Co-Centres are virtual Centres of distributed excellence with an ambition to create a dynamic research network across Ireland, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, to deliver economic, societal, health and environmental impacts. Two Co-Centres have been funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) - Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water.

The Co-Centres through co-operation and collaboration with industry and other key stakeholders will bring scale, standing and cohesion to the research and innovation ecosystem across jurisdictions to facilitate a STEM-led multi-disciplinary programme of research and innovation. The Co-Centre Programme’s research may involve an inter-disciplinary approach across the Arts, Humanties and Social Sciences and shall be informed by a process of stakeholder engagement (including with end-users, policy makers and civil society).

The Co-Centre Programme provides a significant level of investment of public funds from across jurisdictions and requires that all funded Co-Centres have clear Management and Governance structures in place, and expect that Principal and Co-Principals Investigators are aware and familiar with the below post award guidance.