IRCHSS has been a member of the ESF since 2000. ESF have a number of joint research funding initiatives and IRCHSS currently supports and funds researchers based in Irish higher-education institutions to participate in a number of Research Networking Programmes (RNPs) and thematic Collaborative Research Programmes (CRPs). Support of these initiatives enables researchers in Ireland to form collaborative networks with researchers across Europe. For more information: www.esf.org/