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Industry Collaborations

The UCD College of Engineering and Architecture has a strong track record of collaborating with industry. Through collaboration we share research expertise and provide access to talent and research infrastructure to address industry priorities and needs. Many of our collaborations have the potential for significant technology transfer activity in the future.

Industry - academic collaborations can vary from: student scholarships and individual fellowships to support knowledge exchange and to develop research expertise for application in academia and industry; project partnerships to address specific research questions; large-scale programmes such as SFI Research Centres and EI Technology Centres that involve multiple partners to deliver high-impact research and scientific advances, to train students with critical in-demand skills, to support regional development, and enhance Ireland’s international reputation.

UCD Engineering & Architecture working in collaboration with Industry

SFI Research Centres

SFI Co-Centre

SFI Strategic Partnership

EI Technology Centres

Funding Programmes Supporting Industry – Academic Collaboration

Collaborations can be funded directly by industry through bilateral / multi-party partnerships.  National and international funding agencies also offer a range of funding programmes and mechanisms to support industry – academic collaboration and partnership, some of which are part-funded by Industry.

Student Scholarships and Individual Fellowships

The aim of the Employment Based Postgraduate programme is to embed the scholar with an Irish based employer in a professional research and innovation environment for training and development whilst simultaneously providing postgraduate education leading to a Masters by Research or PhD. The IRC contributes €28,000 p.a. and the Employment Partner contributes a minimum of €9,500 p.a. for the duration of the scholarship award.   The programme will be of interest to eligible Employment Partners with one or more of the following interests or priorities:

  • to pursue a research project linked with its mission through the employment of a dedicated researcher, collaborating with a HEI
  • to further develop the research capacity/output of the organisation
  • to enhance links with research leaders in HEIs
  • to support the training, development and throughput of early-stage researchers in areas linked to the organisational mission
  • to target future research talent for permanent roles in the organisation

(opens in a new window)Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme

The Enterprise Partnership Scheme offers Irish Research Council co-funding of Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral scholarships in partnership with industry and public bodies. The scheme provides flexible access to competitively selected, high-calibre researchers working on projects of mutual interest. The Research Council will provide 2/3 of funding for awards. 1/3 co-funding required from industry together providing scholarships of:

  • Masters Total Value - €31,000 p.a. up to 2 Years
  • PhD Total Value - €31,000 p.a. up to 4 years
  • Postdoctoral Value - €46,714 in year 1 and €47,879 in year 2

Eligible Enterprise Partners may be based anywhere in the world and can be a business, a company, a registered charity, a social, cultural or not-for-profit civic organisation, a semi-state commercial organisation or eligible public body.

(opens in a new window)Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Irish Research Council)

The SFI Industry Fellowship Programme supports the temporary placement of academic researchers in industry, and of industry researchers in academia:

  • to enhance industry-academia collaborations through the funding of collaborative industry-academia research projects, and
  • to stimulate excellence through knowledge exchange and training of engineers and scientists.  

The maximum SFI contribute to the cost of the Industry Fellowship is €100,000 direct costs. State Aid rules apply and the rate of contribution varies depending on company size.

(opens in a new window)Industry Fellowship (Science Foundation Ireland)

InterTrade Ireland’s Innovation Boost offers funding for companies to employ a high calibre science, engineering or technology graduate to support product development and innovation. It also partners the company with a third level institution with specific expertise. The graduate is employed by, and is based in, the company with mentoring from the academic partner and the InterTradeIreland Innovation consultant. Projects can be for 18 months (typically for new product or service development) or for 12 months (typically for process improvement) depending on the business needs. Funding is available up to £56,000/€67,900 for 18 month projects and up to £39,000/€47,400 for 12 month projects. The programme is open to manufacturing or tradable services companies, located on the island of Ireland (North or South), and the third-level partner institution must be based in the opposite jurisdiction.

(opens in a new window)Innovation Boost (InterTrade Ireland)

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) provide grants for all stages of researchers' careers - be they doctoral candidates or highly experienced researchers - and encourage transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. The MSCA enable research-focused organisations (universities, research centres, and companies) to host talented foreign researchers and to create strategic partnerships with leading institutions worldwide.

(opens in a new window)Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (European Commission)

Project Partnerships

The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers scheme is focused on small companies were €5,000 is available to assist a company to explore a business opportunity or problem with a designated knowledge provider. The objective of the Innovation Voucher initiative is to build links between Ireland's Research Institutes and small businesses.

(opens in a new window)Innovation Vouchers (Enterprise Ireland)

The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnerships Initiative encourages Irish based companies (of all sizes) to work with Irish institutes to access their expertise and resources to develop new and improved products, processes, services, and generate new knowledge and know-how.  Enterprise Ireland provides grants of up to 80% towards eligible costs of the research project up to €200,000.

DTIF is a €500 million Fund for disruptive technologies.  It was established under Project Ireland 2040 and is one of four Funds set up under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027.  It is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and administered by Enterprise Ireland.  Across the six DTIF calls to date, 104 collaborative projects with 393 partners have been allocated funding of €371 million.  DTIF Call 7 is a general call  - applications must be within the Irish Research Priority Areas - and is currently open and accepting applications at any time before the 30 April 2025.

