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Sherlock announces €6.9million funding for 62 research projects

Pictured at Science Gallery Dublin were Prof. Celine Marmion, RCSI with Sean Sherlock Minister for Research and Innovation, Tia Keyes of DCU and Prof. Paula Colavita of TCD

Pictured at Science Gallery Dublin were Prof. Celine Marmion, RCSI with Sean Sherlock Minister for Research and Innovation, Tia Keyes of DCU and Prof. Paula Colavita of TCD

Research & Innovation Minister Sean Sherlock today announced Government funding through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) of €6.9million encompassing 62 research awards.

The investment is being made through SFI’s Technology Innovation Development Award (TIDA) programme, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland.

Minister Sherlock said:

The TIDA programme focuses on commercially relevant research projects. It will enable numerous research teams to take the first steps in developing new discoveries and inventions with commercial potential.

 Today’s funding announcement will help deliver the commercialisation of excellent research taking place in Ireland in a range of areas such as ICT, ‘Big Data’, medical technologies and food, amongst other things. These are areas of significant employment and should provide additional opportunities for Ireland.

Amongst the research activities being funded are:

  • ‘Big Data’, a sector currently growing at up to 40% per annum;
  • The development of new drugs for cancer treatment and diabetes;
  • New ways to detect cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease;
  • Research to develop genetically modified crops tolerant to drought;
  • Underground high-voltage power cable technology as a substitute to overhead power lines;
  • Smart networked sensing systems in Agriculture; and
  • Projects supporting off-shore wind turbines, wi-fi technology and ultraviolet light sources for the pharmaceutical and semi-conductor sectors.

Read the full press release here.