CIRCA Group Work Areas

Science, Technology and R&D
Regional & Rural Development
Higher Education & Human Resource Development
Key Technologies (Biotechnology, ICT & Environment) in Development
Innovation & Knowledge in Development
Strategy & Business Development
International Project Management

Science, Technology and R&D Policy & Practice

CIRCA Group has had extensive international involvement in science and technology policy, R&D, Intellectual Property Rights, Foresight and Benchmarking studies, and research and technology assessment. The Company has conducted many assignments in these areas for a range of national and international private and public clients, including the European Commission. For example, CIRCA Group has undertaken trans-national research and consultancy projects for DGs Research, Information Society and Regional Policy, all related to aspects of science and technology policy. Examples of projects include:

• HEA:  Evaluation of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)
• EPA:  Evaluation of the Environmental Research Programme (ERTDI) 2000-2006
• Forfás:   Evaluation of Ireland's membership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• InnovaMais SA (Portugal): Study for Scottish Enterprise on the role of technology in Open Innovation. (2007-08)
• Support for the Development of a Research Strategy for the Institutes of Technology in Ireland
• Enterprise Ireland:  Feasibility study on the establishment of an Industry-led Research Project in the Animal Feed and Veterinary Products area.  (2006 -2007)
• Lithuanian Science Council.  Support for the revision of Lithuanian R&D policy and programmes. (2006 - ongoing )
• Forfás/HEA:   Consultation with Irish enterprises on Planned State expenditure on Biotech & ICT R&D facilities in the HE sector.  2006
• Review of Research Collaboration between Enterprises and Higher Education institutions (2006).
• InterTradeIreland: Review of ExpertiseIreland.com, a website promoting academic expertise (2005).
• Forfás: Interim Evaluation of Science Foundation Ireland (2004-2005).
• Trinity College Dublin: Development of performance indicators for research staff (2005).
• Higher Education Authority (Ireland): Research & Training Consultant in Impact Assessment of the €610 million Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI).
• Ex-Ante Evaluation of National Support Structures for participation of HE and Industry researchers in Framework Programme 6.

Higher Education & Human Resource Development

Higher Education: CIRCA Group has undertaken a wide range of assignments in the HE sector including Institution and R&D Strategy Development, the development and assessment Centres of Excellence and Technology Centres, Industry Linkages & Campus Companies. CIRCA Group undertook the base study that resulted in a €600+ million research investment by the Irish Government. CIRCA Group also developed the evaluation procedures and processes for assessment of the subsequent awards. Recent examples of projects in this area include:

• HEA: Review of PhD Education in Ireland.
• HEA:  Evaluation of the Irish Research Council for Science, Technology & Engineering (IRCSET)
• University College Dublin:  Review of Research Institutes in University College,  Dublin
• Trinity College Dublin: Support for the development of performance indicators for research staff.
• Forfás:  Review of Research Collaboration between Enterprises and Higher Education institutions (2006).
• Higher Education Authority (Ireland): Research & Training Consultant in Impact Assessment of the 610m Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI).
• Forfás: Ex-Ante Evaluation of National Support Structures for participation of HE and Industry researchers in Framework Programme 6
• Intertrade Ireland: A Baseline Survey of Commercialisation Staff and Skills in Irish R&D perfoprming institutions

HR Development: CIRCA Group has expertise in the area of regional, local and firm skills analyses, labour force analysis, and in education, continuing education and training. It has undertaken assignments in determining skills shortages in the Dublin region, sectoral labour force and training studies, international education and training projects, and evaluation of EU human resource development programmes. It has experience of the latest training delivery techniques, including web delivery of training. CIRCA Group recently evaluated the Skillnets Network Training Programme.

- Back to top -

Key Technologies: Biotechnology, Environment, Food and Energy

Biotechnology & Life Sciences: CIRCA Group has significant expertise in biotechnology policy and in all aspects of the management and exploitation of life science technologies. CIRCA Group consultants have been centrally involved in the establishment of national biotechnology policy, and in development of policy and programmes for exploitation of university research, entrepreneur development, start-up company creation and technology licensing. We have also conducted studies to source and assess new technologies on behalf of industry and public bodies. Examples include:

