UCD and Queen’s to enhance collaboration on critical areas of research

University College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast (QUB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration and research between both institutions, especially in addressing global challenges.

Following many decades of collaboration, the move is to enhance co-operation in research and innovation “in areas of mutual strength” ranging across arts and humanities; climate and sustainability, energy; food and agriculture; healthcare and cancer; and manufacturing and digital technologies.

Each institution will also explore opportunities for collaboration in emerging areas of expertise, including academic and postgraduate student exchange.

Prof Orla Feely, UCD vice-president for research, innovation and impact, welcomed a deepening of its partnership with QUB. "This agreement formalises a significant and close partnership between the two institutions and expresses our ambition to jointly contribute our expertise to co-develop solutions to shared global challenges," she added.

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"UCD looks forward to participating in future all-island and international funding programmes with Queen's University Belfast, together with other higher education and industry partners, which will have transformative impacts for citizens and support talent for the jobs of the future on the Island of Ireland. "

Speaking in Belfast after the agreement was signed on Wednesday QUB pro-vice-chancellor Prof Emma Flynn said: "Working together to advance cooperation, academic exchanges and research is a positive and important way to blend our expertise for the benefit of society as a whole."

“The enhanced connectivity delivered to our universities and communities through these projects will ensure our cutting-edge research continues to make a real difference,” she believed.

It coincided with QUB leading delivery of three Belfast Region City Deal Innovation Centres in advanced manufacturing, clinical research and secure, connected digital technologies. “Linking at scale into UK and all-Island networks is vital to the success of these centres and we greatly value research partnerships with organisations like UCD to help us create global impact where it truly matters,” Prof Flynn said.

Queen's and UCD were recently successful in 10 jointly-led proposals under the Higher Education Authority's North-South Research Programme funded through the Government's Shared Island Fund. These included the All-island Vaccine Research and Training Alliance and the All-Island Cancer Research Institute – as well as projects in healthcare, social justice, creative arts and the bioeconomy.

The alliance led by Prof Siobhán McClean from UCD along with Prof Miguel Valvano from QUB will draw on shared expertise in infection, immunology, pharmacy and psychology, as well as designing and developing better vaccines to prevent difficult to treat bacterial infections.

The cancer institute being led by Prof Mark Lawler from QUB and Prof William Gallagher from UCD, is designed "to be an unparalleled opportunity for the universities to work together to combat a disease that will affect one in two people on this island during their lifetime".

Both institutions are co-leading other networks along with other higher education institution partners in food integrity – known as FOOD-I,the All-Island Food Integrity Initiative – and through the All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network involving industry and other stakeholders across the island.