Confidential Information Request to Researchers Funded Under EPA Research Programme

Indecon International Research Economists have been appointed by the EPA to undertake an independent interim review of the EPA Research Programme 2014 – 2020. As part of our analysis, we believe it is critical to obtain inputs from researchers funded under the Programme. We would therefore be very appreciative if you could complete the Information Request below.

All information will be treated as confidential and in accordance with the EPA Privacy Policy (which is available on the EPA website) and our obligations under Data Protection Law. All information collected will be aggregated with the responses from other respondents.

Background Details of the Research Group

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* 1. Please indicate the name of the university and research group where you are based:

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* 2. Does this information response relate to one or more research projects funded by EPA?

One Research Project

Other

Other - please specify number

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* 3. Please indicate your estimate of the number of whole-time equivalent researchers supported by ongoing and new awards funding from the EPA 2014 – 2020 Research Programme for your project(s):

Principal Investigators - Total

Principal Investigators - Male

Principal Investigators - Female

Research Scientist - Total

Research Scientist - Male

Research Scientist - Female

Post-Doc - Total

Post-Doc - Male

Post-Doc - Female

PhD Student - Total

PhD Student - Male

PhD Student - Female

Other - Total

Other - Male

Other - Female

Details of Project(s) Funded under EPA Research Programme 2014-2020

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* 4. What was the title(s) and project codes of the project(s) funded under the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020?

Informing Policy and Dissemination of Research

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* 5. How aware are you of EPA’s objective to ensure the dissemination of research funded under this programme to each of the following audiences:

	Very Aware	Aware	Neither Aware nor Unaware	Unaware	Very Unaware
Domestic Policymakers	Domestic Policymakers Very Aware	Domestic Policymakers Aware	Domestic Policymakers Neither Aware nor Unaware	Domestic Policymakers Unaware	Domestic Policymakers Very Unaware
International policymakers	International policymakers Very Aware	International policymakers Aware	International policymakers Neither Aware nor Unaware	International policymakers Unaware	International policymakers Very Unaware
General public through media	General public through media Very Aware	General public through media Aware	General public through media Neither Aware nor Unaware	General public through media Unaware	General public through media Very Unaware
Research via Peer-reviewed Journals	Research via Peer-reviewed Journals Very Aware	Research via Peer-reviewed Journals Aware	Research via Peer-reviewed Journals Neither Aware nor Unaware	Research via Peer-reviewed Journals Unaware	Research via Peer-reviewed Journals Very Unaware
Research via Academic conferences	Research via Academic conferences Very Aware	Research via Academic conferences Aware	Research via Academic conferences Neither Aware nor Unaware	Research via Academic conferences Unaware	Research via Academic conferences Very Unaware
Enterprise / Industry	Enterprise / Industry Very Aware	Enterprise / Industry Aware	Enterprise / Industry Neither Aware nor Unaware	Enterprise / Industry Unaware	Enterprise / Industry Very Unaware

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* 6. Please indicate whether the EPA funding has encouraged you or is likely to encourage you to engage with government and non-government stakeholders to provide solutions for environmental challenges facing Ireland.

Yes

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* 7. Have you undertaken any of the following activities to highlight the research supported by the EPA?

	Yes	Not as Yet but Planning to	No and Not Likely to
Participated in workshops / conferences	Participated in workshops / conferences Yes	Participated in workshops / conferences Not as Yet but Planning to	Participated in workshops / conferences No and Not Likely to
Met with policymakers / public bodies	Met with policymakers / public bodies Yes	Met with policymakers / public bodies Not as Yet but Planning to	Met with policymakers / public bodies No and Not Likely to
Submitted paper to or had papers published in academic journals	Submitted paper to or had papers published in academic journals Yes	Submitted paper to or had papers published in academic journals Not as Yet but Planning to	Submitted paper to or had papers published in academic journals No and Not Likely to
Participated in policy workshops	Participated in policy workshops Yes	Participated in policy workshops Not as Yet but Planning to	Participated in policy workshops No and Not Likely to
Contributed to national media	Contributed to national media Yes	Contributed to national media Not as Yet but Planning to	Contributed to national media No and Not Likely to
Developed a social media presence for the research projects	Developed a social media presence for the research projects Yes	Developed a social media presence for the research projects Not as Yet but Planning to	Developed a social media presence for the research projects No and Not Likely to

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* 8. Please indicate details on any conference papers / publications arising from funding supported by the EPA Research Programme.

