Research Ireland reports €313m grants and eight spin‑outs in 2025

Research Ireland’s first annual report shows the agency paid out €313 million in research grants in 2025 and helped launch eight new spin‑out companies.

The science and innovation agency, created in August 2024 by merging Science Foundation Ireland with the Irish Research Council, managed €610 million in committed funding and awarded nearly €290 million across 1,053 new awards.

The funding supported more than 3,000 PhD students, 1,000 investigators and almost 1,500 postdoctoral fellows. Women accounted for 40 % of principal and co‑principal investigators and 51 % of grant holders.

Researchers funded by the agency produced close to 6,000 publications, 167 invention disclosures and attracted €310 million of additional investment, including €129 million from the EU, nearly €77 million of private funding, €24 million from Enterprise Ireland and €25 million from other government sources.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD, said the report highlights the impact of public investment and ongoing initiatives such as the Rinn network and Global Talent Ireland. Research Ireland chair Michael Horgan described the agency’s establishment as a key step in strengthening Ireland’s research system.

Source: Silicon Republic. Photo: Kleison Leopoldino / Pexels.