Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD has announced a €17 million investment to support nine major infrastructure projects through the Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme.
The funding will support the installation of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities across the country, strengthening Ireland’s research capacity in strategically important areas such as advanced materials, MedTech, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technologies.
The programme is aimed at ensuring Irish researchers have access to the specialised equipment needed to compete internationally and drive innovation in key sectors.
Announcing the investment, Minister Lawless said: “These nine projects will strengthen national capability in areas vital to Ireland’s future, including advanced materials, AI and MedTech,” he said.
“This investment will equip researchers across the country with the tools they need to remain at the forefront of global innovation and strengthen Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.”
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, welcomed the announcement and said the funding would help researchers pursue ambitious ideas, deepen collaboration and accelerate breakthrough discoveries.
“The awards announced today are a key step in delivering on Research Ireland’s strategy to strengthen national research capacity, future-proof our research ecosystem and ensure Ireland remains a global leader in high-impact research,” he said.
The nine projects announced under the programme are:
ASPIRE, Tyndall National Institute, led by Dr Lynette Keeney, will provide national capability for growing and analysing ultra-thin semiconductor materials with atomic precision, supporting progress in advanced electronics and emerging technologies. The project has been awarded €4,674,908.
Atomic Layer Etch Platform, Dublin City University, led by Prof Deborah O’Connell, will establish Ireland’s first facility for atomic etching with real-time diagnostic monitoring, supporting precision manufacturing for next-generation chips, quantum devices and sensors. It has received €2,893,041.
Full Spectrum Co-Operative Communications Test Bed Incorporating RF, THz and Optical Transmission, Dublin City University, led by Prof Liam Barry, will allow researchers to develop and assess high-speed communication systems across radio, terahertz and optical frequencies for data-centre networks, wireless systems and energy-efficient communications technologies. Funding of €1,664,025 has been allocated.
HARD2HISTO, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, led by Prof Oran Kennedy, will create a national facility for preparing and analysing hard tissues and complex medical devices, supporting research into musculoskeletal health as well as dental and joint conditions. It has been awarded €1,065,588.
MeDiNet (Medical Device Innovation Network), a joint project between the University of Galway and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, led by Dr Eimear Dolan, will provide shared national facilities for the design and testing of new medical devices, helping to reduce reliance on animal testing and strengthen Ireland’s MedTech ecosystem. The project will receive €1,968,706.
NanoStruct-X, University College Dublin, led by Prof Serena Cussen, will provide national access to synchrotron-style characterisation tools, expanding capacity for high-precision analysis of complex materials and supporting advances across materials science, energy and manufacturing. It has secured €1,361,069.
Surface to Structure (S2S), University of Limerick, led by Prof Shalini Singh, will provide advanced imaging and sample-preparation tools for studying materials at micro and nanoscale under realistic environmental conditions, supporting research in energy, environmental and healthcare applications. Funding of €837,278 has been awarded.
Quantum Sensing Lab (QSL), University College Cork, led by Dr Zili Li, will establish one of the first dedicated platforms for developing portable, cost-effective sensing technologies for geo-engineering. The project will also include a helium recycling system to support advanced quantum physics and chemistry research across UCC. It has been awarded €1,557,577.
Walton AI Facility, South East Technological University, led by Dr Lizy Abraham, will deliver an advanced AI and high-performance computing cluster to support national collaboration and industry-focused innovation across a broad range of artificial intelligence applications. The project has received €1,034,261.
