An Alliance to Boost Celtic Voices
- National Academies unite under new Celtic partnership
- Celtic Academies Alliance launches formal partnership to tackle shared challenges
- Alliance offers chance to pool resources and the collective expertise of the academies’ Fellows.
The Celtic Academies Alliance has taken formal shape after the Learned Society of Wales, the Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh signed a landmark partnership agreement in Cardiff. The signing marks a commitment to the Alliance by the three national academies and to its promise of greater collective impact.
The Presidents and CEOs of the three academies were joined by representatives from higher education, as well as from the Welsh, Irish, and Scottish governments, for a day to celebrate the Alliance and consider the unique opportunities it offers.
“The Celtic Academies Alliance is a rare trilateral partnership between Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and it is a priority relationship for our Academy. The formalisation of the agreement means we can move forward with strategic shared priorities that ultimately benefit our nations”.
Professor Hywel Thomas, President of the Learned Society of Wales.
A roundtable discussion in the afternoon considered how the Alliance can deliver tangible results in terms of establishing research links, securing funding, and promoting science diplomacy.
Emerging shared priorities included regional innovation and economic growth, research policy (with a particular focus on funding mechanisms and early-career researchers), and facilitating research and knowledge directly within our local communities.
“This Alliance reflects our shared belief in collective progress that reaches across borders. By working together, we can exchange knowledge more effectively, build on each other’s strengths, and ensure that Celtic voices contribute meaningfully to policy decisions at the UK-level. Understanding and including the devolved nations in policymaking is essential for the UK government in achieving its desired outcomes of leveraging innovation, increasing productivity, and fostering economic growth.”
“This Alliance creates a trusted forum for independent advice, shared learning, and constructive dialogue, helping governments take full account of the different circumstances and needs across our nations.”Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, President, Royal Society of Edinburgh
An evening drinks reception heard from the three Presidents of the Academies, together with reflections from Professor Claire Connolly (who is unique in being a Fellow of all three academies) about the the ethos of collaboration that was discussed in the roundtable session.
The Alliance, which took its first steps in 2021, now enjoys a formal status that will allow it to pool resources and the collective expertise of the academies’ Fellows. Through sustained cooperation, the Alliance operates on three foundational pillars: awarding grants, sharing resources and expertise, and delivering collaborative activities with measurable impact. This will ensure sustained influence and mutual benefit for each academy and the communities within which each of them sits.
Future joint events and reports, together with policy engagement activities, will increase visibility for how research from Wales, Ireland and Scotland contributes to addressing global and local challenges.
“The Alliance is an important collaboration between our Celtic Nations and allows the Royal Irish Academy, as an all-island body, to better participate in and understand the issues facing the devolved nations. We look forward to working with our Alliance partners and to growing its impact in the future.”
Professor Patrick Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy
The event was made possible through funding from Agile Cymru, a Welsh Government programme that provides support for cross-border and international activities to encourage economic co-operation.
