Intellectual Property (IP) should be managed according to the policies set out in Ireland’s National IP Protocol (2019). In cases where additional guidelines are specified by SFI they must also be followed. The IP arrangements are the responsibility of the Research Body and shall reflect the collaborative nature of the project, the level of cash and in-kind commitment made by the Industry Partner and compliance with State Aid Regulations.

Other useful links:

IUA Statement – 4th June 2014

IUA welcome the “National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland” launched today by Minister for Research and Innovation Mr Sean Sherlock TD. The policy statement aims to commit the main organisations in Irish research to the highest standards of integrity in carrying out their research so that partners and other stakeholders, and the international research community may have full confidence in the Irish research system.

The Irish public research system comprises research performing organisations: mainly the Universities, Institutes of Technology, state research organisations and the hospital system along with the research funding organisations.

This policy statement has been developed by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) in collaboration with the following organisations:

  • Health Research Board (HRB) • Royal Irish Academy (RIA)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) • Institutes of Technology Ireland (IoTI)
  • Higher Education Authority (HEA) • Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
  • Enterprise Ireland (EI) • Teagasc • Irish Research Council (IRC)
  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

The Irish Universities Association and its member institutions have long been committed to the highest standards of research conduct and integrity, and individual institutions have procedures in place to underpin this. Similar commitments to upholding integrity have been made by IoTI and its members, and by DIT and other organisations.

However, the transparency of policy and practice will be enhanced by publication of a national statement which clarifies policy and sets out agreed good practice in promoting and ensuring research integrity. This commitment is shared by the universities, IoTI, DIT, Teagasc, RCSI and the main Irish research funding agencies; in particular, the
Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Higher Education Authority and the Royal Irish Academy.

While this policy statement has been developed jointly by the IUA and the listed sponsors, we believe that it provides a robust framework which might usefully be adopted by other research performing organisations in Ireland.

In order to ensure consistency and alignment with agreed international norms and best practice in managing research integrity, the IUA and the national funding agencies endorse the international definitions and principles agreed by the European Science Foundation Members Forum on Research Integrity (2010) and published as the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. While making this endorsement, we nevertheless recognise that a research integrity framework is required for Ireland that is appropriate to our specific national circumstances and the Irish legal situation. In considering these issues we draw heavily on the 2010 Royal Irish Academy publication “Ensuring Integrity in Irish Research” which was Co-sponsored by IUA, HRB, HEA and SFI. The policy is also influenced significantly by the UK Concordat on Research Integrity (2012).

The policy statement can be downloaded here:

National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland 2014

SFI endorses the National Framework for Doctoral Education (2015). For postgraduate students funded by SFI, the host Research Body is expected to adopt the principles, standards and good practice for doctoral education as described in the National Framework.