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Public events held on themes of remembrance, culture and debate  University of Galway has marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a series of public events on campus bringing together remembrance, film, literature, art and political reflection. The special anniversary programme was organised as part of the University’s involvement in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, an international initiative coordinated by the office of the President of Ukraine. The events took place on Monday February 23rd and Tuesday February 24th, opening with a special screening of the Sundance Film Festival award winning documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka.  The programme also saw the unveiling of the Ukraine Shelf, a dedicated collection of Ukrainian literature and scholarship in the University of Galway Library.  Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Becky Whay, said: “Our anniversary programme reflects University of Galway’s commitment to global citizenship and responsibilities as a public university, examining the human, cultural and environmental costs of the war, and the role of memory, language and creativity in resisting erasure.”  Associate Professor Tom Felle, who leads University of Galway’s involvement in the Coalition, said: “University of Galway is one of only two Irish universities in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, a network of globally recognised institutions advancing teaching, research and public engagement on Ukraine. Our events mark four years on since the full-scale invasion by Russia and demonstrate our commitment to deepening ties with Ukraine at an academic and community level.”  Full details of the anniversary programme: Monday February 23rd at 5.30pm: A special screening of 2000 Meters to Andriivka THB-G011 (Hardiman Research Building) followed by a discussion.  Tuesday February 24th at 11.30am: Service of Hope With Ukraine in the Chapel of St Columbanus, led jointly by Fr Ben Hughes in English and Fr Dmytro Hutnyk in Ukrainian.  Following that, at midday, Words That Remain will feature readings from contemporary Ukrainian poets and writers writing during the war.  Tuesday February 24th at 12:45pm: Launch of the University’s Ukraine Shelf, a dedicated collection of Ukrainian literature and scholarship in the University of Galway Library.   Following that, in THB-G011 (Hardiman Research Building), a panel discussion Resilient Ukraine: Land, Voices and Art will examine how Ukrainians continue to assert identity, culture and survival under conditions of invasion and displacement. It includes contributions from Dr Brendan Flynn, School of Political Science and Sociology and the Ryan Institute, speaking on land, nature and memory in Ukraine’s war for survival, drawing connections with Ireland’s own history of land, dispossession and resistance; journalist and writer Natalya Korniyenko, co-founder of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Ireland, reflecting on the ethical role of writing in wartime, based on her work with Ukrainian writers, poets and journalists currently working on the frontline; and Tetiana Vysotska, PhD student at the University of Galway, art therapist, poet, artist and filmmaker, speaking about art as voice and advocacy, drawing on her work with displaced children and adults and the role of creative practice in mental health, recognition and care.  Tuesday February 24th, 4pm: Public screening of the first feature film about the Russian invasion of Ukraine People. The screening is intended for an English-speaking audience. The film is a powerful, honest and deeply human story about five women’s survival after war was visited on them in their homes, cities and destinies. The film is a tribute to the unseen victims.  Ends 

Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte curtha ar bun chun dlús a chur le tionchar tráchtála réitigh atá dírithe ar leas an othair Cuireann an clár Mol ARC de chuid Taighde Éireann Réigiún an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair chun cinn mar cheannaire domhanda i dteicneolaíocht sláinte nua   Seoladh an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte nua in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu. Infheistíocht de chuid an Rialtais arbh fhiú na milliúin euro í a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aici forbairt na réigiún a chur chun cinn trí dhlús a chur le tráchtálú taighde ceannródaíoch atá dírithe ar leas an othair. An aidhm atá ag an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte réitigh a fhorbairt a chabhróidh le bainistiú galar ainsealach agus dlús a chur faoi theicneolaíochtaí a bhfuil ardchumas acu i réimsí cosúil le hionphlanduithe cliste, ardfhearais leighis inchaite, braiteoirí úrscothacha chomh maith le samhaltú bunaithe ar AI agus ar