the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, a Research Centre and Technology Gateway based in Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Munster Technological University (MTU), has secured significant funding from the Enterprise Ireland Capital Equipment call for new equipment. The funding, won by 3 separate applications, will be used to purchase equipment to help support R&D activities with Irish enterprises.

At the announcement of the €6m fund, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD commented: “…Great things happen when companies collaborate with third level institutions. Recent data show that companies which collaborate with our universities have double the turnover of those that don’t. Third level institutions benefit too, by getting to work with creative, business-minded entrepreneurs, working on solutions to real life problems. Congratulations to all the successful applicants, I look forward to seeing the fruits of this collaborative effort.”

The equipment to be purchased includes:

• Sample Preparation and Extraction Suite (Super-critical fluid extraction, Combinatory Pressurised Liquid – Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction Module, microwave digestor, micro-plate reader). Dr Lena Madden (€250,000)
• Environmental Monitoring Suite (Elemental Analyser, Greenhouse Gas analyser) Mr Patrick Quille, Dr Oscar Goni (€250,000)
• Photosynthetic growth chambers (upgrades to current chambers, GEN1000-IN incubation chamber (new), GEN2000-SH short-height multi-tiered chamber, PGC-Flex-2 Tier intermediate-scale chamber) Dr Peter Downey, Dr Siobhan Moane (€200,000).

These grant awards bring to €2.5m the amount of funding secured by the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research for capital equipment in the last 3 years.

Brid McElliott, VP for Research, Enterprise and External Engagement at MTU said: “MTU are delighted that the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research have secured this funding for new equipment. This achievement provides a great opportunity for the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research, through both MTU and LIT, to build on their excellent industry engagement track record. I wish to acknowledge the support of Enterprise Ireland in facilitating the acquisition of this equipment which offers the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research additional business development opportunities, ensuring its continued relevance to the industry it serves”

Dr Liam Brown, VP for Research, Enterprise and Innovation at LIT said: “These successful equipment applications will significantly enhance our research capabilities and thus enable the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research to provide further support to Irish companies. This is particularly important in light of LIT’s recent successful designation as a Technological University in conjunction with AIT our TU partner and the centrality that research will contribute to our new Technological University: TUS Midlands Midwest”.

the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research is funded as a Technology Gateway by Enterprise Ireland.