These are concepts that could benefit everyone.

Munster Technological University (MTU) researchers have secured €1.25m in major national science funding to focus on finding solutions to environmental and societal issues.

Funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the National Challenge Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland’s Green Transition and Digital Transformation and work with those directly affected to solve them.

Six research applications from across MTU were awarded funding.

The teams will spend an initial six months working to refine their ideas in strategically important areas such as improving cyber security for national databases and children, supporting health services through mapping and modelling diseases in the population, preventing medicine shortages, or controlling superbugs, efficient energy use – from renewable sources through to reducing the fuel lorries need.

‘Ingenious ideas’

“These teams have presented ingenious ideas and committed their talents to working for the benefit of the people of Ireland,” said Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science.

“We see examples in the news most days of why Ireland needs to work at the green transition and digital transformation and ensure that our innovation and research prepare the country for the future.

“The solutions being worked on in all eight challenges in the National Challenge Fund have the potential not just to improve life here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world.”

Following a review, a number of the 44 successful teams will be selected as finalists and receive up to €500,000 to further develop their ideas before an overall winner is selected for the €2 million prize award across each of the four challenge categories.