mheaisínfhoghlaim. Tá an tionscnamh á óstáil ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i gcomhpháirt le hOllscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh (ATU) agus Ollscoil Leighis agus Eolaíochtaí Sláinte RCSI agus is cuid de mhórchlár Taighde Éireann ‘Ó Thaighde go Tráchtálú’ (ARC) é. Tá 23 thionscadal san áireamh leis an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte faoi láthair tar éis dóibh a bheith roghnaithe i ngeall ar an acmhainn láidir atá acu feabhas a chur ar thorthaí d’othair. San áireamh le seoladh an Mhoil ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte, arb é an téama atá aige ‘Fréamhaithe sna Réigiúin, Láithreacht Dhomhanda’, bhí gairm ar  thionscadail nua a mheas le haghaidh a maoinithe agus a dtacaithe féachaint le hiad a thráchtálú.  Cuireadh roinnt de na tionscadail reatha atá á dtráchtálú go mear ar taispeáint chomh maith agus san áireamh leo sin tá ardghairis braite céadfaí chun titim a chosc i measc daoine scothaosta agus feistí cliste a chabhraíonn le brú fola a rialú. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag James Lawless, T.D., an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: “Tá an cumas ag an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte éascaíocht a dhéanamh do thráchtálú taighde a rachaidh go díreach chun tairbhe an duine aonair agus an phobail san Iarthar agus san Iarthuaisceart agus níos faide i gcéin. Tá uaillmhianta an Mhoil ARC soiléir agus leitheadach agus é i mbun a chuid feidhmiúcháin a threisiú agus comhpháirtíochtaí a chur ar bun. Tá mé ag súil le hiarrachtaí, torthaí agus tionchar an Mhoil a leanúint sa blianta seo atá romhainn.” Dúirt an Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Príomhfheidhmeannach Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland: “Ceann de na cláir is réamhghníomhaí, is samhlaíche agus, seans, is suaití atá seachadta ag Taighde Éireann riamh is ea an clár Mol ARC.  Múnla cuimsitheach agus inscálaithe chun comhlachtaí na todhchaí a chruthú is ea ár gcuid taighdeoirí, fiontraithe agus infheisteoirí is fearr a thabhairt le chéile in éineacht leis an earnáil tráchtála le go gcothófaí timpeallacht inar féidir ár smaointe taighde is fearr a aistriú ón tsaotharlann go dtí an margadh.”  Labhair Peter Power, Ceann Ionadaíocht an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh in Éirinn, mar seo a leanas: “Oibríocht is ea an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte faoin gclár Chiste Forbraíochta Réigiúnaí na hEorpa do Réigiún an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair a mbaineann tábhacht straitéiseach léi. Tá sé ag teacht le polasaí Comhtháthaithe an AE tacú le héiceachórais nuálaíochta láidre do na réigiúin ar fad. Tiocfaidh táirgí don mhargadh ó thaighde a bhuíochas leis an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte, rud a chuirfidh le hiomaíocht Réigiún an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair, agus le hiomaíocht na hEorpa.”  Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh David Burn: “Ní díreach aonán taighde agus nuálaíochta atá á fhógairt inniu againn – deis faoi leith is ea an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte lárionad domhanda don chúram sláinte a chruthú i Réigiúin Thuaisceart agus Iarthar na hÉireann. Tá an deis seo á thapú againn, in éineacht lenár gcomhpháirtithe agus leis na réigiúin, chun tionchar tráchtála an taighde seo a bhrú chun cinn le tacaíochtaí nua agus ag luas níos tapúla, agus an mhóraidhm againn cúram sláinte, cóireálacha leighis agus teiripí nua a chur ar fáil d’othair.  Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Dr Orla Flynn, Uachtarán Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh: “Tá ATU an-sásta baint a bheith aici leis an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte agus a bheith ag obair lenár gcomhpháirtithe chun taighde agus nuálaíocht cúraim sláinte a chur chun cinn.‑ Ligeann an chomhpháirtíocht seo dúinn tacú le forbairt teicneolaíochtaí nua, taighde a láidriú agus conairí níos soiléire a chruthú chun fionnachtana eolaíochta a chur chun feidhme do réitigh chúraim sláinte phraiticiúla. Guím gach rath ar an bhfoireann leis na hiarrachtaí seo, agus gabhaim buíochas leis na maoinitheoirí as a dtacaíocht.” Dúirt an tOllamh Cathal Kelly, Leas-Seansailéir RCSI: “Ní mór don nuálaíocht sa teicneolaíocht sláinte a bheith dírithe i gcónaí ar fheabhas a chur ar thorthaí d’othair. Tá bród orainn san RCSI a bheith páirteach sa chomhpháirtíocht uaillmhianach seo trína gcuirtear ar chumas taighdeoirí agus nuálaithe oibriú go héifeachtach chun a chinntiú go gcuirfear teicneolaíochtaí nua ar fáil atá ábhartha go cliniciúil, dírithe ar an othar, inaistrithe don earnáil tráchtála agus in ann torthaí a fheabhsú go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta.” Seo mar a labhair Conall McGettigan, Tionól Réigiúnach