Ireland has reached a significant milestone by securing over €1 billion in competitive funding through Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. Minister of State for Research and Development at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Grealish TD, highlighted Ireland’s particular success in areas such as agriculture, food, and the bioeconomy. He attributed this achievement to the strong national research performance supported by public research funding, which enables Irish researchers to compete effectively on the European stage.
Minister Grealish noted that Cluster 6, covering Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, has been especially successful, with Ireland drawing €136 million in funding from this area—the second-highest percentage of Ireland’s total Horizon Europe funding across the six clusters. He commended the dedication and vision of all researchers involved, recognizing their role in advancing innovative solutions in critical sectors.
A key component of Horizon Europe is the co-funded “Partnerships” programme, which combines European Commission funding with contributions from participating member states to address pressing societal challenges. Ireland is financially supporting four partnerships in Sustainable Food Systems, Animal Health and Welfare, Agroecology, and the newly launched Antimicrobial Resistance initiative. Minister Grealish emphasized that Irish researchers are helping to shape EU-wide responses to climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, animal health, and antimicrobial resistance, urging continued excellence in the remaining years of the programme.
Ireland’s Horizon Europe funding of €1.02 billion represents 2.09% of the €49 billion awarded to date, positioning the country ahead of its national target of €1.5 billion by 2027 under the Impact 2030 strategy. Irish institutions benefit from the Horizon Europe National Support Network, coordinated by Enterprise Ireland, which includes 32 National Contact Points and National Delegates from 10 research and innovation-active agencies. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine serves as the National Contact Point for Cluster 6.
One prominent Cluster 6 project led by Ireland is STEP UP: Stepping Up for Europe’s Sustainable Livestock Systems. With a budget of €4.31 million and involving 16 partners across 10 countries, the project, led by Prof. David Kenny of Teagasc, focuses on upgrading European livestock production through innovative, technology-driven techniques. STEP UP aims to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and improve animal welfare, demonstrating Ireland’s leadership in sustainable agriculture and its contribution to Horizon Europe’s broader goals.
