Research Communications Service Provision

Tender description

Insight is a multi-site research centre with branches located at DCU, NUI Galway, UCC and UCD, funded jointly by Science Foundation Ireland and by a wide range of industry partners. This tender is to appoint a Research Communications Service Provider to maximise local, national, and international media coverage of Insight’s research achievements, developments, activities and events. The service will strategically develop and nurture a professional relationship with relevant journalists and photographers in the print and broadcast media, with the aim of increasing public awareness of Insight and its research activities. The service will be responsible for developing and implementing a media relations strategy for Insight, to include the planning of a calendar of press announcements and events on an annual basis. The service includes direct responsibility for seeking out, writing up and issuing all research stories to ensure high quality coverage i.e. the generation of news. It will require an expertise in the communication of research, and the ability to spot the opportunities and pitch them to the right people. It also requires an understanding of Insight, its research and how it relates to the real world, and the delivery of projects that will not only help Insight from a communications perspective, but will also enable communication and collaboration across the organisation. The service also involves the co-ordination of marketing materials and brand collateral across the four Insight Centres and strengthening the Insight brand. The service is to be provided to the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, based at NUI Galway, UCD, UCC and DCU. The service required will be provided for 3 years from 1st October 2015 to 30 September 2018, with the option to extend for one additional year. Full details are provide in the Invitation to Tender document, available on etenders.gov.ie.