Minister Burke announces over €12 million capital investment in equipment for industry research and innovation

Pictured (from l-r): Franklin Silva, Software Engineer Robot Operator TUS; Muhammad Babar Imtiaz, COMAND Technology Gateway; Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke with Mark Whelan Technology Gateway Programme Manager, Enterprise Ireland.

10 projects to receive €12.1 million in funding to access cutting-edge equipment to increase R&D collaboration and competitiveness for companies through the Technology Gateways and Technology Centres based in the Third Level Sector nationwide.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D. has announced the successful applicants to the latest round of the Capital Equipment Call, administered by Enterprise Ireland (EI) through the Technology Gateway and EI/IDA Technology Centre Programmes.

Ten successful projects from across the third-level sector have secured €12.1m in funding to improve the capabilities of the existing Technology Gateways and EI/IDA Technology Centres by investing at a scale that allows them to bridge the gap between their existing capabilities and the state of the art.

With individual awards of up to €2million available the equipment funded through this Call will become an engine of economic development for local companies, in particular Small and Medium Enterprises who could not afford to invest at this scale. The new equipment will particularly help companies develop new products and services in areas focusing on Sustainability and Manufacturing Productivity. 

Since 2019, the Capital Equipment Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland has funded over 200 equipment purchases with a total value of €55 million.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said: 

“I am delighted to announce that my Department, through Enterprise Ireland, is providing over €12.1 million to fund state of the art equipment for our Technology Gateways and Technology Centres. Innovation is essential for all companies to adapt and deliver novel products and services, making them more competitive in their respective markets. This funding will further add to our system of supports to our enterprise sector, with the new equipment being an important tool for companies on their growth and innovation journey.

This announcement builds on my Department’s ongoing investment in equipping our research and innovation system, bringing our total funding to €55 million. It will allow our research network to continue to provide cutting edge support to Irish enterprise across all sectors and all regions in Ireland, providing more quality jobs along the way.”

Marina Donohoe, Divisional Manager, Research & Innovation at Enterprise Ireland said:

“The scale of this investment will have an extremely positive impact on companies in Ireland, in particular the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The cost of the equipment funded here is prohibitive to most SMEs so the provision of it in the Technology Gateways and Technology Centres means companies will have access to leading edge facilities that will in turn help to improve their technical capabilities and deliver world leading products and services. With an emphasis on sustainability, the new equipment will provide Irish companies with the means to dramatically improve their competitiveness whilst also positively contributing to Ireland’s action on Climate Change.”

Ends

For further information, contact: press@enterprise-ireland.com 

Note to the Editor:

About the Capital Equipment Call 2024

Of 24 eligible applications reviewed, 10 have been approved for funding totaling €12.135m. Funding was based on an extensive review process which looked at the number of companies that will benefit and the criticality of the equipment to servicing their RD&I needs, how access to the equipment can be shared across the technology gateway and technology centres network and current capability gaps within the collaborative research system that can be alleviated by making this equipment available.

The RD&I activities supported by this funding include pilot manufacturing capability for new products and process development, enhanced technology validation and testing capabilities, test bed generation and enhanced training for key industry staff on emerging technologies in collaboration. 
 

Successful applicants

About Enterprise Ireland:

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development, and help create and sustain employment in Ireland.  www.enterprise-ireland.com

About the Technology Gateway Programme

The 17 Technology Gateways in five Technological Universities and Dundalk IT deliver innovation expertise to industry across Ireland. These Gateways provide companies of all sizes with access to over 350 highly skilled and industrially focused researchers, together with specialist equipment and facilities. The Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Programme is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.

Each Technology Gateway focuses on key technology areas aligned to industry needs. Companies all over Ireland are using Technology Gateways to develop new or better products and services and smarter ways of doing things.

About the EI/IDA Technology Centre Programme

The EI/IDA Technology Centre Programme is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. It allows Irish companies and multinationals to work together on market-focused strategic R&D projects in collaboration with research institutions. 

The 9 Technology Centres in the programme are resourced by highly qualified researchers who provide a unique ecosystem for collaboration in areas identified, by industry, as being strategically important.

Over 300 member companies collaborate with the Centres in the areas of analytics, dairy processing, food for health, learning technologies, manufacturing, materials, meat technology, microelectronics and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Technology centres:

• Promote growth and competitiveness through industry-led research collaboration

• Address technology opportunities and threats in the key industry sectors

• Increase the levels of industry investment in R&D 

• Leverage investment in existing academic research capabilities and build critical mass in key sectors

• Facilitate and encourage collaboration between indigenous and Foreign Direct Investment companies