€12m in research funds for UL

MAJOR research funding of more than €12m has been secured by the University of Limerick.

The announcement was made recently by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe. The funding will also provide significant support for advanced research programmes under the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) Cycle V.
The primary PRTLI funding will go towards the expansion of the university’s sector-leading Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI) for the establishment of a National Centre for Applied Materials Research. The new centre will assist in the provision of incentives to multinational companies to locate research and development capacity in Ireland, by creating the research infrastructure to allow these industries to embed their research and development activities here.
MSSI at UL, which is now set to expand, was established in 1998 and comprises 228 researchers producing industry-focused research.
Speaking at the announcement, Professor Don Barry, president of UL said, “The commitment of the Minister, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Science Foundation Ireland and the Government to support Fourth-Level research in Irish universities has already yielded significant progress in areas of strategic national importance. This funding will strengthen the potential of our researchers to develop intellectual property that can be commercialised to generate high-value jobs, which will assist in the economic recovery of the country.”
Professor Barry also acknowledged the Government’s support for a joint project with NUI Galway as part of the recently established Strategic Alliance between UL and NUI Galway.
UL and partner universities will share €15.8m to deliver three structured PhD programmes. UL’s Strategic Alliance with NUI Galway has been recognised through the joint awarding of €2.7m for a structured PhD programme in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine. UL is also partnering with NUI Galway, as well as TCD and UCC, to deliver Earth Systems Institute Structured PhDs in Earth and natural sciences, which has been awarded €9.6m. A sum of €3.4m has also been awarded d to UL, NUI Galway, UCC, DIT, Cork IT and DCU to establish a national graduate education programme in nanoscience and nanotechnology.