Key Takeaways
- The University of Galway will lead a new €34.3m research hub focused on healthcare innovation, particularly in chronic disease management.
- The hub aims to accelerate the commercialization of healthcare research through smart implants, wearables, and AI-driven modeling.
- Co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund, the initiative is designed to bolster the northern and western regions of Ireland as leaders in medtech.
New Research Hub for Healthtech
The University of Galway is establishing a new €34.3 million research hub, the Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) Hub for Healthtech, in an effort to boost healthcare innovation and commercial viability. Led by Professor Garry Duffy, the hub will partner with Atlantic Technological University and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Its primary focus is to support regional development in Ireland’s north and west by advancing healthcare research that has commercial impact.
The hub plans to concentrate on chronic disease management by developing smart implants, advanced wearable medical devices, sensors, and employing AI and machine learning for modeling. Interdisciplinary teams in the hub will be provided with resources to help accelerate clinical and commercial pathways while fostering collaborations with industry and healthcare stakeholders. This initiative aligns with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation, which aims to tackle national R&D challenges through a regional approach.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science James Lawless emphasized the hub’s potential impact on the healthcare ecosystem, noting it will provide significant support to researchers, engineers, and clinicians. He stated that the ARC Hub will facilitate faster delivery of effective healthcare solutions to those in need.
Celine Fitzgerald, interim CEO of Research Ireland, highlighted the broader implications of the ARC Hub Programme for regional development across the country, stating that it opens up numerous opportunities for local citizens and healthcare communities. The recent establishment of the ARC Hub for Healthtech follows the launch of two other hubs earlier this year, which together received €63.8 million in funding for therapeutics and ICT commercialization, located at Trinity College Dublin and TU Dublin, respectively.
This substantial investment, co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), seeks to position the northern and western parts of Ireland as leaders in medical technology and connected health innovation.
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