an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair: “Tionscnamh nuálaíoch is ea an tionscadal seo a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige dlús a chur le forbairt réigiúnach trí éascaíocht a dhéanamh taighde ardleibhéil luathchéime a thabhairt chomh fada le tráchtálú. Agus é ag teacht le straitéis speisialaithe chliste na hÉireann agus trí smaointe fiontraíochta a chothú laistigh den éiceachóras taighde agus nuálaíochta, éascóidh an Mol claochlú coincheapa nuálaíocha le go mbainfidh Réigiún an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair tairbhí inbhraite eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta astu.” Dúirt an tOllamh Garry Duffy, Ollamh le Nuálaíocht Teicneolaíochta Sláinte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Ollamh le hAnatamaíocht in RCSI agus Stiúrthóir an Mhoil ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte: “Dúnann an Mol ARC an bhearna idir taighde leighis den scoth agus tionchar praiticiúil ar an saol mór. Bíodh is go bhfuil fréamhacha sna réigiúin againn táimid dár gcur féin i láthair go domhanda, agus taighdeoirí á gcumhachtú againn le bheith ina bhfiontraithe. Táimid ag cinntiú chomh maith go mbainfidh othair ar fud an domhain leas as na nuálaíochtaí i dTeicneolaíocht na Sláinte atá á bhforbairt in Éirinn agus go mbeidh fáil orthu ar mhargaí an domhain.” Bunaíodh an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte in 2025 nuair a rinne Rialtas na hÉireann agus an tAontas Eorpach, trí Chlár Réigiúnach an Tuaiscirt & an Iarthair 2021-2027 de chuid CFRE, infheistíocht shuntasach arbh fhiú €34.3 milliún í. An aidhm atá aige ceannaire náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta a dhéanamh as Réigiún an Tuaiscirt agus an Iarthair i dtaobh teicneolaíochtaí sláinte a thráchtálú. Féachann an tionscnamh le tacú le forbairt eolaithe agus innealtóirí a bhfuil féith na fiontraíochta iontu agus na scileanna a thabhairt dóibh a chuirfidh ar a gcumas comhlachtaí nuathionscanta a chruthú de bhun an taighde atá siúl acu. Tabharfaidh sé conairí do thaighdeoirí chun bailíochtú cliniciúil luath a dhéanamh, mar aon le scileanna fiontraíochta agus tacaíochtaí tráchtála le go gcuirfear ar a gcumas réitigh cúraim sláinte atá dírithe ar an othar agus a d’fhéadfaí a chur ar an margadh domhanda a dhéanamh as smaointe úrnua. Tá an clár seolta go hoifigiúil anois agus is féidir iarratais a dhéanamh chun go ndéanfar measúnú ar thionscadail nua le haghaidh a maoinithe agus a dtacaithe agus iad ag dul i dtreo a dtráchtálaithe. Tá Coiste Comhairleach láidir ag tacú leis an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte agus láidreoidh a saineolas éagsúil gach gné dá chuid oibre.  Tá infheisteoirí príobháideacha ar an gCoiste chomh maith le speisialtóirí in oiliúint d’fhiontraithe ó na Stáit Aontaithe agus ón Eoraip, ceannairí ón earnáil tráchtála ó chomhlachtaí nuathionscanta éagsúla agus ó chorparáidí ilnáisiúnta, agus ionadaithe rialtais agus earnála poiblí. Ceann de thrí Mhol ARC a fógraíodh in 2025 mar chuid de chlár infheistíochta ilbhliantúil is ea an Mol ARC do Theicneolaíochtaí Sláinte. Tá an Mol ARC don Teiripic (faoi stiúir Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath) agus an Mol ARC ICT (faoi stiúir Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta (TU) Bhaile Átha Cliath) á gcómhaoiniú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus an tAontas Eorpach trí Chlár Réigiúnach 2021-2027 an Deiscirt, an Oirthir agus Lár Tíre. Is é príomhchuspóir an chláir Mol ARC forbairt réigiúnach a chur chun cinn trí dhlús a chur le tráchtálú taighde úrnua ceannródaíoch agus ag an am céanna, tacú le forbairt eolaithe agus innealtóirí a bhfuil scileanna fiontraíochta acu a n-uaillmhianta tráchtála a bhaint amach. Críoch

ARC Hub for HealthTech established to fast-track commercial impact of patient-focused solutions Research Ireland’s ARC Hub programme positions Northern and Western Region as global leader in new healthcare technology The new ARC Hub for HealthTech, a multimillion-euro Government investment to drive regional development by accelerating the commercialisation of cutting-edge, patient-focused research, has been officially launched today at University of Galway.  Focused on developing solutions to improve chronic disease management, the aim of the ARC Hub for HealthTech is to fast-track high-potential technologies in areas such as smart implants, advanced wearable medical devices, novel sensors and AI and machine learning-driven modelling.  Hosted by the University of Galway, in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the initiative forms part of Research Ireland’s flagship Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) programme.  Twenty-three projects are currently in the ARC Hub for HealthTech after being selected for their strong potential to improve patient outcomes.  