The Government approved a proposal from IDA Ireland on September 1st, to fund the establishment of a National Institute for Bioprocessing, Research and Training (NIBRT), which will be based in UCD. The new State-of-the-Art Institute, to be established by four leading Irish colleges UCD, TCD, DCU and Sligo IT, will be based at the UCD Industry Park. It will have its own board and will receive in excess of €72m over the next 7 years in state support.
In December 2004, the Government selected UCD as a preferred bidder for the project to build the State’s first research and training facility for the biotech sector. Its bid to set up a National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training was ranked ahead of proposals from other Irish universities.
The Government hopes the Institute will meet a shortfall in biotechnology skills in the Republic and attract investment to create a new ‘biotech cluster’. The industrially focused Institute, one of a small number of its kind in the world, will be a centre of excellence in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing technology training and research.
Announcing the Government’s approval of the IDA proposal, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD said “this is an extremely important initiative and illustrates the commitment of the Government and IDA Ireland to developing Ireland as one of the world’s leading locations for biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing.”
September 01, 2005
