The Research Culture NI project aimed at building a cohesive, inclusive and vibrant research and innovation ecosystem in Northern Ireland, by facilitating collaboration and career mobility through the region’s vast research community.
It ran from 2024 to 2026, supported by Wellcome’s Institutional Funding for Research Culture, and many piloted activities and collaborations have been retained and embedded in normal practice.
The two-year Wellcome-funded Research Culture NI (RCNI) programme (2024-2026) adopted a regional approach to strengthening research culture by fostering collaboration across Northern Ireland's research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem. Led by Queen's University Belfast in collaboration with Ulster University, the programme brought together universities, government, public sector organisations, industry and the voluntary sector to promote a more collaborative and sustainable research culture.
Research Culture NI delivered four key projects, including a mapping exercise of the NI research culture and three pilot initiatives to support specific groups from the research and innovation ecosystem: postdoctoral researchers, research professionals and individuals involved in Practice Research.
Key projects
Mapping research culture in NI
Delivered in collaboration with CRAC-Vitae, this project delivered a report exploring regional strengths and challenges and testing practical interventions to support positive research culture​ in NI.
Supporting postdoc careers
The appointment of a Research careers and employability officer enabled the introduction of a suite of career development support for postdoctoral researchers in Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.
Supporting Research Professionals
The Northern Ireland Research Professionals Network (NIRPN) provides networking and good practice sharing opportunities for those in managerial and administrative roles supporting or enabling research and innovation across NI organisations.
Supporting Practice Research
Through a steering board composed of Practice Researchers from Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast, the project developed a Framework for Supporting, Integrating and Nurturing Practice Research.
Project highlights
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