Irish government announces €460 million investment for seven new Research Ireland centres

The Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, has announced the creation of seven new Research Ireland centres for a total investment from the government of €460 million.

The announcement, made on 10/06/2026, follows the launch of an enhanced national research network named "Rinn" (the Irish word for a point, tip or headland).

Each of the seven new Rinn centres will operate over the next eight years and support 577 research positions, develop over 800 PhDs and involve 17 research-performing organisations.

"This unified network reflects the step change in the scale and breadth of collaboration, governance and funding, supporting a more coordinated and internationally engaged research system to deliver national and international impact," Research Ireland, the national research and innovation agency, said.

In addition to the government's investment of €460m, the Rinn have additional funding of €500m to be leveraged from industry and other sources, with support from over 200 industry partners comprising over 100 multinational…