Two University of Limerick researchers have received funding worth almost €2.5 million under the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD announced a total of €23.6 million to support 23 research projects focused on tackling challenges in AI, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and transport.
The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme funds high-risk, high-reward research programmes and innovative, collaborative research with the potential to deliver economic and societal impact.
The UL recipients are:
- Professor Conor Ryan, Department of Computer Science & Information Systems for FORGE: Federated Offline Reflection Grammatical Evolution which is set to transform Machine Learning (ML) by creating programs that can tackle complex issues using varied and sensitive data from numerous sources, all while ensuring data privacy and clear communication.
- Associate Professor Matthias Vandichel, Department of Chemical Sciences will lead the MEM-E-TECH [Multiscale Modelling and Membrane Engineering for next-generation electrochemical technologies] project. This project involves the design of materials and electrocatalysts for groundbreaking DENOx technologies to generate a reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) solution from exhaust gas.
Announcing the awards, Minister Lawless said: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme supports the development of world-class research across a range of disciplines. The awardees – spanning nine research institutions nationwide – have brought forward novel and innovative ideas with strong potential to deliver impactful solutions for major challenges facing society today.
“The programme itself promotes gender balance and provides opportunities for emerging investigators returning to research. I look forward to seeing the awardees’ progress over the coming years.”
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive of Research Ireland said: “Our Frontiers for the Future Programme is driven by feedback from the research community and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. These 23 awards will fund a total of 86 research positions, comprising Postdocs, PhDs, Research Assistants and support staff. I’m very pleased with the opportunities that this targeted investment is creating and greatly encouraged that crucial research on pressing issues will be facilitated as a result.”