Ministers Lawless and McEntee announce the appointment of five new Talent and Innovation attachés to boost Ireland’s research reach
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Published on: 19 May 2026
- Last updated on: 19 May 2026
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, today announced the appointment of five new Talent and Innovation attachés. The new attachés will be located in key diplomatic missions in Europe, Africa and Asia, working to strengthen Ireland’s international research and higher‑education engagement and building on the work of our Talent and Innovation attachés in the US.
Global Citizens 2030 set out Ireland’s strategic vision for talent and innovation to be at the heart of Ireland’s global footprint. The expanded attaché network will co-ordinate and prioritise Ireland’s global talent and innovation activities, with each location acting as a resource for Irish institutions, promoting Ireland as a partner in research and innovation and a leading location for further and higher education, and engaging widely across the areas to which they are assigned.
There remains a strong appetite for international research collaboration and a very positive openness within the global research community to working with Ireland. Key stakeholders, including the higher education community and Research Ireland have been engaged with on the question of choosing additional locations. On the basis of these engagements, Minister Lawless now intends to progress with appointments to the United Kingdom, France, Germany – to include a focus on Switzerland, Singapore and South Africa.
The announcement of the new Attaché positions fulfils a commitment in the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification. The new positions will further enhance Ireland’s research and innovation relationships in key priority, emerging and high potential markets.
In welcoming the further development of Ireland’s Talent and Innovation Attaché network, Minister Lawless noted:
“We are significantly strengthening Ireland’s global presence by placing dedicated Talent and Innovation attachés in key partner countries including the UK, France, Germany, Singapore and South Africa. These are strategically important locations for research collaboration, talent development and innovation.
“There is a strong global appetite to work with Ireland, and we are responding by building our capacity to engage in the places that matter most.
“Our attachés in Boston and San Francisco have already shown the real impact of having people on the ground, building partnerships, supporting Irish institutions and opening new opportunities. This expansion builds directly on that success.
“Through Global Citizens 2030, we are equipping Irish learners, researchers and innovators to engage internationally in an inclusive and ambitious way. I am confident these new appointments will deliver lasting benefits for Ireland’s global engagement.”
Minister Lawless also noted the important role of his colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD and thanked her for her strong support in developing this initiative.
In making the announcement, Minister McEntee said:
“The government is committed to strengthening Ireland’s place in the world and to ensure that our Embassies and Consulates continue to play a key role in Ireland’s economic relationships in priority markets, working in close cooperation with the State agencies. Minister Lawless and I have a shared ambition for Ireland to maximise the value of our international engagement on science diplomacy. The appointment of the five Talent and Innovation Attachés today, in addition to the two positions already operating in the US, is a significant investment, which will support the ambitions of the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification.”