Munster Technological University (MTU) has officially unveiled its €14.6m Research to Impact TU-RISE Project.
The project is co-funded by the government and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027 and was officially launched by higher education minister Patrick O’Donovan.
MTU currently has the largest research and innovation expenditure (€30m) and highest direct-funded research income from industry partnerships across the entire TU sector in Ireland.
Research to Impact will see MTU expanding its team of research postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers to continue to deliver the growth needed to support the university’s ambitious targets for the region.
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.
PhD candidates under the MTU Research to Impact programme will be eligible for the stipend of €25,000 per annum, in line with the recent announcements by the Irish government. This initiative aims to support and attract top-tier research talent, fostering innovation and academic excellence. MTU is currently recruiting PhD candidates for selected projects, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful research while benefiting from this enhanced financial support.
Higher education minister Patrick 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."
'Transformative'
President of MTU, Professor 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. 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.”
For further information on MTU Research to Impact, visit: https://www.mtu.ie/research-to-impact/