Science Foundation Ireland has made awards totalling €42m to create research centres for science, engineering and technology in three Irish third-level institutions.
The three centres will be in NUI Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons and UCC. These grants are for five years and each centre will receive at least €12m.
The investments connect the universities with their counterparts from leading research corporations and Irish technology and biotech companies.
At NUI Galway, Digital Enterprise Research Centre will partner Hewlett-Packard on research into internet software.
At the Royal College of Surgeons' National Centre for Human Proteomics, the companies involved include Servier, Surgen and Allegro Technologies. These will study technology and proteins aimed at treating heart disease.
Proctor & Gamble and Teagasc will partner UCC's Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre on research into drug treatment and pharmaceutical products.
Science Foundation Ireland was granted €646m under the National Development Plan to recruit and retain research groups.
