TUD and Research Ireland’s new ARC Hub for ICT will target enhanced impact by tech research on society.
A new joint initiative between Research Ireland and Technological University Dublin (TUD) aims to amplify the real-world impact of ICT and AI research in Ireland.
The ARC (Accelerating Research to Commercialisation) Hub for ICT at TUD’s Grangegorman campus will bridge the “critical gap in Ireland’s innovation and funding ecosystem by providing researchers with a structured pathway from research excellence to commercial and societal impact”, according to the university.
The new hub was funded as part of a €32.2m award from the Irish Government and the EU with the intention of supporting ICT and AI researchers around the country to help strengthen Ireland’s position as a leader of innovation in these fields.
The hub’s director, Prof Sarah Jane Delany, said: “The ARC Hub for ICT is about unlocking the full potential of Ireland’s world-class ICT and AI research.
“By providing a clear, supported pathway from research to impact, we are empowering researchers to transform innovative ideas into solutions that address real-world challenges.”
The ARC ICT hub is targeting five strategic sectors, currently aiming to deliver 150 projects with 14 partner organisations.
TUD president Dr Deirdre Lillis said the university was “proud to lead this important national initiative” towards “delivering meaningful benefits for society and the economy”.
The university said it has increased its research funding by 88pc since 2020, and now wants ARC to give researchers “the skills, support and connections needed to navigate the commercialisation process more effectively”.
Research Ireland CEO Dr Diarmuid O’Brien said the new venture is “one of the most imaginative and potentially disruptive programmes” the state agency had worked on.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD said: “The ARC Hub for ICT will play a critical role in supporting our researchers to translate cutting-edge research into commercial impact, driving growth and innovation both regionally and nationally.”
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