Recent Projects
- Maximising the Environment for Company R&D
- Interreg Proposal on Diagnostic Imaging Centre
- Evaluation of the Applied Research Enhancement Programme (for Enterprise Ireland)
- Evaluation of Ireland's membership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) (for Forfas)
- Evaluation of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology(for HEA)
- Support for the development of a Research Strategy for the Institutes of Technology
- Study on the feasibility of an Industry-Led Research Project on Functional products for the Meat industry
- Preparation of a Guide to Industry R&D supports for Pharmachemical Ireland (IBEC)
- Evaluation of the Environmental Protection Agency's ERTDI Programme 2000-2006
- Review of National R&D Funding infrastructure in Lithuania
Maximising the Environment for Company R&D. CIRCA conducted a series of interviews with indigenous companies as support for an ACSTI panel assessing any potential obstacles to the performance of R&D by Irish companies. The resulting report, entitled 'Maximising the Environment for Company R&D' was published by Forfas and ACSTI in March 2010 and is available at: www.sciencecouncil.ie/publications/2010/title,5744,en.php
Preparation of an Interreg Proposal for a Diagnostic Imaging Centre in the Northwest Region. CIRCA provided consulting support to University of Ulster and IoT Letterkenny in the preparation of an Interreg proposal to establish a collaborative R&D centre on Diagnostic Imaging in the region.
Evaluation of the EPA's ERTDI Programme 2000-2006. In 2007 CIRCA was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency to undertake an evaluation of the Environmental Research, Technological Development and Innovation (ERTDI) Programme for the period 2000-2006. The total value of research funding committed in that period amounted to over €71 million. The evaluation included an assessment of the value for money assessment of projects funded by the programme..A report was presented to EPA in November 2007.
Evaluation of Ireland's memberhip of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Ireland joined EMBL in 2003 and this review was commissioned to determine the benefits to Irish researchers deriving from this membership, and to suggest any changes in the way in which Irish relations with EMBL are managed. The report was presented to a Steering group of the relevant R&D agencies, convened by Forfas.
Review of PhD Education in Ireland. In 2008 CIRCA was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority to undertake a review of structured PhD programmes in Ireland. The aim of the review was to take a snap-shot of doctoral provision in the higher education institutions in 2008, in order to establish a baseline against which future changes can be measured. A report was presented to HEA in October 2008.
Evaluation of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. In 2008 CIRCA was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority to review the performance of IRCSET since its establishment in 2001, assessing its contribution to research in Ireland and the value obtained from the public funds invested in it and making recommendations for the future. CIRCA was assisted by an international panel appointed by HEA of experts in the field of academic research and research funding. A report was presented to HEA in February 2009.
Development of a Research Strategy for the Institutes of Technology. In June 2007 CIRCA was commissioned by Institutes of Technology Ireland (see www.ioti.ie) to propose a research strategy for the 14 Institutes. IOTI (previously known as the Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology (CODIT)) is the coordinating body for all of the Institutes. The task is to “develop a research strategy document for the sector such that it provides a roadmap for the growth of research in the sector”. The research strategy development process involves internal consultation with research staff and management, and with external funders, clients and other stakeholders; assessment of international models, and a PEST analysis of possible strategies.
Review of National R&D Funding infrastructure in Lithuania. In November 2006, CIRCA Group was commissioned by the Science Council of Lithuania to review the Research, Technology and Innovation funding model used in Lithuania and to propose new mechanisms appropriate to national economic and social needs and aspirations. The study was conducted in collaboration with EuroParama (Lithuania - www.europarama.lt) and Heikki Kottilainen, a Finnish consultant. It involved a review of the Lithuanian RTD funding system, and surveys of a range of actors and stakeholders. It also required a comparative review of RTI funding and management systems in15 countries and development of best practice models for application in Lithuania. As part of the study, delegations of executives from STI agencies and ministries in Lithuania visited relevant agencies in 5 countries, including Ireland. The delegation to Ireland included the Minister of Economy of Lithuania, Mr Vytas Navickas. The final report was presented to the Lithuanian Prime Minister in May 2007 and is currently under consideration by Government.
