Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM)
The Department of Agriculture and Food's Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM)
is funded under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. FIRM is the primary national
funding mechanism for food research in third level colleges and research institutes.
FIRM is a public good competitive programme whereby multi-disciplinary teams from
two or more institutions usually carry out the research projects. Research outputs
are communicated to industry by a dedicated dissemination team known as RELAY.
FIRM aims to develop public good technologies that will underpin a competitive,
innovative and sustainable food manufacturing and marketing sector. The programme
is creating a base of knowledge and expertise in generic technologies that will
support a modern, consumer-focussed industry and build Ireland's capacity for R&D.
A key output of the FIRM is highly trained young researchers at PhD and postdoctoral
level, with specialist skills particularly relevant to the Irish food sector.
FIRM aims to develop public good technologies that will underpin a competitive,
innovative and sustainable food manufacturing and marketing sector. The programme
is creating a base of knowledge and expertise in generic technologies that will
support a modern, consumer-focussed industry and build Ireland's capacity for R&D.
A key output of the FIRM is highly trained young researchers at PhD and postdoctoral
level, with specialist skills particularly relevant to the Irish food sector.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food - Research Programmes