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UCC Reappoints Leading EU Research Programmes Specialist as Adjunct Professor
University College Cork (UCC) is delighted to announce the reappointment of Dr. Seán McCarthy, managing director of Hyperion Ltd – a training company specialising in designing and delivering training courses on European Union (EU) research programmes, as Adjunct Professor within the Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation.
Dr. McCarthy is a graduate of UCC with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Honours Degree (BE Elect) in 1980, Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) in 1982 and PhD Science in 1986. He was manager of the Renewable Energy Projects in Tyndall National Institute from 1980-1988, and in 1988 he established Hyperion Ltd.
Distinction and achievement in the professional community
Dr. McCarthy has already had a hugely successful career, delivering specialist training courses to 74 of the top European Research Centres and Universities in Horizon Europe and 78 of the top 100 European Universities. He has acted as scientific evaluator for 10 different EU R&D programmes This reappointment is a further commitment to our research ambitions going forward in an increasingly competitive research funding landscape.
Over the past three years, Sean has helped UCC Research in the design and delivery of the UCC Futures Way Programme. This initiative will strengthen the capacity of UCC researchers to compete effectively at European level by promoting a more proactive and strategic approach to EU funding programmes.
The Futures Way programme provides training focused on the development of European Research Plans, enabling researchers to identify relevant funding opportunities, define networking strategies, and consider routes to influence at EU level. It has been delivered across all ten UCC Futures areas, with participants then having the opportunity to work alongside the EU research support team to further develop and tailor their plans following the training.
In parallel, Seán will continue to work closely with the research support team within UCC Research and with colleagues across the university to deliver training and professional development opportunities, strengthening institutional capacity to support European engagement.
Significant and tangible advantages to the University
As an Adjunct Professor, Dr. McCarthy will partake in several activities delivered through the EU Research Support Team in the Office of Vice-President for Research & Innovation that will enhance UCC’s reputation and competitiveness in Horizon Europe (2021-2027) and Framework 10 (2028-2034). These include:
- Refining and developing UCC’s European Research Strategy within the UCC Futures thematic areas.
- Training and upskilling research support infrastructure.
- Assisting in the development and delivery of innovative training programmes for UCC’s research community.
Over the course of 2026, Seán will deliver training programmes to several UCC Futures thematic areas, with researchers invited to partake in four workshops tailored to their UCC Futures area:
- Identifying Opportunities in Horizon Europe
- How Partners are Selected for Proposals
- How to Write a Competitive Proposal for Pillar II
- Proposal Intelligence for Pillar II Topics
In addition, Seán is mentoring ten UCC researchers, one from each UCC Futures Area, and assisting them in developing individual EU funding and networking plans.
Dr. Seán McCarthy said: "UCC has always been our testbed for new training material. The challenge for UCC is the development of the next generation of researchers who have the skills and enthusiasm to work at a European level. I look forward to working with these researchers and the staff in UCC’s Research office as they prepare Framework 10."
Commenting on the appointment, Professor John F. Cryan, Vice-President for Research & Innovation at UCC said: "I am delighted that someone of Seán McCarthy’s calibre and expertise will continue to mentor and train UCC researchers with their EU funding plans for the remainder of Horizon Europe (2021-2027) and the upcoming Framework 10 (2028-2024) programmes. To date, UCC researchers have received over €130 million in Horizon Europe funding, exceeding institutional targets, and as we look forward, I have no doubts that Sean’s specialised training will lead to further improved competitiveness of UCC-led EU proposals."