Cork's Tyndall Institute secures €45m funding package for 60 EU projects

The Tyndall National Institute, based at University College Cork (UCC), has reached a significant milestone securing funding for 60 EU projects totalling more than €45m.

The funding package, secured for projects under the Horizon Europe framework programme, was celebrated during a recent visit by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD. Minister O’Donovan was welcomed to Tyndall for the launch of its 2023 annual report, taking the opportunity to engage with some of Tyndall’s postgraduate students and witness first hand the deep-tech research being conducted at the institute.

The Horizon Europe-funded projects at Tyndall range from developing sustainable, next-generation semiconductor chips to creating a biosensor platform that uses cellular responses to detect environmental pollutants. 

Goals

These projects align with the goals of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, which seeks to position Ireland as a global leader in addressing societal challenges through research and innovation.

Through EU funding, Tyndall continues to train early career researchers, provide vital expertise and infrastructure to SMEs, and address global issues in health, agri-food, environment, and energy.

The annual 2023 report also stated that Tyndall’s total annual income surpassed €50m, up 19% on 2022, including €47m in funding for 52 new research projects.

Other key successes from the report include direct industry funding of €8m, a record headcount achieved with 533 people, delivery of research and support to more than 50 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), development of a new smart wearable device in collaboration with West Pharmaceutical Services and PA Consulting, and the renewal of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Professor Award for Stefan Andersson-Engels.

Strength

Minister O’Donovan said: “Tyndall’s success in securing over €45 million in European funding is a testament to Ireland’s growing strength in research and innovation.

“Tyndall’s commitment to advancing deep-tech technologies and supporting early career researchers is vital to our national strategy, Impact 2030, which seeks to position Ireland as a global leader in addressing key societal challenges.”

Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall said: “Tyndall’s continued success in securing significant funding and advancing research reflects its pivotal role in fulfilling the objectives outlined in Impact 2030, driving Ireland’s ambition to be at the forefront of global innovation.”