Colleges’ research partnership with navy ‘disbanded’

A partnership between two third-level colleges and the Irish Naval Service to promote commercial maritime research has been mothballed for “not being fit for purpose”.

A review, last year, of the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster, in Ringaskiddy, concluded that its operations were “creating difficulties” and would damage the original aim of its sponsors.

IMERC was established in 2010, jointly by UCC, Cork Institute of Technology, and the Irish Naval Service, to promote Ireland as a world-renowned research and development location. The aim was to unlock the country’s maritime and energy potential.