Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) has secured additional EUR 4.2 mln in funding from EU research funds for marine energy activities.
The announcement of the additional EU funding was made to an audience of more than 130 industry and university representatives involved in a variety of marine energy research projects, attending the MaREI Industry Open Day at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork.
Conchúr Ó Brádaigh , Director of the MaREI Centre, said: “ Large and small companies alike are engaging with MaREI across a huge variety of business opportunities from marine robotics and new materials to endure ocean conditions, to offshore wind, wave and marine energy and mooring devices as well as aquaculture and grid technology solutions. The additional funding from the EU will serve to further position MaREI at the forefront of marine renewable research and commercialisation of this research globally.”
The MaREI Centre initially received government support of EUR 19 mln through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and a further EUR 10.5 mln investment from industry partners. The Centre supports job creation in the marine renewables sector, and aims to make Ireland an international focus for the marine energy industry.
“MaREI will directly create companies and jobs and serve as a catalyst for Ireland to establish a safe, sustainable and profitable energy supply for domestic use and for export,” said Anita Maguire , Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University College Cork.
The industry-academia MaREI Centre comprises over 45 industry partners, including global market leaders in energy, marine technology, software and hardware providers. Academic partners include lead partner University College Cork along with Cork Institute of Technology, University of Limerick, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, University College Dublin and the Marine Institute.
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Image: MaREI