evolved to take into account European policy developments that improve the prospects for researchers. What do you think of how the Marie Curie Actions (MCAs) have evolved?įundamentally there is no change in that the Fellowships support the career development of researchers at all stages. However I think to be really effective one needs a structure like the Alumni Association.ģ. We did talk about this among the Fellows and many of us have maintained long term contact. Here was a situation where a group of researchers are together for 2-3 years and will then move on to another position. Over the period of the Fellowship, I recognised the potential of all the Fellows to create a network. During your Fellowship, did you ever think about the potential for creating a network of European excellence worldwide? It was a great opportunity to work in an international setting and get on with people of many different nationalities.Ģ. I was able to pursue a PhD on a topic (Nuclear Fusion) that would not have been possible in Ireland. By the way I had already been in the Italian university of Pavia so was fairly fluent in Italian, so I was used to the way of life. I was in the JRC Research Centre in Ispra and these types of centres are quite different from the university. ![]() It was a real challenge to go abroad and work in a completely different environment. How would you describe your experience in terms of work and networking? ![]() Since 2001: Research Director, Irish Universities Association.ġ. Managed the peer review of Marie Curie Training and Mobility of Researchers Grants. 1990-1994: Research scientist at the Institute for Transuranium Elements, European Commission.ġ995-1998: Senior Administrator, European Commission. ![]()
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