Economics of Innovation, R&D subsidies and tax incentives, Innovation Policy, Policy Evaluation, Innovation and Human Capital, Green/Eco Innovation, Firm Growth and Industrial Policy

Helena Lenihan is Full Professor of Economics at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick. She is an applied economist whose research interests include the Economics of Innovation, R&D subsidies and tax incentives, Innovation Policy, Policy Evaluation, Innovation and Human Capital, Green/Eco Innovation, Firm Growth and Industrial Policy.

Professor Lenihan regularly publishes articles in highly ranked international journals. These include: Research Policy; Small Business Economics; Regional Studies, Industry and Innovation,  Applied Economics; The Journal of Technology Transfer, Environment and Planning C-Government and Policy; Evaluation and Program Planning; and Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. She has also been invited to deliver numerous keynote addresses both nationally and internationally.

Helena was Principal Investigator on a large research project (2008-2024) funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under its Science Policy Research programme. This research project evaluates the impact of innovation and science policy instruments on firm performance from national and international perspectives. To deliver on this project, she led a team of Postdoctoral Researchers, PhD students and Research Assistants based at the University of Limerick. For over 20 years, she has generated significant research funding from both academic (e.g. EU-FP7, IRCHSS/IRC, RIA) and policy-making (e.g. Enterprise Ireland and SFI) sources.

Helena was an invited Visiting Fellow at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK. She was also a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, where she is now a lifetime member. She is a Research Associate at the UK's Enterprise Research Centre. From 2009-2014, she was Assistant Dean, Research at the Kemmy Business School. She regularly engages with industrial/enterprise policy makers and has advised and collaborated with a number of public agencies (e.g. Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland and UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy).

Professor Lenihan is particularly interested in demonstrating the impact of her research on the economy and society more broadly. As a researcher, the chance to make an impact on society through research is a prospect that Helena is very passionate about. She is Chair of UL's Research Impact Committee (https://www.ul.ie/research/research-impact).

Helena was awarded one of the first National Excellence in Teaching Awards by the National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL). She has also been twice awarded the UL Excellence in Teaching Award.