Health Research Board

Strategic Awards represent a mechanism for addressing critical national health research infrastructure gaps that have been identified by the partnership agencies, SFI and the HRB, and are in line with the challenges outlined in their current Strategic Plans. It is anticipated that these awards will be rare, given their size and expected national impact, and will be a matter of negotiated agreement between Ireland and the Wellcome Trust. Consequently, Wellcome Trust will not accept applications for Strategic Awards without prior endorsement by the partnership agencies.

Applicants may express an interest in the Strategic Aware scheme at any stage; however prospective applicants should bear in mind that the application and review processes, including those of the Wellcome Trust, are likely to take at least 18 months to complete.

SFI and the HRB can only give consideration to credible and appropriate initiatives which can fulfill the strategic intent of the scheme as it relates to Ireland. Applicants should prepare an Expression of Interest (5 Page Max) that:

• outlines their idea and its components;
• identifies the critical national infrastructure gap(s) that it proposes to address;
• identifies the strategic need to address this infrastructure gap(s) at this time;
• maps its potential impact on the national health research and life sciences agenda;  
• demonstrates how the proposal will deliver value for money from national investment through the SFI-HRB partnership;
• demonstrates its relevance to the strategic ambitions of SFI and the HRB as laid out in their respective Strategic Plans;
• identifies how the proposed idea addresses the challenges outlined in the Wellcome Trust's Strategic Plan 2010-20;
• establishes the credibility, synergies, strengths and individual track-records of the research consortium concerned;

 The Expression of Interest will be considered by the SFI/HRB Joint Executive Committee at its next available meeting. Should additional information or informal discussion be warranted, the applicant(s) will be informed of what will be required, and expert opinion on strategic issues may also be sought by the JEC.

A decision on whether SFI and the HRB are in a position to support the further development of a proposed Strategic Award will be taken following consideration of all inputs. The decision by SFI and the HRB to provide or decline a letter of endorsement will be communicated to the applicant(s) in a timely manner, and will be final.