Biotechnology for Europe Study CIRCA Group was one of the team of consulting organisations which conducted the the ‘Biotechnology for Europe Study (Bio4EU)’. The study was lead by Thomas Reiss of the Fraunhofer Institute and also included VTT (Finland), TNO (Nl), Innogen (UK) and Georgia Tech (USA). The EU has now published the output of this study in a report which is entitled ‘Consequences, Opportunities and Challenges of Modern Biotechnology for Europe’. This is the first comprehensive evaluation of the contribution of modern biotechnology to major European Union policy goals. The study was commissioned by the European Parliament and managed by the IPTS (www.jrc.es), an EU institute. The synthesis report is available at http://bio4eu.jrc.es/index.html The document has already been used to inform the European Commission’s mid-term review of the Biotechnology Strategy.
Commercialisation of publicly-funded environmental research. During 2006-07 CIRCA Group was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.ie ) to conduct a study on commercialisation of publicly-funded environmental research in Irish R&D Institutions. This included an analysis of commercialisation practices overseas. The study also looked at the various support mechanisms available, both financial and advisory, in bringing research findings to market. Researchers and agencies were consulted as to how the process could be assisted by EPA or other agencies. The study also prepared a ‘Guide to Commercialisation of Environmental R&D Outputs which will be distributed to EPA funded researchers. This guide is available on the EPA website at: www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/tech/ertdi%2064%20for%20web.pdf
University-Industry Collaboration Study CIRCA was commissioned by Forfas (www.forfas.ie ) and IDA Ireland to conduct a study on the status of collaboration between Higher Education (HE) and Industry in Ireland, and to propose improvements to the process of interaction. The status of HE-Industry collaboration was assessed through the views of industry and HE players, and through other indicators of interaction. During the study, focus groups were organised with academic researchers, and industry in different sectors. CIRCA also identified and assessed practical measures which might be used to promote collaborative R&D in an Irish context. Finally, the study report made recommendations on actions to improve the level of interaction. The study involved several partners including Dr. Wolfgang Polt of the Joanneum Institute, Vienna, and Prof Denis Gray from Univ of N. Carolina. The report was submitted to the Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (ACSTI), and formed part of the input to their report entitled: Promoting Enterprise-Higher Education Relationships. The ACSTI report is available at: www.sciencecouncil.ie/reports . The CIRCA study report has not been published.
Industry-Led Research Project for the Veterinary & Animal feeds Sector. In 2007, CIRCA Group were commissioned by Enterprise Ireland (EI) to look at the feasibility of developing an ‘Industry-Led Research Project’ (ILRP) of relevance to the Irish Veterinary pharmaceuticals & Medicated feeds sector. The project involved extensive contacts with over 30 veterinary and medicated feed companies to define common R&D interests. ILRPs involve Enterprise Ireland investment of approximately €2m in an R&D programme which is jointly agreed by a group of Irish-based industry. The research is defined by industry, and the project is overseen by a panel of industry representatives. The research may be performed by research groups from Universities, Institutes of Technology, Teagasc or other appropriate institutions, including overseas organisations if necessary. The projects also have other goals such as training of scientists in industry-related issues, promotion of industry collaboration etc.
Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association in Atlanta. Dr Jim Ryan of CIRCA Group presented a paper at the Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association in Atlanta. The paper, entitled "An approach to Assessing the impact of investment in new RTD Institutions: The case of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) in Ireland" outlined the approach used by CIRCA Group in the Impact Study of PRTLI which was completed in 2004. Copies of the slides used in this presentation are available on the website: http://www.sc.doe.gov Click Here to download Executive Summary of Report as .pdf
CIRCA conducts BMW Innovation Audit. Following a competitive tendering against leading consultancy companies in Ireland and the UK and Other European countries, the CIRCA Group was commissioned by the Regional Assembly to undertake an Innovation Audit of the BMW Region.
The purpose of the Innovation Audit is to understand issues of competitiveness, research and technological adaptation and organisational change in the BMW Region. This will involve developing a profile of innovation, identifying or developing appropriate indicators and benchmarking current levels of innovation in the BMW Region against best practice models. Insights to innovation performance improvement strategies and actions in other regions are expected to inform this audit process.
