1. Smart Specialisation Strategy as a Facilitator for Human Resource Capacity Building
Dr. Conor O’Carroll SciPol
Chair – ERA Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility
12th February 2015

2. 2000 European Research Area - free movement of researchers and knowledge….
2001 ERA Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility (SGHRM)
Fast forward to EURAXESS, Fast Track Immigration, European Researchers Charter & Code, Principles of Innovative Doctoral Training, European Framework for Research Careers, Professional Development for Researchers….

3. 2015 ERA Objectives
1 More Effective National Systems
2 Transnational Cooperation and Competition
3 Open Labour Market for Researchers - open, transparent and merit based recruitment, career development.
4 Gender Balance
5 Knowledge Circulation - open access to publications and data

4. Can the use of EU Structural Funds actually make a difference
Can the use of EU Structural Funds actually make a difference? Is there any clear evidence? Case Study - Ireland

5. HISTORY OF STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN IRELAND
Structural Funds a well-established tool of EU regional policy; ESF (1958), EAGGF (1958), ERDF (1975), FIFG (1994), Cohesion Fund (1992)
1988 – major reform of Structural Funds at EU level; large increase in Structural Fund assistance for Ireland
3 Irish National Development Plans , ,
Ireland has received over €17 bn in support since 1973; over 75% of support received since 1989 5

6. The National Development Plans (NDP)
OPERATIONAL
PROGRAMMES
NDP
(€11.6 mn)
Industry
Agriculture and Rural
Development
Tourism
Human Resources
Peripherality (Transport)
Telecommunications and Postal
Services
Energy
Sanitary and Local Services
(€22.2 mn)
Industrial Development
Agriculture, Rural
Development and Forestry
Transport
Human Resources Development
Fisheries
Economic Infrastructure
Environmental Services
Local, Urban and Rural
(€59.7 mn)
Economic and Social
Infrastructure
Employment and Human
Resources Development
Productive Sector
Southern and Eastern Region
Border, Midland and Western
Region 6

7. Structural Funds contribution to National Development Plans
Structural Funds
(€mn)
4,254
5,978
3,174
Total NDP Spend (€mn)*
11,600
22,200
59,700
% SF Contribution
37%
27% 5%
* includes all EU, public and private forecast expenditure 7

8. During 3rd and 4th Framework Programmes
1992: Report of Industrial Policy Review Group “Ireland cannot expect to develop top-class research in the development and application of many modern technologies” 1995: Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council Report. “A system of post doctoral fellowships should be introduced aimed at supporting five grants per year.”

9. Human Capacity Building with Structural Funds
1) Industry Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral training fellowships 2) Basic, Strategic and Applied Research Grants - employing PhD and postdoctoral researchers Education and Training 85% supported by structural funds

10. The Growth of Ireland’s Research Impact In the early 1980’s the impact of Irish research was on a par with Greece, Poland and Portugal. From 1990 onwards Ireland’s research impact grew, exceeding the world, EU-27 and the OECD averages.
Source: Thomson Reuters InCites

11. Success in Framework Programmes
FP2 €44m
FP3 €88m
FP4 €185m
FP5 €105m*
FP6 €200m
* Major investment of national funding > €4bn

12. National and EU Funding
1997: 25% of competitive research funding in Ireland came from Europe
2007: 8% of research funding in Ireland came from Europe

13. Impact of Investment in Research – Ireland
ESF
€3bn national
FP5=€105m
FP2=€44m
FP6=€200m
FP4=€185m
FP3=€88m
Ireland
OECD
EU-27
World Average
Using SF to build up national research system increased our competitiveness in FPs.

14. Conclusion Smart investment of Structural Funds brought about
increased research excellence (basic, strategic and applied) in Ireland
Greater industry/academic collaboration
Increased employment of researchers in industry
Conclusion

15. Planning S3 investment - mobility not constant throughout a research career…..
*European Framework for Research Careers R1-R3

16. THANK YOU!
3. Universities