Research-for-Policy Conference 2025

Co-creating a stronger research-for-policy ecosystem in Ireland

About the event

This one-day conference is a collaboration between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; the UCD Policy Interface; and the Social Sciences Institute in Maynooth University.

The conference, on the theme of "co-creating a stronger research-for-policy ecosystem in Ireland", will be held on 11 November 2025 at MoLI – the Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin, from 10am to 5pm. It will also be live streamed.

The aim of the event is to further the national conversation about how we build systemic, coordinated connections between research and policy, so that high-quality evidence can more readily inform all stages of the policymaking process. In particular, we hope to advance a systems approach to the development and coordination of research-policy engagement.

In so doing, the conference will also:

Promote cross-sectoral and intra-organisational collaboration to increase impact
Provide all-island and international perspectives on the challenges and opportunities
Contribute to the co-creation of a ‘shared vision’ for a more systematic, inclusive and productive research-policy interface in Ireland

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Keynote speakers

Addresses and keynote presentations will be delivered by the following. Panellists and other speakers will include leading figures across Ireland's research-policy ecosystem, as outlined in the agenda below.

James Lawless, TD

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science

Professor David Budtz Pedersen

Professor of Science Communication and Impact Studies, Aalborg University

Sarah Chaytor

Director of Research Strategy & Policy, UCL; and Co-Chair of the UK Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)

Agenda

Click 'show more' to see the full conference agenda. A one-page PDF version of the agenda is also available below, along with a background paper and speaker bios.

Part 1: The research-for-policy ecosystem – system leaders’ perspectives

Chaired by Dr Ciara Leonard, Head of Public Affairs and Advocacy, UCD


10.00am	Registration, coffee, networking
10.30am	Opening remarks Triona McCormack, Vice-President for Strategy and External Engagement, UCD
10.45am	Keynote presentation: Research-for-policy ecosystems Professor David Budtz Pedersen, Professor of Science Communication and Impact Studies, Aalborg University
11.15am	Panel discussion: System leaders’ perspectives on Ireland’s research-for-policy ecosystem Professor Aoife McLysaght, Government Science Advisor (GSA) Dr Peter Clifford, Head of Strategy, Research Ireland Barry Vaughan, Principal Officer, Department of the Taoiseach Professor David Budtz Pedersen, Professor of Science Communication and Impact Studies, Aalborg University
12.10pm	Project presentation: Mapping Ireland’s knowledge-brokering structures and supports Professor Mark Boyle, Chair of Geography, Maynooth University Dr John O’Connor, Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher, Maynooth University
12.30pm	Lunch, networking

Part 2: Sectoral initiatives and multi-sectoral collaboration

Chaired by Seán Ó Foghlú, Senior Fellow in Public Policy, Maynooth University


1.30pm	5x5 spotlights: A snapshot of policy-engagement work across the sector Professor Michelle Norris, Director, UCD Geary Institute Sinéad Mullen, Senior Planner of Research, Training and Public Awareness, the Office of the Planning Regulator Teresa Maguire, Director of Research Strategy and Funding, Health Research Board Dr Inez Bailey, CEO, Centre for Effective Services Dr Claire Hickey, Head of Socio-Economic Research, Parliamentary Research Service
2.00pm	Keynote presentation: Policy-engagement mechanisms and coordination in the HEI sector Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research Strategy & Policy, UCL; and Co-Chair of the UK Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
2.30pm	Fireside chat and Q&A Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research Strategy & Policy, UCL; and Co-Chair of the UK Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) Seán Ó Foghlú, Senior Fellow in Public Policy, Maynooth University
3.10pm	Coffee, networking

Part 3: Joining the dots... building momentum for action

Chaired by Fiona O'Byrne, Assistant Secretary, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science


3.30pm	Session introduction Fiona O'Byrne, Assistant Secretary, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
3.35pm	Ministerial address James Lawless, TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science
3.45pm	Project presentation: European Commission Technical Support Instrument (TSI) on Evidence-Informed Policymaking for the Green and Digital Transitions David Mair, Head of Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
3.55pm	Panel discussion: DFHERIS-led initiatives on strengthening the research-for-policy ecosystem and an EU lens on national developments Paul Morrin, Assistant Director General, Central Statistics Office Professor Caroline McGregor, Director of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society (ILAS), University of Galway Gerry Clabby, Principal Advisor, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Dr Diarmuid O'Brien, CEO, Research Ireland David Mair, Head of Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
4.30pm	Reflections on the day Mary Doyle Secretary for Policy and International Relations, Royal Irish Academy
4.45pm	Closing remarks Professor Eeva Leinonen, President, Maynooth University
5.00pm	End