The main objective of the INSPIRE Consortium is to promote and develop nanoscience / nanotechnology research in Ireland. Key to this will be the creation of a comprehensive teaching & learning platform for postgraduate students studying nanoscience and related topics.

Through the development of National Graduate Education Programmes in nanoscience and nanotechnology, INSPIRE’s objective is to contribute to achieving the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation(SSTI) targets of doubling the number of high quality, well-trained post-graduates in Ireland. This in turn will raise the profile of research and education in nanoscience in Ireland.

A new structured PhD programme in Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies was launched in 2011 with 18 funded studentships funded by the Irish Government's Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, Cycle 5, National Development Plan 2007-2013. 

The PhD programme combines structured inter-institutional graduate learning with a research topic of direct relevance to Ireland’s nanotech knowledge-based economy.  The goal of the INSPIRE programme is to develop the academic, administrative, and technical infrastructure required to provide a national graduate education programme that relies on resource sharing between the academic partner institutions and to deliver the graduate training programme to the highest international standards.  In addition to the discipline specific training, scholars also receive training in transferable, commercialization and entrepreneurship skills that help provide the expertise to become future innovators.