Funding boost for university research centres

Three university research centres will receive more than €60m euro in funding over the next five years, it was announced today.

The Government pledged more than €45.7m, while private industries are to provide an additional €14.5m.

Almost 200 research positions will also be created for graduate students.

The Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSETs) are based at University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan said the three centres have boosted the Government’s goal of building a world-class research base in Ireland.

“All three centres have been playing a pivotal role in contributing to the Government’s goal of building a world-class research base in Ireland, and developing our human capital to support economic competitiveness,” Ms Coughlan said.

“Today is an endorsement of this achievement to date, and marks the beginning of the next chapter for each individual researcher and their respective teams.”

The three centres focus on research on gastrointestinal health, nanotechnology and the internet.

In addition to the €45.7m pledged by the Government, 12 companies will provide another €14.5m in funding, personnel and equipment.

Science Minister Jimmy Devins said: “The funding announced today will directly support almost 200 researchers, graduate students and others in a well-structured and wholly-collaborative environment between now and 2013.”

Professor Frank Gannon, director-general of Science Foundation Ireland, said the centres have played an important role in helping to build a world-class research system in Ireland.