The shape and make of Science Foundation Ireland is finally established. The detail was approved by Cabinet within the past 10 days and is now emerging.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is a new funding agency which will spend £560 million over the next six years in support of biotechnology and information technology research. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy, announced its creation last March. Since then an implementation body has been preparing a comprehensive report on its structures.
Ms Harney and Mr Treacy presented this report to Cabinet on October 10th and the Government gave its final approval for how the foundation will operate, choose projects and monitor its activities.
It will have a board of between 12 and 15 people. Forfas, in conjunction with Ms Harney and Mr Treacy, is considering possible members. Appointments are expected within the next month or two. SFI will be headed by a chief executive officer who will act as its public face and will direct its activities. A shortlist of names has been prepared and final interviews are underway according to sources.
The job is open to either an Irish or foreign CEO but it may be unpolitic to choose someone with no connection with this State. The person will have to be well known and respected internationally.
The CEO will be aided by a biotechnology and an information technology manager who will be assisted by advisory panels. The panels and managers will develop strategies for the foundation and these must be approved by the CEO and in turn the board.
The SFI issue of greatest concern to researchers in Ireland, particularly those working in the leading universities, is whether the foundation would establish a stand-alone institute with its own labs. There is still no definitive view taken on this although controls have been set on how a proposal would be made. The implementation body report, which has yet to be published, indicates that neither SFI nor Ms Harney can sanction the creation of a foundation institute without approval from the Government.
Sources indicate it would be for the CEO, with the approval of the board, to make a proposal. This, the source said, would be in line with common practice for any large expenditure, even when a budget already existed.
The review process for choosing which projects to support is a well-recognised international procedure that is both transparent and fair. It is based on the selection being made by a team of independent research experts who chose on merit only.
Fears remain among some researchers, however, that the hurdles for acceptance have been set far too high. The plan is to fund only those scientists who are among the very best in the world.