Major research funding of over €12million secured by University of Limerick

The University of Limerick has welcomed today's announcement by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD, and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe TD, of over €12million in research funding for a major new research centre at UL as well as significant support for advanced UL research programmes under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) Cycle V.

The primary PRTLI funding awarded to UL 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 at UL. This will develop new materials and methods in the strategically important areas of pharmaceutical and composite materials and will significantly enhance UL's materials research capabilities in biomaterials, materials for energy conversion and biocatalysis.

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 is comprised of 228 researchers who are continually producing industry-focused research leading to real change in a wide range of industries nationally and internationally.

UL and partner Universities will share €15.8 million to deliver three structured PhD programmes. UL's Strategic Alliance with NUI Galway has been recognised through the joint awarding of €2.7million 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 €9.6million. €3.4million has also been awarded to UL, NUI Galway, UCC, DIT, Cork IT and DCU to establish a national graduate education programme in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

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