Number of Conference papers published

Number of Journal Articles Published

Number of Journal Articles Accepted for Publication

Number of Journal Articles Submitted but not yet accepted

Number of Journal Articles in progress but not yet completed

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* 9. Please provide any other details concerning conference papers/ publications or sharing of research with policymakers arising from the EPA Research Programme.

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* 10. Please indicate your views of the likely impact if any of your research project on the following areas of policy development and implementation.

	Very Significant Impact	Significant Impact	Moderate Impact	No Impact	Don't Know
Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues	Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues Very Significant Impact	Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues Significant Impact	Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues Moderate Impact	Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues No Impact	Developing the knowledge to address emerging environmental policy issues Don't Know
Input to evidence based environmental policies	Input to evidence based environmental policies Very Significant Impact	Input to evidence based environmental policies Significant Impact	Input to evidence based environmental policies Moderate Impact	Input to evidence based environmental policies No Impact	Input to evidence based environmental policies Don't Know
Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment	Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment Very Significant Impact	Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment Significant Impact	Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment Moderate Impact	Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment No Impact	Increased understanding of the pressures on our environment Don't Know
Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges	Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges Very Significant Impact	Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges Significant Impact	Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges Moderate Impact	Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges No Impact	Input to development of suitable responses to environmental challenges Don't Know
Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy	Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy Very Significant Impact	Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy Significant Impact	Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy Moderate Impact	Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy No Impact	Building awareness on behavioural changes needed to become low-emission economy Don't Know

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* 11. Please provide any examples of how your project(s) have or are likely to contribute to public debate or policy development:

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* 12. Please provide details of any citations of the research in policy documents or government reports:

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* 13. In your view is the strategy of the EPA Research Programme flexible enough to enable and adapt to changes in the environmental challenges; international and national policies.

Yes

Don't Know

Please indicate the reasons for your views.

Views on Impact of EPA Research Programme

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* 14. Has the EPA Research Programme funding influenced the way you have carried out your research?

Yes

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* 15. If so, in what ways?

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* 16. Please indicate if you believe there have been improvements in the quantity and/or quality of relevant research performed in your research group/institution as a result of EPA’s funding?

Yes

Don't Know

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* 17. Please indicate whether you believe the research project(s) would have proceeded or not if EPA funding was not provided?

Research would have proceeded without funding

Would not have been undertaken

Research would have been delayed

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* 18. Please indicate your views on whether the overall EPA Research Programme is likely to have has a significant impact or not in the areas specified below.

	Very Significant Impact	Significant Impact	Moderate Impact	No Impact	Don't Know
Input to informing policy	Input to informing policy Very Significant Impact	Input to informing policy Significant Impact	Input to informing policy Moderate Impact	Input to informing policy No Impact	Input to informing policy Don't Know
Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland	Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland Very Significant Impact	Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland Significant Impact	Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland Moderate Impact	Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland No Impact	Attraction of outstanding environmental researchers to Ireland Don't Know
Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland	Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland Very Significant Impact	Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland Significant Impact	Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland Moderate Impact	Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland No Impact	Providing increased support to existing high quality researchers in Ireland Don't Know
Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers	Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers Very Significant Impact	Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers Significant Impact	Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers Moderate Impact	Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers No Impact	Increase in high quality publications by EPA funded researchers Don't Know
Increase in IP/Patents	Increase in IP/Patents Very Significant Impact	Increase in IP/Patents Significant Impact	Increase in IP/Patents Moderate Impact	Increase in IP/Patents No Impact	Increase in IP/Patents Don't Know
Increase in research based spin off	Increase in research based spin off Very Significant Impact	Increase in research based spin off Significant Impact	Increase in research based spin off Moderate Impact	Increase in research based spin off No Impact	Increase in research based spin off Don't Know
Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland	Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland Very Significant Impact	Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland Significant Impact	Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland Moderate Impact	Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland No Impact	Training of post graduates for employment in Ireland Don't Know
Training of post graduates for employment internationally	Training of post graduates for employment internationally Very Significant Impact	Training of post graduates for employment internationally Significant Impact	Training of post graduates for employment internationally Moderate Impact	Training of post graduates for employment internationally No Impact	Training of post graduates for employment internationally Don't Know
Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas	Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas Very Significant Impact	Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas Significant Impact	Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas Moderate Impact	Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas No Impact	Improved capacity in Irish system to undertake high quality research in the EPA Research Programme areas Don't Know
Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding	Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding Very Significant Impact	Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding Significant Impact	Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding Moderate Impact	Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding No Impact	Increased ability to leverage other national and international research funding Don't Know
Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space	Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space Very Significant Impact	Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space Significant Impact	Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space Moderate Impact	Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space No Impact	Enhanced research reputation for Ireland in the environmental space Don't Know
Stimulation of greater R+D by industry	Stimulation of greater R+D by industry Very Significant Impact	Stimulation of greater R+D by industry Significant Impact	Stimulation of greater R+D by industry Moderate Impact	Stimulation of greater R+D by industry No Impact	Stimulation of greater R+D by industry Don't Know

