An historic all-Ireland collaborative research partnership uniting universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic has been struck between Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD).
The TCD Provost, John Hegarty, and UCD President, Hugh Brady, each signed bilateral collaborative agreements with QUB President and Vice Chancellor, Peter Gregson in Dublin. These agreements will promote and consolidate cooperation in education and research between the three universities.
Witnessing the signatures the Republic’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern TD said, “By strengthening cross-border collaboration in research and education in this way, we can help put the island at the forefront of the global knowledge economy and deliver real benefits to citizens both North and South.”
The UK Employment and Learning Minister, Maria Eagle MP who witnessed the signing on behalf of the Northern Ireland Government said, “I believe the partnership approach being demonstrated here ….. is an excellent example of the practical cooperation that increasingly exists between our two jurisdictions.”
“Bringing research activities more closely together in joint ventures will help to strengthen the research infrastructure and capability of the whole island.”
The three universities have identified a number of areas in which they have complementary strengths and intend to develop these to ensure maximum intellectual, educational and economic benefits of the three universities in an all-Ireland and international context.
The main topics of the collaboration are biomedical sciences and biomedical informatics, with a focus on cancer, infection and immunity; arts and human sciences, including socio-economics and Irish studies; and physical sciences, including nanoscience.
“These collaborations are an important step in developing a world class research infrastructure that brings together recognised excellence in both jurisdictions,” said Gregson.
“The re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the developing North-South partnerships need to be further reinforced by greater co-ordination of investment in the research base of this island. Full participation by all the island's research institutions in future programmes is now achievable."
Hegarty added, “We see this as a very significant step in our pursuit of strategic partnerships in Ireland, one which brings cutting-edge research activities on the island together in an unprecedented manner across all the major disciplines ……. With such initiatives we continue to move from competition to collaboration across the entire academic spectrum.”
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