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Taoiseach visits UCC's Tyndall National Institute

2 Oct 2020

Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD recently visited University College Cork's Tyndall National Institute, one of Europe’s leading ICT research centres. During the visit, the Taoiseach spoke with some of Tyndall’s award-winning PhD students and researchers about the impact of their work. The focus of the visit was a discussion on the ambitious expansion of Tyndall and the official opening of the new Electron Beam Lithography Lab, which is unique in Ireland. The capabilities of the lab allows us to rapidly transition from fundamental research, to prototype and manufacture with industry. This is a critical enabler for the high-tech industry in Ireland.

 “Tyndall is creating structures that are 100,000th the width of a human hair,” explained Tyndall Chairman Eoin O’Driscoll. “Manipulating matter at the atomic scale using electron beams is a gateway into deep tech quantum engineering technology. The quantum devices Tyndall is developing will power the next generation of communications, computing, chemistry, medtech, energy and climate mitigation technologies.”

Speaking after formally opening Tyndall’s new e-beam lab, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD commented, “Tyndall is doing fundamental work to secure Ireland's future as a technology leader competing on the world stage for deep-tech innovation and research. Tyndall is delivering ground-breaking work that will transform our high-tech economy, and is strongly supporting key Irish technology companies and SMEs. With facilities such as Tyndall, underpinned by Government investment, Ireland’s high-tech future is secure.”

The Taoiseach was also briefed on Tyndall’s expansion plan. This plan will see investment of €75M in a campus expansion and new building to accommodate Tyndall’s anticipated doubling in size and impact by 2027. “Our ambition is to build on Tyndall’s 40 years of research excellence and industrial impact and significantly scale to address societal challenges through deep-tech innovation,” commented Tyndall CEO Professor William Scanlon. “The next five years will see us significantly develop our international presence and influence, enhance our long-term industry partnerships, invest in our talent pipeline to equip future leaders with a wide range of transferrable skills, and continue to explore and commercialise new research fields.”

Tyndall is a partnership of University College Cork (UCC) and Government, and has a total income of over €41m per annum. The expansion of Tyndall National Institute is identified as a strategic investment priority in the Government’s National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040. Tyndall’s established international standing is evidenced by its nationally leading success to date in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Programme for Research.