Announcement for WIT’s research centres with Technology Gateway status made at Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway show case event in Dublin
Three SETU research centres – TSSG, PMBRC and SEAM – are among 15 individual EI Technology Gateways that will take a share of €26.75m between 2018 and 2022.
John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, announced the Government of Ireland is providing funding of €26.75m for the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network over the five year period from 2018-2022.
The network consists of 15 individual Gateways hosted by an Institute of Technology, spread across the country providing industry with access to over 300 highly skilled and industrially focused researchers, together with specialist equipment and facilities.
Minister Halligan made the announcement at a show case event in Dublin attended by over 100 industry representatives where the establishment of a new Food and Beverage Technology Cluster (Irish Food Tech) within the network was also announced.
Irish food tech
WIT’s PMBRC (Pharmaceutical & Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre) was included in the new food cluster. The Irish Food Tech Cluster is a consortium of seven of Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Gateways operating within the food and beverage technology sector. The cluster provides a range of expertise for companies who are looking to access research and development within these areas.
PMBRC Gateway, based in SETU, can provide access to the expertise and facilities to deliver technology solutions in product development and food quality to the food industry, in the areas of food formulation, food shelf life and food processing.
Innovation and solutions
Announcing the funding, Minister John Halligan TD said: “The Technology Gateway Network programme aims to bring Irish companies together with the researchers in the Institutes of Technology to provide near-to-market innovation and solutions in a range of areas, both regionally and nationally. Today I’m also delighted to announce the establishment of a new food and beverage technology focused cluster within the Gateway Network called Irish Food Tech.
“As with the other two sectoral clusters in the network, Applied IoT and EMD Ireland, the aim of Irish Food Tech is to optimise the power of the Network and connect industry with researchers in a wide selection of areas that include bioprocessing, food for health, process control and packaging”.
Access point for industry
Gearoid Mooney, Manager, Research and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland added: “The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network offers an open access point for industry providing technology expertise which is industry relevant. Projects range from small starts-up in the regions making use of the Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Voucher Scheme, to larger companies using the Innovation Partnership Programme.
“However, the most common mechanism by which companies engage via the Gateways is through projects they pay for completely themselves without leveraging any state funding.
“This is a testament to both the trust built up between the companies and the Gateways, and the capability of the research community in the Institutes of Technology”.
Companies who have collaborated with the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network provided case studies and presentations during the event while attendees also had the opportunity to meet with the Technology Gateway teams to discuss various Research, Development and Innovation funding mechanisms.
For more information, go to www.technologygateway.ie