The CIRCA Group is a Dublin based science, technology and innovation consultancy that operates throughout the European Community. It will be assisted by three very prominent international experts - Dr Jan Cobbenhagen of MERIT (Netherlands), Prof. Lena Tsipoura, independent expert (Greece), and Svetlena (Lena) Hopkinson of Enterprise plc (UK) and a number of Irish experts. This audit will encompass in-depth desk research, focus discussion groups such as this one, surveys and many personal interviews. It will be completed by August 2003. The BMW Region is sparsely populated and essentially rural in character. While it covers 47% of the states landmass, it only contains 27% of the population. Its weak urban base is exemplified by the fact that only 32% of its population resides in concentrations of more than 1,500 people compared to the national average of 58%. The region has only one major urban centre, namely Galway.
The region has suffered from high levels of outward migration as the local population had to move outside of the Region in search of employment opportunities. In this regard it is notable that the population increase in the period 1991 to 1996 averaged 2.8% for the state as a whole while the BMW Region only experienced a 1.7% increase in population. Further to this, the region has a lower proportion of the its population in the active working age cohorts, with high levels of age dependency as a result. Some of the larger towns in the Region have experienced significant population growth in recent years, however, much of this growth would appear to arise from a reduction in the number of people engaged in agriculture and greater urbanisation and centralisation of activity.
It is notable that while the Region accounts for 47% of the landmass and 27% of the population, it only accounts for 21% of Gross Value Added (GVA) - a measure of economic activity. While the level of GVA has improved in nominal terms - growing by over 7% per annum between 1991 and 1996 - it has deteriorated relative to the State as a whole. On a sectoral basis, the prominence of primary production in agriculture, forestry and fishing is reflected in the fact that the area accounts for 35% of total National GVA in this sector, a share which has nominally increased over the period 1991 to 1996, while its share of National GVA in Industry (19%) and Services (18.7%) has actually declined over the same period. Virtually all of the land in the region is classified as severely handicapped or less severely handicapped. There is also a high dependence on income supports and other transfer payments in the region. Industry (including building/construction) accounts for 40% of output in the Region, equivalent to the National average. Services is by far the largest single sector at 51%, and is growing further in importance.
Survey of Irish Biotech Companies In 2002 CIRCA conducted a survey of the Irish biotech sector which identified 59 biotech companies. (41 indigenous and 18 foreign-owned). There are many other companies which use biotech, but are not exclusively based on biotech.
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Pharmaceutical companies are the major employers (1683 staff in 16 cos.), but the diagnostics sector is almost as large (1657 staff in 21 cos.; 16 of which are indigenous). Eight multinational pharma cos. together provide 51% of total employment. However, there is clear evidence of an increasing rate of formation of new biotechnology companies, and of a high level of research activity within these companies: 25 cos. are spin-offs from university research, while several others are significantly dependent on technologies licensed from universities. The full report was published by InterTrade Ireland in 2003 (see http://www.intertradeireland.com/).
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Developments in EU Evaluation Methodologies. IPTS and Joanneum Research in Vienna co-ordinated a project (EPUB) to produce an "RTD Evaluation Toolbox". The study team had thirteen members, drawn from Europe's leading universities and research institutes, Boston College (US) and CIRCA. The final report, running to 269 pages, on the study was published by IPTS in August 2002 in their Technical Report series in paper form and is available on the web (http://www.jrc.es/). This report is intended to provide a contribution to policy makers and evaluation practitioners at national and Community levels by providing a toolbox, or compendium of practical and useful tools, which can be used to evaluate public support mechanisms and instruments. It examines issues from the perspective of the user, describes the various support instruments that may have to be evaluated and how they may be evaluated, giving case studies with references in every instance. Particular attention was paid to evaluation of socio-economic effects in the embryonic European Research Area and in the future policy context. The report was prepared under the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission through one of its agencies, the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) in Seville, which advises the Commission on long term strategic policies.
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