About Us

About Us

Global Scholarship Programme

Innovate for Ireland is a global scholarship programme that unites the world’s smartest minds, bravest companies, and a future-facing nation to tackle the world’s biggest challenges for a better tomorrow. Unique amongst international scholarship programmes, Innovate for Ireland enables advanced PhD research focused upon sustainability and innovation.

Innovate for Ireland has been designated as a “Flagship Initiative” of the Irish Government’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy, Global Citizens 2030​

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A Visionary Idea

The idea for Innovate for Ireland originated in Project I, a visionary research paper commissioned by Avolon's former CEO Dómhnal Slattery, which advocated for actions that could accelerate Ireland’s role as a global hub of start-up innovation. It was launched by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, and Minister Simon Harris TD, in conjunction with founding partners Avolon and AIB to establish Ireland as a global innovation hub for top research talent.

Innovate for Ireland is the most ambitious innovation initiative undertaken in Ireland in a generation.Underpinned by a far-sighted public-private partnership, our ambition is to develop more than one thousand visionary innovation leaders over the next decade, who will become catalysts for sustainability transformation globally.

A Distinctive Programme

At the heart of our programme, and its distinctive feature, is a commitment not just to research, but to developing the skills of iScholars in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation to advance discoveries into meaningful solutions. Innovate for Ireland will carve a unique niche for Ireland as the first PhD scholarship initiative focused exclusively on sustainability innovation delivered through cutting-edge research and specialised training.
"Innovate for Ireland is a uniquely ambitious global talent development programme. It will become the most impactful innovation and sustainability initiative ever undertaken in Ireland and provide an adrenalin shot to Ireland’s entrepreneurial landscape."
Simon Boucher
Simon BoucherCEO, Global Innovators Ireland

Powered By A Visionary Partnership

Innovate for Ireland is delivered by Research Ireland and Global Innovators Ireland (GII), in collaboration with a unique partnership of academic and industry leaders.

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About GII

Global Innovators Ireland exists to ensure that Innovate for Ireland delivers on the full scale of its vision — to establish Ireland as a world-leading hub for sustainability innovation.
As a steward of this national ambition, we play a pivotal role in building the collaborative momentum necessary to bring together public, private, academic, and philanthropic partners and turn its vision into reality.
We provide essential expertise, infrastructure and oversight to support Innovate for Ireland. We act as the voice of and interface for the private sector, and drive operational delivery that ensures lasting impact.
With a focus on scale, governance, and system-level cooperation, we are unlocking support and investment to help Ireland lead on solving the planet’s greatest challenges — putting Ireland firmly on the global stage for sustainability innovation.

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About Research Ireland

Established on August 1st 2024, Research Ireland is Ireland’s new national competitive research and innovation funding agency, which amalgamates the activities and functions of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). www.researchireland.ie

About DFHERIS

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funds and creates policy for the higher and further education and research sectors. They also oversee the work of the state agencies and public institutions operating in these areas.Their ole is to make sure that these sectors support and encourage Ireland’s social and economic development. We make sure that public investment and policy in these areas give opportunities to everyone, including the most vulnerable in society. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/

Turning World-Class Research Into Real-World Impact​

PhD Students
Sustainability Themese
Year Initiative
Co-Funding Model
50 :50

Global Innovators Ireland: delivering Innovate for Ireland
Board and Senior Management

"Our ambition is to firmly position Ireland at the forefront of global innovation, ensuring our island is the destination of choice for world-class research students and delivering a strong pipeline of innovative talent to the workplace. With the combined support of Government and our private sector enterprise partners, we look forward to making this ambition a reality."
Dáithí Ó CeallaighChair of the Global Innovators Ireland Board, former Ambassador & Director General, IIEA
Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh

Dómhnal Slattery

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Founder of Innovate for Ireland

Dr Simon Boucher

CEO, Global Innovators Ireland

Mary Sutton

Former Country Director at Atlantic Philanthropies

Professor Brian MacCraith

Former President, Dublin City University

Ciara Ruane

Chief People Officer, Avolon

Professor Patrick Prendergast

Former TCD Provost, Chairperson, SETU

James Hanley

Artist & Council Member, RHA

Dr John Walsh

Head of Emerging Technology, ESB

Dr Yvonne McCarthy

Head of Sustainability Research, Group Strategy and Sustainability at Allied Irish Bank