UK and Ireland sign agreement for further collaboration on critical research areas

The United Kingdom and Ireland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on research areas that are critical to technological innovation and economic growth", UKRI, the UK Research and Innovation agency, announced on 13/03/2026.

The agreement was signed during the second UK-Ireland Summit taking place in the Irish city of Cork on the same day. It aims to support collaboration between UKRI and its Irish peer organisation, Research Ireland, and between their researchers.

Key areas for collaboration include telecommunications, advanced materials and quantum technologies, and a new creative industries programme, according to UKRI.

The Memorandum aims to support "the UK and Irish governments’ ambition for closer UK-Ireland research collaboration while also supporting economic growth through research and innovation and maximising co-investment".

The agreement also builds on two existing partnerships:
• The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council-Research Ireland Joint Funding of Research Programme, which includes collaborations on areas such as…