• Meat Company Consortium. Feasibility Study on a joint R&D programme in meat-based functional foods. (2008/09- part-funded by Enterprise Ireland)
• Forfás:   Evaluation of Ireland's membership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Enterprise Ireland:  Study on how the national healthcare system can be better used to support the biotech industry and start-ups  (2007)
• Health Research Board (Ireland).  Evaluation of output and quality of health-related publications by Irish researchers.   (2006-2007)
• Enterprise Ireland:  Feasibility study on the establishment of an Industry-led Research Project in the Animal Feed and Veterinary Products area.  (2006 -2007)
• Forfás/HEA:   Consultation with Irish enterprises on Planned State expenditure on Biotech & ICT R&D facilities in the HE sector.  2006
• EU: IPTS (Seville,Es): The Bio4EU project to assess the Consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe . http://bio4eu.jrc.es/ (2006)
• Carlow County Council: Assessment of the feasibility of establishing a plant biotech cluster in Carlow. 2005
• EU: IPTS (Seville,Es):Assessment of the state of the art and potential socio-economic benefits of pharmacogenetics. (2004 - 2005)
• Marine Institute (Ireland):A Comparative Study of International Marine Biotech RTD and Industrial Development Strategies (2003/04)
• Forfas: Scoping Study on the Establishment of a Biopharmaceutical Research & Services Centre In Ireland (2002/3)
• InterTrade Ireland: Mapping Study Of Irish Biotechnology industries and assessment of collaboration opportunities (2002)

Environment: CIRCA Group has been active in this area since the company's foundation and has worked for the Irish EPA, private industry and assisted appl;icants for EU funding.

- Back to top -

Innovation & Knowledge in Development

CIRCA Group has been involved in innovation assignments for more than 18 years in Ireland and in many European countries such as Italy and Greece. Many of these assignments were EU RITTS projects involving two or three consultancy teams to ensure the transfer of knowledge and "best practice". CIRCA Group has undertaken a detailed innovation audit of the BMW Region and a pilot innovation implementation project with 17 SMEs in Northern Ireland. As part of its innovation work, CIRCA Group has been assessing the gap between the HE sector and firms, i.e., the complexity of the HE information flow and their communications mechanisms, alongside the absorptive capacity of the firms and its methods of sourcing, storing and interpreting information. This is now a significant part of many assignments

... see more.

Strategy & Business Development

CIRCA has undertaken a number of assignments on managing change in both the private and public sector. These included implementing the Strategic Management Initiative in a Government Department which brings private sector corporate and strategic planning and performance measurement to the public sector for the first time; proposed new research management processes for Ireland's seven universities; strategic planning for the State agricultural and training body; new strategy and structure for Ireland's largest private training company; and national strategy and funding for the development of Ireland's aquaculture industry. Assignments are also undertaken in general business development with a range of SMEs, MNEs and Large Irish companies.

- Back to top -

International Project Management

CIRCA Group has also provided management of international teams for the Commission and public sector clients. CIRCA Group was lead contractor with an international team of consultants for an evaluation of the impacts of Community Structural Funds on RTDI in thirteen countries of the Union and covering all the 51 Objective 1 regions. For DG Information Society, CIRCA managed the co-ordination project of the ORA Programme (rural telematics), covering contractors in seven countries of the Union. Currently CIRCA Group is project manager for a Danish consortium of 73 companies in fish product development (budget: €25 million) and for the Tipperary Institute

International Projects

CIRCA Group staff have worked in most of the European Member States over the last 15 years. In many cases we were part of a multi-national consortium of similar companies and organisations from other Member States. Recent projects included:

• §Bio4EU project - Consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe (IPTS, Seville)
• §Lithuania Project – linking Lithuanian expertise with European expertise (2005-2007)
• §Support in the development of Industry R&D support structures in Estonia. (Enterprise Estonia: 2004 - 2005)
• §Assessment of the state of the art and potential socio-economic benefits of pharmacogenetics. (IPTS, Seville: 2004-05)
• §A Comparative Study of International Marine Biotech RTD and Industrial Development Strategies (2003/04)
• §Assessing the future of Healthcare technologies in Europe (IPTS, Seville: 2002-03)
• §International project management – €25 million Danish fish consumer product development project with 73 partners (ongoing)

Regional & Rural Development

Company Directors have a long-standing involvement in studies on the regional dimension of RTD and innovation, nationally and internationally. The former Chairman of the company has been a Senior Visiting Fellow at the National Institute for Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), in Tokyo and has advised the Japanese Government on regional policies for science and technology. He has also advised the National Science Foundation in Washington DC on technology for the development of lagging regions and States. CIRCA Group's work has covered the regional dimension of economic and social development and support services for development in rural areas. These have involved the development of educational programmes to support rural development and formulating local area development plans, including the use of information and communications technologies.

Assisting the preparation of Framework proposals for EU consortia

- Back to top -