The council also has a role in supporting research with a "societal focus", and has established partnerships across government and civic society to this end.

The Council also funds Principal Investigator-led research with a social, cultural and societal significance, it participates in a range of EU-funded projects, and it also partners on a number of initiatives with enterprise, employers, government departments and civic society.

In order to increase public awareness of the important research conducted in Irish higher education institutions, the Council launched an initiative in 2016 called #LoveIrishResearch.

[citation needed] The #LoveIrishResearch campaign aims to connect members of the public with the amazing work being conducted by Irish-based researchers and highlight their achievements across multiple fields.

[13] Selection for funding is based upon individual merit, and the decision process is overseen by independent assessment panels composed by internationally recognised experts.

[20] The council's international partnerships and networks include: Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office, Humanities in the European Research Area, Horizon 2020, Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, European Space Agency, GENDER-NET Plus ERA-NET, NORFACE, CHIST-ERA, Science Europe, Embassy of France in Ireland & Campus France, Vitae.

In 1999 the SSRC was dissolved in order to create the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS).