Research facility set to create 50 jobs

A nanotech researchfacility in Trinity College Dublin is to create 50 jobs after securing €8m in funding from industry.

The facility, Crann, is at the cutting edge of nanotech research and has helped Ireland climb to sixth in the world in the sector.

Director of Crann, John Boland, said that companies could choose to invest in research anywhere in the world but are choosing Ireland.

“Nanoscience is enabling the products and services of the future and Ireland’s researchers are at the heart of this innovation,” said Mr Boland.

“Companies can partner with institutions from anywhere across the globe, but they are choosing to collaborate with Crann as a result of our world-class research.”

Crann has established an excellent track record, with researchers, unveiling 37 inventions and 21 patent applications across international territories with four patents granted, resulting in two licenses.

Enterprise and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton described Crann as a great example of the kind of research that results in jobs.

“The announcement that this SFI-funded centre has attracted €8m in private sector funding which has created 50 full-time research jobs is a great example of precisely what we are trying to achieve with these reforms,” said Mr Bruton.

“I commend everyone at Crann and in SFI involved in these investments.”

Crann is currently collaborating with 180 academic institutions and 75 companies throughout Europe, including technology giant Intel, which employs thousands of people in Ireland.

Head of technology research at Intel Ireland, Leonard Hobbs, said that Crann was a major part of the company’s research into the future of computing.

“We continually challenge Crann to help us research new breakthroughs in computing technologies and see significant benefits from the subsequent collaboration,” said Mr Hobbs.