Initiative to fast-track the commercial potential of scientific research across Ireland.
The Irish Government has revealed plans to establish two major research hubs to commercialise Irish science.
With a combined budget of €63.84, the new ARC (Accelerating Research to Commercialisation) Hubs will be administered by Research Ireland and responsibilities will be spearheaded by academics based at major Irish universities.
“Accelerating the overall journey to impact will be achieved by enabling researchers with novel ideas to become future entrepreneurs”
The ARC Hub for Therapeutics will be led by Prof Vincent Kelly of Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with UCD and the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. It will accelerate research in the fields of small molecule therapies, biological therapies, biomaterials, biomarkers with therapeutic potential and in advanced therapy medicinal products.
The ARC Hub for ICT will be led by Prof Sarah Jane Delany of Technology University (TU) Dublin. Involving investigators from research bodies throughout Ireland, it will accelerate translational research in ICT and AI to commercialisation, aiming to drive digital transformation across healthcare, education, infrastructure, sustainability, and data management.
Shining an ARC light on commercialisation
“The two ARC Hubs unveiled today – Therapeutics and ICT respectively – will create regional entrepreneurial ecosystems in two critically important sectors for the Irish economy,” said Research Ireland’s interim CEO Celine Fitzgerald.
“Accelerating the overall journey to impact will be achieved by enabling researchers with novel ideas to become future entrepreneurs, with the Hubs providing an integrated approach to research funding, entrepreneurial training and access to networks and supports.”
It is envisaged that the new ARC Hubs will drive regional development by accelerating cutting-edge research towards commercial impact.
“The Research Ireland ARC Hubs for Therapeutics and ICT represent a new model for regional innovation and entrepreneurial training that will catalyse a step-change in the translation of cutting-edge, publicly-funded research towards impact at a regional level,” explained Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD.
“The ARC Hubs will enhance and accelerate the commercialisation of research to create new products, processes and services.”
The ARC Hubs are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027, one of two ERDF programmes in Ireland. The ERDF aims to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion across all European regions.
“The ARC Hubs offer an integrated approach which will not only accelerate the commercialisation of research but also improve regional competitiveness,” said Maciej Berestecki, European Commission spokesperson.
“By embedding entrepreneurial approaches into the research and innovation ecosystem, groundbreaking ideas can be developed and lead to tangible economic and societal benefits for all regions across Ireland.”
Main image at top: Prof Sarah Jane Delany, TU Dublin, and Lead of the ARC Hub for ICT; James Lawless TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO, Research Ireland; and Prof. Vincent Kelly, Trinity College Dublin, and Lead of ARC Hub for Therapeutics
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