Higher Education Authority an tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas HEA

€28m was made available to universities and other higher education institutes in 2007 for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment under the SSTI. Mr. Tom Boland, CEO of the HEA said it was “..an invaluable boost to researchers in higher education and a model for further inter-agency co-operation in research funding”. 

The HEA will manage the allocation of the fund to the higher education institutions.  In doing so, the HEA scheme will be co-ordinated with the equipment funding strategies of Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, both of whom have also recently announced funding for research equipment.  This reflects the greater inter-agency collaboration which is a key part of the Government’s Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation.

The funding is additional to approximately €135m which has been invested in equipment over the past eight years under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (total PRTLI investment €866m).

“This additional funding will ensure that institutions have funding to replace out-dated equipment and give access to researchers and students to new, state-of–the-art equipment, essential if we are to compete globally,” Mr. Boland said. Funding for the scheme is being met from the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 and is being put forward for co-funding under the EU Structural Funds (ERDF). Details of allocations are listed below.