IRL invests $19 million in research leaders

IRL invests $19 million in research leaders

IRL is investing $19 million to foster New Zealand ’s science and engineering talent.

Initially IRL will offer five Industry Research and Outreach Fellowships for talented scientists and engineers to work with industry to conduct research and technology transfer activities.

Chief Executive Shaun Coffey said that linking world-class science and engineering with the needs of New Zealand firms is the hallmark of the initiative.

IRL will offer annual remuneration of up to $200,000 to successful candidates, and $2.5 million in operating funds for investment over a five year period.

The Fellows will have the opportunity to draw widely on IRL staff and expertise and will be expected to foster enduring partnerships with firms and R&D personnel in the private sector.

“These are exciting and challenging roles aimed at encouraging a new mindset – one in which speed of industry uptake of new knowledge is pre-eminent but also emphasises science quality.

“As industry and IRL get closer, the importance of high quality R&D as a means to improve productivity and profitability will become better understood. These roles will not be easy but they’ll be well rewarded and rewarding!” says Shaun Coffey.

He says IRL will continue its search as long as it takes to find appropriate candidates and interest is already being expressed from within IRL, New Zealand industry and from overseas.

Expressions of interest are being called for in the following areas of opportunity for New Zealand economic and social growth:

• Technologies for green growth
• Maori economic and industrial development
• Materials for a low carbon future
• Re-design of the built environment
• Nano-enabled biomaterials
• Next generation manufacturing processes
• Transformational energy, power systems and grids
• Digital futures for industrial processes.

IRL expects to begin assessing expressions of interest in late November, 2010, and is already well advanced in discussions with some candidates.

For further details visit :

http://www.irl.cri.nz/newsroom/news/announcing-industry-research-and-outreach-fellowships

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