A new award aimed at stimulating and developing research in the Irish energy sector, was launched in Trinity College Dublin today.
The Charles Parsons Energy Research Awards, named after the Offaly man who invented the steam turbine in 1884, will provide funding for research groups who wish to develop projects in the energy area.
The award will provide funding for full time researchers, post graduate students who wish to undertake research leading to a PhD and undergraduate students who will be given the opportunity of working as part of a research group.
A spokeswoman for the department said the amount of funding provided will depend on the quality of the applications.
The awards are expected to be advertised in the national press over the next week and research groups who apply will be evaluated by an international panel of researchers.
The first awards will be made before the end of the year.
Speaking at the launch the Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, said the award would play a key role in developing sustainable sources of energy and improving the security of Ireland's energy supply.
He said: "This is an innovative scheme which provides up to seven years funding for the best researchers thus also making it attractive to international researchers.
"It will generate new knowledge and increase the number of skilled individuals required to support our energy policies".
