Economist Peter Clinch is stepping down as University College Dublin's vice-president for innovation and corporate partnerships to head up a new research programme in the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

The programme will focus on Ireland’s competitive position as it emerges from the financial crisis.

A statement published yesterday said the school would build on Prof Clinch’s affiliation with the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School.

Prof Clinch, who is Jean Monnet chair of European Economic Integration as well as UCD professor of public policy, was recently appointed by the Government to the National Competitiveness Council.