Abstract

iCRAG, the world-leading Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre in Applied Geosciences supported hosted by University College Dublin (UCD), comprises a multidisciplinary group of ~150 researchers across eight Irish higher education institutions. As an SFI research centre, iCRAG operates under a co-funding framework, with contributions from both SFI and industry partners, in addition to funding research through competitively won research grants (including Horizon Europe).
At the heart of iCRAG's success lies a dedicated central Operation Team, hosted by the main host institution, UCD. iCRAG’s experienced Operations Team oversees all aspects of the Centre’s research programme, the centre operations and activities, and liaises with funding organisations and industry partners. Their specialised role extends beyond traditional research management functions including: Operations and Administration, Funding, Research Programme Management, Research Administration, Finance and Research Budget Management, Data Management, Industry Liaison and Business Development, Policy and Public Affairs, Education and Public Engagement, Communication and Social Media. iCRAG consistently meets rigorous KPIs set by the Centre’s principal funder SFI and has been commended by international review panels, which demonstrate the team’s effectiveness and proven experience.
This team serves as the linchpin, facilitating seamless coordination across its multiple partner institutions. The Operations Team plays a pivotal role in bolstering iCRAG's effectiveness. By serving as a central hub of support, they provide an extra layer of assistance to researchers, for example in funding, industry liaison, communication, engagement and dissemination, IT, and data and finance management. This additional level of support has proven instrumental in propelling iCRAG's researchers towards achieving their scientific objectives and career development.
However, operating as a multi-institutional research centre comes with its own unique set of challenges. Unlike university departments and schools where the support staff is integrated within the central research office (ROs), iCRAG's Operations Team operates collaboratively but independently from its partner ROs. The information-sharing and coordination with partner institutions is crucial for effective operational management. However, the team do not have direct access to information in the internal systems of its non-host partner institutions as they are not registered staff, and this adds an extra layer of complexity. Projects with industry partners require collaborative research agreements (CRAs) which requires legal, financial and IP agreements and can be one or multi institution, and either or can have one or more industry partners. Furthermore, the funding to the research Centre comes with reporting obligations to the main funder. For iCRAG researchers, this entails an additional demand on their time and resources, as they must compile comprehensive reports on the progress and impact of their research projects. Balancing these reporting requirements with the core research objectives poses a continual challenge.
In presenting our experience with iCRAG's research management, we aim to shed light on the intricate dynamics of operating within a collaborative, multi-institutional research centre, balancing the research aims with Centre requirements. Through the poster format, we invite fellow research management professionals to engage in a dialogue about best practices, potential solutions, and innovative strategies for optimising the management of complex, co-funded research initiatives.