Law change potential for north-south Ireland
A change in Irish law could see research partnerships between Northern Ireland and the Republic being developed for the first time.
Currently, there are restrictions that prevent research funding from the Irish government being spent outside of the country. However, the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Bill 2012 will allow new collaborations between Belfast and Dublin, for example funding a cross-border research project or purchasing scientific equipment.
Horizon 2020, the replacement for FP7, encourages greater cross-border collaboration. It is hoped that by both countries working together under new partnership agreements, Ireland as a whole will benefit more greatly.
The bill, which is currently being debated in the Irish parliament, will also define how Science Foundation Ireland will spend its budget of €150m in basic and applied research.