Partnership and Collaboration

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* 19. Please indicate your views on the impact, if any, of the EPA Research Programme on partnerships and collaboration?

	Very Significant Impact	Significant Impact	Moderate Impact	No Impact	Don't Know
Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders	Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders Very Significant Impact	Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders Significant Impact	Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders Moderate Impact	Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders No Impact	Encouraged researchers to engage with government and non-government stakeholders Don't Know
Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Very Significant Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Significant Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Moderate Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water No Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Don't Know
Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Very Significant Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Significant Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Moderate Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water No Impact	Increased collaboration between Irish-based researchers and international researchers in the areas of sustainability, climate and water Don't Know
Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations	Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations Very Significant Impact	Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations Significant Impact	Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations Moderate Impact	Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations No Impact	Improvement in working relationships between researchers from different organisations Don't Know
Increased collaboration with enterprise sector	Increased collaboration with enterprise sector Very Significant Impact	Increased collaboration with enterprise sector Significant Impact	Increased collaboration with enterprise sector Moderate Impact	Increased collaboration with enterprise sector No Impact	Increased collaboration with enterprise sector Don't Know
Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration	Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration Very Significant Impact	Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration Significant Impact	Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration Moderate Impact	Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration No Impact	Increased trans-disciplinary collaboration Don't Know
Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects	Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects Very Significant Impact	Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects Significant Impact	Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects Moderate Impact	Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects No Impact	Facilitated participation in Joint Transnational Projects Don't Know
Increased use of citizen science in research	Increased use of citizen science in research Very Significant Impact	Increased use of citizen science in research Significant Impact	Increased use of citizen science in research Moderate Impact	Increased use of citizen science in research No Impact	Increased use of citizen science in research Don't Know

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* 20. Please provide estimates of the number of partnerships and collaborations, if any, with other organisations arising from EPA funded research projects over the period 2014 - 2018?

Irish Universities

Irish Research Institutes

Foreign Universities

Foreign Research Institutes

Industry/Enterprises

Public Bodies

Participation in EU Initiatives

Commercial Activities

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* 21. Please specify the commercial impacts, if any, related to the research funded by the EPA?

Number of Patents - Actual

Number of Patents - Expected (by the end of the project)

Number of Spin-out companies - Actual

Number of Spin-out companies - Expected (by the end of the project)

Number of Licence Agreements - Actual

Number of Licence Agreements - Expected (by the end of the project)

Number of Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Awards - Actual

Number of Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Awards - Expected (by the end of the project)

Number of links with private companies - Actual

Number of links with private companies - Expected (by the end of the project)

Views on EPA Research Programme Process

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* 22. Please indicate your views on the following aspects of EPA Research Programme compared to other research funding schemes.

