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Minister Mitchell O’Connor calls on higher education institutions to transform Ireland through four new National Development Funds
€195 million to be allocated to Funds in Budget 2019 and €4 billion between 2019 and 2027
Intensive collaboration planned in rural development, urban development, climate action and disruptive technology
Minister Mitchell O’Connor urges all the Presidents of the universities and institutes of technology to join consortia that will transform Ireland as part of our National Development Plan.
Last week the Government announced details of the four new funds that will spend €4 billion on a wide range of projects between 2019 and 2027. It is intended that the funds will invite project proposals next month.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor said:
I believe the funds offer tremendous opportunities to higher education institutions to join consortia to develop projects that will transform Ireland as part of the National Development Plan.
All our universities and institutes of technology have wide-ranging programmes, research activities and expertise across the desired themes.
These Funds are a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our higher education institutions to innovate projects which will define the country, and future generations.
The scope for our third level institutions is huge. Science and technology themes range from health and wellbeing to robotics, smart food production to artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing to climate action. In social science fields, projects will be invited to stimulate active tourism in rural communities, revive smaller towns and villages or support entrepreneurship.
The projects, covering a multitude of specific activities, will be under four broad themes:
- Rural development (€1bn)
- Urban development (€2bn)
- Climate Action(€.5bn)
- Disruptive Technology(€.5bn)