Increased collaboration with other research units and universities has been identified as a priority for the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies in its first strategy document.
The four-year strategy, published in Dublin yesterday, seeks to ensure the body "will be ranked as a world-class fundamental research institute in its fields".
The institute, which was established in 1940 by the then Taoiseach, Eamon De Valera, comprises three schools: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics. In contrast to other third-level institutions, it is directly funded by the Department of Education and Science rather than the Higher Education Authority.
One of the objectives identified in the report is the need to relocate to a single site, a move expected to cost the institute about €13 million. The institute is examining the possibility of selling two of its three properties at Burlington Road, Merrion Square, and Dunsink, and redeveloping the remaining one as a home for the three schools.
Emphasising the need for a "team-work" approach, the Strategy Statement 2002-2006 notes that the move to a single location would lead to a range of benefits including economies of scale.
The statement added: "In order that the institute achieves its stated goals and objectives it is necessary to secure an appropriate staff structure.
"This will require that a balance is achieved between permanent academic posts and positions which will be filled by researchers of outstanding ability who come to the institute on a short or medium- term basis."
Another stated objective is to formalise links with other research institutions and participate in collaborative, independently funded research projects.
Launching the document, the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods, said implementation of it would enable the institute to position itself at the centre of the research community in Ireland.
Paying tribute to the institute's pioneering research work, the Minister cited the discovery by its geophysics section that the Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic extended far further north than was previously thought.
This was of huge importance for the country, he said, as it more than doubled the area of the sea-bed in which the Republic could claim exploration rights for natural gas.
One of the institute's more recent successes was leading a collaborative research proposal which was awarded €11.8 million under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions.
The Minister said the Government had allocated more than €1 billion to research, including €698 million in the higher education sector, and €317 million under the Scientific and Technological Education Investment Fund.
The institute received €4.1 million from the Exchequer last year. It has 27 fellows and just over 60 staff at present.
