UCC performs strongly in Knowledge Transfer Ireland’s 2025 survey

17 Aug 2026

University College Cork (UCC) has retained its position as Ireland’s leading university for research income derived from industry and the number of Licences, Options and Assignments (LOAs) executed, according to Knowledge Transfer Ireland’s (KTI) 2025 Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey. 

UCC recorded €11.5 million in research expenditure derived from industry in 2025, the highest of any Irish university and an increase from €8.9 million in 2024. UCC also executed 48 Licences, Options and Assignments (LOAs) during the year, up from 33 in 2024 and the highest number recorded by an Irish university. 

The Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey, published annually by KTI, provides an overview of knowledge transfer activity across Ireland’s publicly funded research system, including research collaboration, intellectual property, licensing and the creation of new companies. 

Overall, UCC ranked among the leading universities across a number of categories in the 2025 survey. The University recorded the highest overall research expenditure at €144 million and placed second nationally for both invention and software disclosures and new patent applications. 

Key highlights from the report include: 

• Leading Irish university for research expenditure derived from industry (€11.5 million) 

• Highest number of staff or student start-ups established among Irish universities (14) 

• Highest number of Licences, Options and Assignments executed (48) 

• Highest overall research expenditure among Irish universities (€144 million) 

• Second highest number of consultancy agreements with industry (14) 

• Second highest number of invention/software disclosures (67) 

• Second highest number of new patent applications filed (21) 

• Three new UCC spin-out companies established during 2025. These spin-outs were Vivid Photonics, Pulpo Semi and Endurance Semiconductors. 

Professor John Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, said: “The results in KTI’s Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey reflect UCC’s continued commitment to delivering research with real-world impact. Our strong engagement with industry, together with our performance in licensing and commercialisation, shows the value of working with external partners to translate UCC research into impact.” 

Dr Sally Cudmore, Director of UCC Innovation, said: “I am delighted to see UCC continue to perform so strongly in knowledge transfer and industry engagement. These achievements are not just statistics; they represent the creativity, commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of our researchers, and the strong relationships we have built with industry partners. Every licence, collaboration and commercial agreement is part of a larger story of research making a difference. Together with our colleagues across the university, UCC Innovation is helping to transform promising discoveries into real-world solutions that deliver economic and societal impact.” 

Knowledge Transfer Ireland, which sits within Enterprise Ireland, works with Ireland’s research performing organisations and enterprise sector to support the commercialisation of publicly funded research and the transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise to industry. 

The Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey 2025 can be read in full here.