The funding is part of the Government investment under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), Cycle 5. UCC requested funding for twelve projects and was successful in securing support for ten including the largest. The university, through its collaboration with other institutions, is a supporting partner in a further nine projects.

UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy said he was delighted with UCC’s performance in securing competitive funding in the key areas of energy, life sciences, technology and health all of which are crucial to Ireland’s economic future. "UCC welcomes the steadfast commitment of Government to support its long term strategy for research and innovation in these difficult economic times. Today’s announcement is a statement of confidence in the capacity of our academic staff to generate new wealth and employment opportunities for our society."

Ireland’s ambition to lead the world in harvesting energy from the oceans got a major boost from today’s announcement. The National Maritime Energy Cluster (MERC) at Ringaskiddy received almost €7 million with significant additional funding from the private sector and the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources. The National Ocean Energy Test Centre is central to MERC and a cornerstone of Minister Eamon Ryan’s National Ocean Energy Strategy. Through this investment, MERC will bring together on one site the people, the ideas, and the infrastructure to support the development of Ireland’s rapidly growing ocean energy industry.

Peter Coyle, Chairman of the Marine Renewables Industry Association (the representative body for the Ocean Energy industry) said: “Wave power is potentially a major source not only of renewable energy, but of new jobs and wealth creation. The MERC project will provide a ‘one stop’ shop for the industry’s needs. He went on: “The support by Government for MERC is a massive vote of confidence in the jobs potential of the Maritime and Energy sectors.”

“The Danes exploited their geographical advantage and research base to become leaders in wind energy,” says Professor Peter Kennedy, Vice-President for Research at UCC. “Ireland has the potential to do the same with ocean energy.”

Leading Irish companies in this field such as Wavebob and Ocean Energy Ltd. already have demonstrator systems producing energy in Galway Bay. To grow this industry further requires sophisticated engineering, advanced testing facilities, and highly skilled personnel. MERC will deliver this capability.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick, Head of the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science (SEFS) said that this funding builds on existing strengths of the University in graduate education, research innovation and job creation. “This success will enable UCC to engage both with industry and other institutions in research and development in the areas of food, ICT, energy and lifesciences all of which secured funding today.”

PRTLI Cycle 5 is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) theme of the European Union Structural Funds Programmes 2007-2013 under Ireland’s National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

Pictured today (July 16th 2010) at the announcement of major Government investment in research and innovation were: Mr Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation and Dr Tony Lewis, Director, National Ocean Test Facility (NOTF), Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, UCC.

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