Science careers and high-tech jobs in Ireland look set to get a boost, after the Government’s announcement of a major increase in research over the next five years.
It will be the largest single investment in research made in the country. Some €360 million will be going into the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.
The highest allocation – of more than €75 million – will go towards a biomedical sciences development at Trinity College Dublin.
Other major investments include:
- A €53 million science centre at University College Dublin
- A €19 million biosciences project at University College Cork
- A €16 million nano-bioanalytical research facility at Dublin City University
- €12 million for a national centre for applied materials research at the University of Limerick
- €4.6 million for ICT infrastructure development at NUI Maynooth
Who funds it?
The scheme was established in 1998, when the Irish-American businessman and philanthropist Chuck Feeney offered to put up IR£75 million (€95.25 million) for research if the government would match it.
Mr Feeney made his fortune in the duty-free shopping business. Over the years he has donated around $1 billion to education in Ireland, mostly to third-level institutions.
The Higher Education Authority manages the programme, and major projects are being funded in fields ranging from electricity, environmental health and earth systems to innovation, economic forecasting and the creative industries.
Learn more
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