MTU project is ‘transformative’
A new research project worth €14.6 million will see MTU expand its team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, the university said today, Wednesday, at the project launch.
This Research to Impact TU-RISE Project, MTU said, will continue to deliver the growth needed to support the university’s ambitious targets for the region.
MTU said it currently has the largest research and innovation expenditure (€30m) and highest direct-funded research income from industry partnerships across the technological university (TU) sector in Ireland.
Key targets for Research to Impact include:
A 70% increase in postdoctoral researchers and 11% increase in postgraduates
Recruitment of an additional 15 personnel in the Research and Innovation Advisory Offices
A research income target of €35m by 2027
The project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027 and was officially launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD.
Speaking at the launch event Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to see MTU being allocated €14.6m for TU-RISE, and deeply grateful to the EU for co-funding this via the European Regional Development Fund. By supporting enhanced research, development and innovation capabilities and work placements into enterprises, TU-RISE activities will bring knowledge and expertise out of TUs and into the regions and generate opportunities for enterprises to draw on academic expertise within institutions.
“MTU of course has excellent existing engagement with enterprise, both historically via the former constituent institutes of technology and in its own right as a university, and this will doubtlessly aid in further building on the exceptional work already done in this area.”
President of MTU, Prof. Maggie Cusack, said: “Research to Impact will be transformative for MTU, helping us to achieve our strategic goals and become the leading technological university in Ireland for research and innovation.
“Research to Impact will strengthen and enhance our research and innovation offices and develop our capacity to forge innovative partnerships with enterprise, communities and public bodies. This will ensure we deliver projects with the power to generate really positive impacts regionally, nationally and globally,” she added.
“Research to Impact is a significant step in the realisation of MTU’s mission to make the southwest region a globally connected exemplar for healthy, sustainable and responsible living.”