DTIF supports enterprise-driven research and development challenges associated with new disruptive technologies that can alter markets / how businesses operate / the creation of new products / the emergence of new business models.  DTIF support industrial research and/or experimental development (generally Technology Readiness Levels 3-9) with projects demonstrating commercial impacts within 3 to 7 years of project completion.  Projects should be seeking minimum funding of €1.5 million over three years. Each project to have at least three independent partners seeking funding from DTIF, including at least one SME and one other enterprise partner. Research organisations can also be a partner.

(opens in a new window) Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF)

Large Scale Programmes

(opens in a new window)The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centres Programme  links scientists and engineers in partnerships across academia and industry to address crucial research questions, foster the development of new and existing Irish-based technology companies, attract industry that could make an important contribution to Ireland and its economy, and expand educational and career opportunities in Ireland in science and engineering.

The recently revamped SFI Research Centres programme funding model includes that SFI will fund up to 40% of the overall Research Centre budget for up to 8 years. The remaining 60% comes from a combination of industry (both cash and in-kind), NE-NC (cash only) and exchequer funding sources (cash only). A minimum of 10% of the total Centre budget must come from industry cash sources and 30% from Non-exchequer non-commercial (NE-NC) sources. Centres have flexibility in securing the remainder of the co-funding required through additional cash secured from industry or NE-NC sources, industry in-kind commitments (reflecting the collaborative nature of the targeted projects) or eligible sources of exchequer funding (maximum 10%). Also, industry cash cost share that is received from SMEs will reduce the industry cash cost share target by an equal amount to the cost share received.

(opens in a new window)Research Centres Programme (Science Foundation Ireland)

UCD College of Engineering & Architecture leads and hosts two SFI Research Centres - I-FORM and NexSys - and participates in ten other SFI Research Centres and one SFI Co-Centre:

The SFI Spokes Programme enables the addition of new industrial and academic partners and projects to a SFI Research Centre, allowing the Centre to expand and develop in line with new priorities and opportunities.  This will ensure that the Research Centre retains its ability to do cutting edge research and its industrial relevance, and so enhance its sustainability. The Spokes programme also provides a vehicle to link together, in a meaningful and relevant way, different Research Centres.  The Spokes Rolling call will remain open, with no closing date (until further notice), to allow Research Centres to apply for funding at any time for new collaborative research projects with an industry partner(s).

To apply for a Spokes award under the rolling call mechanism, the industry partner (or partners) must make a minimum 50% cash contribution to the research programme.

(opens in a new window)Spokes Programme (Science Foundation Ireland)

The (opens in a new window)SFI Strategic Partnerships Programme funds strategic opportunities within all areas covered by SFI’s legal remit where significant co-funding from a company, collection of companies, funding agency, charity, philanthropic organization or Higher Education Institute is available.  The Strategic Partnership Programme is specifically aimed at funding compelling research opportunities, on a flexible basis, that are not otherwise served by other national funding programmes. The scheme aims to support standalone initiatives of scale with strong potential for delivering economic and societal impact to Ireland. 

UCD College of Engineering & Architecture currently leads and hosts one SFI Strategic Partnership Programme:

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion available over the programme that runs from 2021-2027. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.

(opens in a new window)Horizon Europe (European Commission)

(opens in a new window)Interreg is one of the key instruments of the European Union (EU) supporting cooperation across borders and regions  through project funding. Its aim is to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as health, environment, research, education, transport, sustainable energy and more.  Interreg is funded by the (opens in a new window)European Regional Development Fund.  Interreg comprises a suite of programmes each focusing on specific borders, areas and regions for transnational co-operation.  Projects involve cross sectoral collaborations, including opportunities for industry to participate.  

UCD College of Engineering and Architecture has experience of the

Technology Centres are a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland that allow for Irish companies and multinationals to work together. These centres are collaborative entities established and led by industry. They are resourced by highly qualified researchers associated with research institutions who are empowered to undertake market focussed strategic R&D for the benefit of industry. The funding level requirements of each Technology Centre will be different, but as a guide a successful centre would operate with State funding of the order of €1M per year over a five year period. Once established, Technology Centres are open for participation to companies in Ireland.

UCD College of Engineering & Architecture currently participates in the following Technology Centres:

Student Internship Programme

Industry access to talent through UCD Engineering and Landscape Architecture Internships Programme. Internships available with UCD undergraduate and postgraduate students in a wide range of disciplines with internships ranging from 3 months to 1 year.

UCD Internships

UCD Innovation

The university’s Technology Transfer Office NovaUCD supports faculty collaboration with industry and the protection, management, and exploitation of Intellectual Property.  It also offers a purpose-built, state-of-the-art incubation facility for knowledge-intensive industry and new ventures and entrepreneurs.

UCD Innovation

ConsultUCD

University College Dublin is committed to engaging in an increasingly broad range of activities that will allow business, industry, public sector and not-for-profit organisations to benefit fully from the wealth of the expertise generated by the university. ConsultUCD, is a managed consultancy service to facilitate access and support the engagement between business, industry and UCD.

ConsultUCD

Research Infrastructure

The Nano Imaging and Material Analysis Centre (NIMAC) based in University College Dublin, Ireland, specialists in providing Scanning & Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM, TEM) and state-of-the-art analytical techniques, training and services to industry and academia.

NIMAC

UCD College of Engineering and Architecture

Room 122 & Room 126, UCD Engineering and Materials Science Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
T: +353 1 716 1868 | E: eng.arch@ucd.ie