- Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland - INSPIRE – The Integrated Nanoscience Platform for Ireland was officially launched recently by Dr Jimmy Devins T.D., Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation. LightHouse, the Centre for Applied Photonics in NUI Galway, is a key member of this national initiative, which is a consortium of ten academic institutes leading the strand on nano-photonics research. The project has a total value of €32 million, the largest funding allocation to any national consortium, of which €2.7 will go to LightHouse. The award will enable LightHouse to install a suite of new cleanroom and ultrafast laser processing and process control facilities for developing new nanotechnology- based processes, products and nanomaterials. The award will also enhance the University's teaching reputation, by adding value to graduate research and training in biomedical science, photonics and materials science. Commenting on the funding award Dr Gerard O'Connor of LightHouse, NUI Galway, said: "This award is recognition of the recent inclusion of Photonics as a theme in the formal research strategy of the University. This vision for the future of photonics research strategically positions the University to respond to the growing opportunities and challenges that such new technologies will present to industry, both nationally, and internationally. It recognises the importance of the enabling contributions that photonics will make to biomedical engineering science and environmental science at NUI Galway and to nanoscience and ICT initiatives nationally". -Ends-