Queen's and UCD collaborate on research more effectively.

 Queen's and UCD collaborate on research more effectively.

Queen's and UCD have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further their research and innovation collaboration in areas where they have complementary strengths.

Arts and humanities; climate and sustainability; food and agriculture; healthcare and cancer; and manufacturing and digital technology are among these sectors. Each institution will also look at collaboration prospects in developing areas of expertise, as well as academic and postgraduate student mobility.

"We are thrilled to engage with UCD and other partners on a number of vital and ground-breaking projects," said Queen's University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Flynn. Collaboration for the advancement of collaboration, academic exchanges, and research is a beneficial and significant approach to combine our talents for the greater good of society.

Our cutting-edge research will continue to make a genuine difference in our society thanks to the improved connectivity provided by these projects to our universities and communities.

The establishment of three Belfast Region City Deal Innovation Centres in advanced manufacturing, clinical research, and secure, networked digital technologies is an exciting time for Queen's. Linking these centres at scale into UK and all-Island networks is critical to their success, and we value research partnerships with organisations like UCD to help us achieve global impact where it counts most."

"I am happy that UCD is strengthening its degree of engagement with Queen's University Belfast through the Memorandum of Understanding signed today," said Professor Orla Feely, Vice-President for Research, Innovation, and Impact at UCD. This agreement formalises a strong and tight relationship between the two institutions, and it expresses our desire to pool our resources and skills to co-develop solutions.

UCD is looking forward to working with Queen's University Belfast and other Higher Education and industry partners on future all-island and international financing programmes that will have transformative effects for residents and boost talent for future jobs on the Island."

The All-Island Vaccine Research and Training Alliance and the All-Island Cancer Research Institute, as well as projects in healthcare, social justice, creative arts, and the bioeconomy, were recently successful in ten jointly led proposals under the Higher Education Authority's North-South Research Programme, funded through the Irish Government's Shared Island Fund.

The All-Island Vaccine Research and Training Alliance, led by Associate Professor Siobhán McClean of UCD and Professor Miguel Valvano of Queen's University, will combine their expertise in infection, immunology, pharmacy, and psychology to design and develop better vaccines to prevent difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. The All Island Cancer Research Institute, directed by Queen's Professor Mark Lawler and UCD Professor Liam Gallagher, is envisioned as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the universities to collaborate to tackle a cancer that will afflict one out of every two persons on the island.

Both universities are co-leading other networks engaging industry and other important stakeholders across the island in Food Integrity (the All-Island Food Integrity Initiative) and Climate and Biodiversity (the All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network) with other HEI partners.

Both universities intend to improve their collaborative submissions for international research and innovation funding.