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Research and Innovation

Research collaboration between the partners allows for joint postgraduate provision and a particular focus on enhancing the applied research activity undertaken by the four partners. This alliance is founded on strong collaborative principles that will involve joint research supervision and the pooling of research infrastructure.

Innovation collaboration involves the partners working together to provide a cohesive package of supports for enterprise in the region and assistance with initiatives to further embed entrepreneurship.

Research Priorities

The place-based ethos of NWTEC is evident in the research priorities which focus on the regions key enterprise areas of ICT/FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing, Personalised Health, Life Sciences and MedTech, AgriFood and AgriTech, Marine and Blue Economy, Renewable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation, Creative Industries, and Tourism.
Explore the Research Hubs

CoLab at ATU Donegal

CoLab is ATU Donegal’s 4,000 sq m Research and Innovation Centre that originally opened as the Business Development Centre (BDC) in May 2000. CoLab offers its clients cutting edge facilities together with an attractive campus environment and the advantage of collocation with the ATU Donegal’s research community. The client companies at CoLab include 75 technology/ knowledge-based enterprises employing 220 graduate level knowledge workers. CoLab is home to the William C. Campbell Research Suite named after the Ramelton born 2015 Nobel Prize recipient for his research in Physiology and Medicine. The research suite is now the base for 60 postgraduate research students. In addition, ATU Donegal’s WiSAR Technology Gateway is also based at CoLab.

Innovation Ulster at UU

Innovation Ulster Ltd. (IUL) is a wholly owned knowledge and technology venturing company of Ulster University.

IUL work closely with external companies in a number of ways:

  • Licensing opportunities – companies of all sizes and individual entrepreneurs can access an extensive portfolio of technologies and early stage ideas/concepts that are available for licensing and/or collaborative development.
  • Spin-in – IUL provide opportunities for companies to spin-in to the university and access our inventions, research, technologies and facilities to develop a commercial opportunity through a collaborative approach, in return for an equity stake.
  • Portfolio companies – IUL encourage and support the commercial advancement of new inventions and ideas developed by our academic staff and students into fully commercial enterprises.
North West Smart Region

NWRC Business Support Centre (BSC)

NWRC BSC support businesses right from fledgling entrepreneurs and micro companies up to long-standing indigenous and multi-national businesses with tailored solutions to meet your needs.

Support to industry in offered through:

  • Offering bespoke training and upskilling specific to your business needs.
  • Developing the talents of those already in work and providing access to apprenticeships, both traditional and higher level apprenticeships.
  • Assisting businesses to source funding to undertake applied innovation, research and development and then fostering innovation by delivering tailored solutions in areas of new products, processes or services to support businesses to be more innovative and competitive.

The BSC has a dedicated team of staff with specialist knowledge and skills in the technical areas of food development, creative & digital media, virtual & augmented reality, cad & product development, ICT & software development, electronic engineering and are complimented by the NWRC’s academic team, depending on the business needs.

North West Smart Region

Donegal ETB Employer Services

Donegal ETB provides a wide range of services to employers and iscommitted to providing courses relevant to the needs of industry.

Under the Skills to Advance Initiative and Skills for Work Programme, Donegal ETB can offer targeted support for vulnerable groups in the workforce, particularly those with lower skill levels who need more opportunities to advance in their working lives. Supports are available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who need some assistance to invest in and develop their workforce. We can also arrange to deliver bespoke programmes for employees in individual companies or groups of companies.

Donegal ETB offers a wide range of Part-time/Evening courses across a variety of sectors which can be utilised by employers to train or up-skill their employees. Some of these courses are available free-of charge.