	Much Better than Other Organisations	Better than Other Organisations	Similar	Worse than Other Organisations	Much Worse than Other Organisations	Don't Know
Application Guidance Documentation	Application Guidance Documentation Much Better than Other Organisations	Application Guidance Documentation Better than Other Organisations	Application Guidance Documentation Similar	Application Guidance Documentation Worse than Other Organisations	Application Guidance Documentation Much Worse than Other Organisations	Application Guidance Documentation Don't Know
Transparency and Fairness of the application process	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Much Better than Other Organisations	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Better than Other Organisations	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Similar	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Worse than Other Organisations	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Much Worse than Other Organisations	Transparency and Fairness of the application process Don't Know
Appropriateness of selection criteria	Appropriateness of selection criteria Much Better than Other Organisations	Appropriateness of selection criteria Better than Other Organisations	Appropriateness of selection criteria Similar	Appropriateness of selection criteria Worse than Other Organisations	Appropriateness of selection criteria Much Worse than Other Organisations	Appropriateness of selection criteria Don't Know
Administrative procedures	Administrative procedures Much Better than Other Organisations	Administrative procedures Better than Other Organisations	Administrative procedures Similar	Administrative procedures Worse than Other Organisations	Administrative procedures Much Worse than Other Organisations	Administrative procedures Don't Know
Time involved in overall application process	Time involved in overall application process Much Better than Other Organisations	Time involved in overall application process Better than Other Organisations	Time involved in overall application process Similar	Time involved in overall application process Worse than Other Organisations	Time involved in overall application process Much Worse than Other Organisations	Time involved in overall application process Don't Know
Peer review process	Peer review process Much Better than Other Organisations	Peer review process Better than Other Organisations	Peer review process Similar	Peer review process Worse than Other Organisations	Peer review process Much Worse than Other Organisations	Peer review process Don't Know
Terms and Conditions of EPA grants	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Much Better than Other Organisations	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Better than Other Organisations	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Similar	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Worse than Other Organisations	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Much Worse than Other Organisations	Terms and Conditions of EPA grants Don't Know
Contracts/Payments and Financial Management	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Much Better than Other Organisations	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Better than Other Organisations	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Similar	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Worse than Other Organisations	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Much Worse than Other Organisations	Contracts/Payments and Financial Management Don't Know
Communications between EPA and Researchers	Communications between EPA and Researchers Much Better than Other Organisations	Communications between EPA and Researchers Better than Other Organisations	Communications between EPA and Researchers Similar	Communications between EPA and Researchers Worse than Other Organisations	Communications between EPA and Researchers Much Worse than Other Organisations	Communications between EPA and Researchers Don't Know
Clarity on how value in your research will be measured	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Much Better than Other Organisations	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Better than Other Organisations	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Similar	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Worse than Other Organisations	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Much Worse than Other Organisations	Clarity on how value in your research will be measured Don't Know
Management of Research Contracts	Management of Research Contracts Much Better than Other Organisations	Management of Research Contracts Better than Other Organisations	Management of Research Contracts Similar	Management of Research Contracts Worse than Other Organisations	Management of Research Contracts Much Worse than Other Organisations	Management of Research Contracts Don't Know
Quality of Feedback Provided	Quality of Feedback Provided Much Better than Other Organisations	Quality of Feedback Provided Better than Other Organisations	Quality of Feedback Provided Similar	Quality of Feedback Provided Worse than Other Organisations	Quality of Feedback Provided Much Worse than Other Organisations	Quality of Feedback Provided Don't Know

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* 23. Based on your current knowledge of the EPA Research Programme, would you apply for future funding from a similar EPA funded programme?

Yes

Don't Know

Suggestions for Changes / Enhancement in Programme

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* 24. Please indicate any views you have on emerging issues since the strategy was published in 2014 which should be incorporated into the programme:

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* 25. Please indicate your views on any opportunities which exist to add further value, impact and influence from the research outputs funded under the programme:

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* 26. Please specify any other potential improvements which you think could be made in the overall EPA Research Programme for supporting researchers and applied environmental policy relevant research in Ireland including any potential improvements in the call process or other areas:

Other Comments

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* 27. Please indicate below any further comments you may have in relation to the EPA Research Programme:

Thank you. We are very grateful to you for your valuable assistance with the above.

Please ensure to select "Done" below when you have completed the questionnaire, so that your response will be submitted successfully.

All information will be treated as strictly confidential and will be aggregated with the results from the researchers. No individual information will be released to the EPA or to any parties. If you have any queries re this survey please do not hesitate to contact Hugh Hennessy at Indecon 01-6777144 or email hhennessy@indecon.ie.