FNSSA IRC Platform | Frequently Asked Questions

A1 – Any institution that sign in to the IRC objectives and modes of operation and is committed to strive for the success of its activities.

A2 – Yes, for instance the STAR-IDAZ IRC on animal health research, IRDiRC on rare diseases, etc.

A3 – Existing IRC have adopted various forms of internal organisation, for instance based on constituencies of stakeholder categories, or on thematic priorities, or on ad hoc working groups.

A4 – Most IRCs have a governance system organised around three levels: a general assembly bringing together all the institutions signatory of the MoU, an advisory body (like a scientific council), and a secretariat (or a coordination unit) for the day-to-day management.

A5 – It is a group of committed institutions, including research and innovation institutions, which agree formally (through a document such as a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the heads of the founding institutions) to work jointly (or in alignment) for the mid to long term (for instance for a first phase of 5 years) towards defined goals.

A6 – Deliver Information (including tailored information on request), facilitate contacts, manage funding.

A7 – By in-kind and in-cash contributions from its members, and by additional support on a project-by- project basis (in particular from the EC and/or AUC). Most IRCs rely on members contributions to sustain their core-tasks (like the secretariat and governance meetings), and then expand their activities by securing additional funding, on a project mode.

A8 – The possibility exists for the EC and the AUC to be a member. In existing IRCs, the EC has chosen not to be a member but to support them through Project funding.

A9 – That will be up to the founding institutions to decide, but the objective is to launch this IRC platform before the end of 2022. And the hope is that the FNSSA IRC Platform will continue to exist as long as its member see it has added value and therefore renew their commitment. Initial commitment could be for a first phase of 5 years, potentially renewable.

A10 – Yes.

A11 – It could be considered by the founders of this IRC but the most likely answer is “no”, because an IRC brings together institutions, therefore legal persons.

A12 – not necessarily, the founding institutions will decide on membership conditions themselves.

A13 – Membership will be possible as soon as the IRC has been set up, but institutions can already manifest now their interest in being kept informed and / or in participating in IRC preparatory and design meetings.

A14 – Yes, this service is already in place. Please, contact:

A15 – FARA and EFARD will be most welcome as a member. Since GFAR is a global organisation, it could help the IRC in setting up. Membership is perhaps less obvious.

A16 – Demand driven research and capacity building. Less fragmentation and more coherence of the initiatives. A direct connection to bi-continental policy dialogues, discussing new research and policy priorities. Through a multi-stakeholder partnership, adding higher impact of research. Mutual learning from both continents.

A17 – This depends on the commitment of the members and their financial support. Since the platform aims at achieving the SDGs, it might at least last until 2030.

A18 – These aspects are not predetermined; they will be decided by the founding members of the IRC, based on the governance mode they choose, on the tasks they want to implement and the resources they gather. In all cases, relevance, efficiency, pragmatism and adaptability must be key values.