Ŝer Cymru Science Foundation Ireland Industrial Fellowships

In line with the wider Ŝer Cymru programme the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Industrial Fellowships are a pilot scheme that would test the potential for strengthening our links with Ireland post Brexit.

It is envisaged that this pilot scheme will lead to further joint research and innovation collaborations between Wales and Ireland across a range of disciplines.

The Science Foundation Ireland currently run a scheme that enables academic and commercial researchers who have received their PhD or post-doctoral training in an Irish Institution to spend time in a commercial organisation including commercial organisations in Wales.

The Ŝer Cymru Science Foundation Ireland Pilot Programme would supplement the SFI award by enabling the researcher to spend time in a Welsh academic institution as well as a commercial organisation, this is not possible with the SFI award alone.

There are 6 awards available under this scheme with a regional split of 2 East Wales and 4 West Wales and the Valleys.

Eligibility Criteria

• The pilot scheme would be up to 6 months in duration
• The awards are in the region of £50,000 and will cover salary, consumables and travel and subsistence.
• The potential expected output would centre on enterprise collaboration
• The benefits of the application to strengthening the enterprise links with Ireland must be clearly set out in the application.
• Applicants can be of any nationality.
• Applicants must submit a completed application form and associated documents (supervisor form, ethics form, and CV)
• Applications must comply with the fundamental ethic principles as detailed in the ethics section.
• Applicants must have the support of their chosen academic /commercial host institution

Application Process

Applicants will need to propose a suitable project to be carried out in a Welsh host institution in the list.  

The research project will be created by the applicant but they must discuss this with their potential host institution before submission. 

All projects will be subject to ethical scrutiny and applicants will need to complete the ethical issues section within their application form.

Applicants should also include in their application form a copy of their most recent CV, no more than 3 pages in length.  This should include information about their education, previous employment and other relevant experience, information about any career breaks taken for maternity or caring responsibilities and so on, and a list of all their publications and grants awarded. 

Applicants should also provide in the covering email the names of 2 referees who know their work and the proposed area of research.

Host institutions should provide a breakdown of the costs for the fellow using the tables within the application form.