Ireland, France strengthen innovation ties with International Technical Expert appointment
Enterprise Ireland, University College Dublin (UCD) and the Embassy of France in Ireland has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a new International Technical Expert (ETI) role dedicated to strengthening innovation and applied research links between France and Ireland.
Building on the strong base of academic and cultural co-operation between France and Ireland, the ETI will work with multiple stakeholders in France and Ireland with the aim of broadening co-operation and mutual understanding in the fields of applied research and innovation. The ETI will be based at NovaUCD, Ireland’s leading university incubator, which has supported over 500 start-ups and early-stage ventures.
The ETI will also work closely with the Research & Innovation Department at Enterprise Ireland, which is also the co-ordinator of the National Contact Point network for the Horizon Europe programme.
In addition, the ETI will develop an in-depth understanding of the research and innovation landscape in both Ireland and France to identify strategic priorities common to both jurisdictions.
“Research & Innovation is one of the most dynamic areas of Franco-Irish relations and this position highlights the special relationship between our two countries as France is now Ireland’s closest EU neighbour,” said HE Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France to Ireland. “This partnership with Enterprise Ireland and UCD is particularly innovative because of its positioning between administration, research and business. The agreement represents one of several milestones that we have achieved in the France-Ireland joint plan of action, which was signed on the occasion of the visit of President Macron in August 2021 in Dublin. This post is one of only six of its kind in the world, so having one of them in Ireland is a real achievement.”
Prof Mark Rogers, acting UCD president, said: “UCD is delighted to be collaborating with the Embassy of France in Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to strengthen innovation and applied research links between Ireland and France, and to be hosting the international technical expert at NovaUCD.
“Through NovaUCD and the Enterprise Ireland team, we look forward to working with the international technical expert to strengthen links between the French and Irish start-up, innovation and applied research ecosystems. By leveraging existing partnerships, and building new collaborations, we aim to increase the attractiveness of both countries to the strategic innovation and research opportunities we will create in the coming years.”
Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said, “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to be a key partner in this new initiative that will strengthen the research and innovation links between Ireland and France. Both France and Ireland place a high value on the enterprise and job creation potential of cutting-edge research and innovation and its role in tackling key global issues, such as decarbonisation. I look forward to the new synergies between the research and innovation communities in both countries that this new initiative will foster.”
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