1. Dr Maria Nash (ERC National Delegate, Research Ireland) presenting at the University of Limerick Faculty of Science & Engineering - ERC workshop in October;
2. NCP4HE Horizon Academy project consortium meeting in Granada, Spain attended by National Director Kevin Burke and Legal and Financial NCP Brigid Burke; 3. Dr Hugh Doyle, Grants Manager, Systems Biology Ireland, UCD, Dr Konstantina Topouridou, ERC Executive Agency and Dr Maria Nash, ERC National Delegate and NCP, Research Ireland at the 24th Annual International Conference on Systems Biology, Dublin in October.
AI strategies published Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a common thread in all conversations at last month's EU R&I Days and its use and impact continues to frequent discussions relating to the current Horizon Europe programme and its future iteration. Last week, two EU AI Strategies were published:
1) The APPLY AI strategy sets out how to speed up the use of AI in Europe's key industries and the public sector as part of the plan to create an AI Continent.
2) The European AI in Science Strategyfocuses on putting Europe at the forefront of AI-driven research and scientific excellence and aims tosupport scientists to responsibly adopt AI technologies for carrying out their research.
The launch of the Resource for AI Science in Europe (RAISE) initiative of the European Commission will take place at the AI in Science Summit 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 3-4 November 2025. You can read more here.
New Success Stories
This month, we’ve published two new case studies on Ireland-led Horizon Europe projects. iCircular3 is a Digital Circular Economy Transition project coordinated by UCD which is focusing on industrial robotics, outdoor power tools and electric vehicle (EV) sectors. The FLIARA project, led by University of Galway, shines a spotlight on the often hidden and undervalued contribution made by women innovators to agriculture and rural communities across Ireland and Europe. Read more about these projects further below.
National Support Network team updates ERC applicants will find all the latest details on changes to ERC evaluation procedures and eligibility windows in Maria Nash's article in this month's newsletter and EIC NCP James Walsh covers the main changes under the EIC programme. Cluster 5 Mobility opportunities are the hot topic for National Delegate Bob Flynn while Jean-Michel Portefaix hones in on Franco-Irish cooperation on Hydrogen. Scroll down to read the full reports.
Find out more Get in touch with the National Support Network team and discover new opportunities in the Horizon Europe programme - you'll find contact details in our Horizon Europe directory or email horizonsupport@enterprise-ireland.com
National Support Network team updates
Maria Nash, European Research Council National Delegate (ND) and ERC National Contact Point (NCP) for both the Physical Sciences & Engineering and Life Sciences domains
There are major updates to ERC procedures and eligibility, including changes to proposal formats, evaluation processes, and grant windows from 2026 and 2027. Maria provides a breakdown of the updates and what they mean for ERC applicants in the coming months.
James Walsh, National Contact Point (NCP) for EIC (European Innovation Council) & EIE (European Innovation Ecosystem)
James shares updates on Ireland’s deeptech success in Horizon Europe, as well as key changes coming in the 2026 EIC Work Programme. From new funding schemes to simplified processes, this article highlights what applicants need to know.
Bob Flynn,National Delegate and National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 - Mobility
Bob takes a closer look at ECAVA, the European Commission’s new alliance to drive innovation in autonomous vehicles, zero-emission transport, and battery tech. This article highlights how ECAVA could reshape Europe’s automotive future—and why Irish organisations should get involved.
Jean Michel Portefaix, Expert Innovation & Applied Research, seconded to Enterprise Ireland Jean-Michel explores how Ireland and France are aligning their hydrogen strategies ahead of the World Hydrogen Technologies Convention 2025 in Dublin. With Ireland focused on offshore wind and green hydrogen, and France scaling industrial hydrogen valleys, this article highlights how both nations are setting the stage for deeper European collaboration.
Funded by the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, iCircular3 aims to develop a cohort of future leaders in research, policy, and business through an innovative training programme focused on an interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach to the circular economy.
FLIARA: Challenging gender stereotypes around farm and rural innovation
The Horizon Europe-funded FLIARA project has shone a spotlight on the often hidden and undervalued contribution made by women innovators to agriculture and rural communities across Ireland and Europe. The project explores the challenges faced by women innovators in this sphere and has produced policy recommendations on how best to tap into this vast underutilised resource.
Irish organisations have secured more than €1bn in Horizon Europe funding to help shape society's responses to key current challenges including animal health and welfare and antimicrobial resistance.
The Horizon Europe-funded FINE (Fintech Investor Network and Ecosystem) project is building a pan-European investment network to accelerate fintech innovation and plays a key role in the Fintech Corridor, a cross-border initiative connecting Dublin and Belfast.
Read the full storyhere.
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