TU Dublin researchers to help shape Ireland's future in AI, healthcare and clean energy through four new national research centres
Researchers from TU Dublin will play key roles in four major new national research centres focused on artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation and energy decarbonisation following the Government's announcement of a €460 million investment in Ireland's research and innovation ecosystem. Through the new Research Ireland Rinn network, TU Dublin researchers will contribute to centres advancing data science and AI, personalised immune cell therapies, next-generation medical devices and energy system decarbonisation areas expected to play a critical role in addressing future economic, health and climate challenges. Together, the four centres will address challenges ranging from the responsible development of artificial intelligence and the future of personalised healthcare to healthy ageing, energy security and the transition to a net-zero economy.
Making the announcement, Minister Lawless said:
The scale and scope of this €460 million investment is a powerful statement of Ireland’s ambition in research and innovation. Research Ireland centres have, over the last 13 years, fundamentally reshaped our innovation landscape – turning excellent and innovative research into real-world societal and economic impact. Our higher education institutions and enterprise collaborators have been critical to that success. With these seven new Rinn, we are building on this progress by supporting talent, strengthening industry partnerships, attracting foreign direct investment, advancing indigenous industry growth, promoting regional development, and enabling Ireland to remain internationally competitive.
Speaking at the announcement, CEO of Research Ireland, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, said:
The Rinn network is about excellent multidisciplinary research, radical collaboration and deep connectivity at scale across 17 research performing institutions, industry, Government, public sector bodies, and the broader higher education and research system. Each Rinn will develop world-class talent, drive enterprise engagement with research, and reinforce Ireland’s international standing by creating a unique research and innovation ecosystem of international significance and scale. A key action in our recently launched strategy is the delivery of an enhanced Research Ireland centres programme that will enable the development of national centres of international scale in areas of key strategic importance. Rinn firmly sets that action in motion.
Dr Dympna O’Sullivan, Vice President for Research and Innovation at TU Dublin, said:
The challenges facing society today do not sit neatly within disciplinary boundaries. Addressing them requires collaboration at scale, bringing together expertise from across universities, industry and the public sector. Through four of the new Rinn centres, TU Dublin researchers will contribute to nationally significant programmes in artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation and energy decarbonisation. This investment strengthens Ireland's ability to translate excellent research into real-world impact and positions the country to lead in areas that will shape our future prosperity, health and sustainability.
Among the new centres is Rinn Artificial Intelligence - Research & Innovation in Data Science and AI, a €121.8 million national initiative that will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research in AI and data science. The centre will advance foundational AI research while exploring how emerging technologies can address societal challenges across areas including healthcare, public services, governance and culture. TU Dublin's Dr Dympna O’Sullivan, Vice President for Research and Innovation and Dr Robert Ross, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, are Co-Applicants in the centre.
Healthcare innovation is another major focus of the new investment. Dr Elaine Harris, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Sciences in TU Dublin's School of Chemical and BioPharmaceutical Sciences, is a co-lead for the Regulate theme in Rinn Advanced Therapies and a Principal Investigator for Rinn Medical Devices. Together, the two centres will support research aimed at transforming patient care through personalised advanced cellular immune therapeutics and medical device innovations. Their work will address some of the most significant healthcare challenges facing society, including cancer, chronic disease and the needs of an ageing population.
TU Dublin is also contributing to Rinn Energy - Research & Innovation in Energy System Decarbonisation, a €51.8 million centre bringing together expertise from across science, engineering, economics and policy. As Ireland seeks to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and secure energy future, the centre will focus on challenges including renewable energy integration, smart grids, offshore energy systems and industrial decarbonisation. TU Dublin's Dr Ciara Ahern, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, is a Co-Applicant in the centre.
The four centres are among seven new Research Ireland Rinn centres that will commence operations in July 2026. Together, they represent one of the most significant investments in research and innovation ever made in Ireland, bringing together 17 research-performing organisations, industry partners and public sector bodies in a coordinated effort to address pressing national and global challenges. Across the four centres, dozens of TU Dublin researchers will collaborate with leading academics in Ireland and internationally, work closely with industry to translate research into impact, and help develop the next generation of research and innovation talent.
Photo Credit: Jason Clarke