Dr Diarmuid O’Brien has been appointed as the new CEO of Board of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland.
Research Ireland, which was only set up in August 2024, is the state agency responsible for supporting research and innovation.
Dr O’Brien, who will take up the role in September 2025, said he hopes to "build Research Ireland into an agency that supports talented researchers, shapes Ireland’s research and innovation landscape, and delivers outcomes that contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for Ireland’s economy and society.”
He joins from the role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge in the UK and was previously Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprise.
Prior to that, he worked in a range of roles in Trinity College Dublin for over fifteen years, including being Trinity’s first Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer.
He has 20 years of experience managing research institutes, developing new university campuses, creating accelerator programmes, forming large-scale industry research partnerships, raising venture capital funds, licensing intellectual property and scaling new company creation.
Chairperson of Research Ireland, Michael Horgan, said: "On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Diarmuid as CEO.
"Diarmuid has a wealth of experience and an outstanding track record.
"He brings a deep understanding of the public research ecosystem across all disciplines, and of the wider national and international research and innovation environment.
"Together with the Board, I look forward to working with Diarmuid to develop and deliver our strategic priorities over time and wish him every success as CEO of Research Ireland.”
Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science, James Lawless, said: “Taighde Éireann is central to the delivery of the Government’s research and innovation strategy – Impact 2030.
"At this time, it is crucial that Ireland capitalises on all available opportunities.
"We must leverage our strengths in people, connectivity, and curiosity by continuing to support the development of new knowledge, talented researchers, and innovators".