The launch of the ARC Hub for HealthTech - under the theme of ‘Regional Roots. Global Presence’ - included a call for new projects to be assessed for funding and support on the journey to commercialisation and a showcase of some of the current projects which are being fast-tracked to commercialisation, including advanced sensory detection devices to prevent falls in elderly people and intelligent devices to help control blood pressure.  Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, T.D., said: “The ARC Hub for HealthTech has the potential to deliver game-changing acceleration of research commercialisation that will directly benefit individuals and communities in the West and North-West and further afield. As it continues to ramp up its operations and establish partnerships, the ARC Hub’s ambitions are clear and far-reaching. I look forward to seeing the Hub progress in its endeavours, outputs and impact over the coming years.”  Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Chief Executive of Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland, said: “The ARC Hub programme is one of the most proactive, imaginative and potentially disruptive programmes ever delivered by Research Ireland. Bringing together our leading researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and industry to create an environment where our best research ideas can be translated from the lab to the market represents an inclusive and scalable model for creating companies of the future.”   Peter Power, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said: “The ARC Hub for HealthTech is an operation of strategic importance under the European Regional Development Fund programme for the Northern and Western region. It aligns with the objective of EU Cohesion policy to support thriving innovation ecosystems for all regions. Thanks to the ARC Hub for HealthTech, research will be translated into marketable products, thereby boosting the competitiveness of both the Northern and Western region and European competitiveness.”  President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “Today we are announcing more than a research and innovation entity – the ARC Hub for HealthTech is a remarkable opportunity to create a global powerhouse for healthcare in the Northern and Western regions of Ireland. With our partners and regional collaboration, we are seizing the moment to push the commercial impact of research with new supports, at a faster pace, with the overarching aim of bringing new healthcare, treatments and therapies to patients.”  President of Atlantic Technological University, Dr Orla Flynn, said: "ATU is delighted to be involved in the ARC Hub for HealthTech, working with our partners to advance health‑tech research and innovation. Through this collaboration, we are supporting the development of new technologies, strengthening research and creating clearer pathways for bringing scientific discovery into real‑world healthcare solutions. I wish the team every success in these endeavours, and to thank the funders for their support.”  Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor of RCSI, said: “Improving patient outcomes must always be at the heart of health technology innovation. At RCSI, we are proud to be part of this ambitious collaboration, enabling researchers and innovators to work at pace, ensuring new technologies are clinically relevant, patient-focused, commercially translatable and capable of improving outcomes both nationally and internationally.”  Conall McGettigan, Northern and Western Regional Assembly, said: “The project constitutes an innovative initiative designed to accelerate regional development by expediting early-stage, advanced research to commercialisation. In alignment with Ireland’s smart specialisation strategy and by fostering entrepreneurial ideas within the research and innovation ecosystem, the Hub will facilitate the transformation of innovative concepts into tangible economic and societal benefits for the Northern and Western Region.”  Professor Garry Duffy, Professor of Health Technology Innovation at University of Galway, Professor of Anatomy at RCSI and Director of the ARC Hub for HealthTech, said: “The ARC Hub bridges the gap between exceptional medical research and real-world impact. With regional roots and a global presence, we're empowering researchers to become entrepreneurs and ensuring that HealthTech innovations developed in Ireland reach patients and markets worldwide.”  The ARC Hub for HealthTech was established in 2025 with a landmark funding investment of €34.3 million by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. It aims to position the Northern and Western Region as a national and international leader in the commercialisation of health technologies.  The initiative is designed to support the development of entrepreneurial scientists and engineers with the skills to realise opportunities to create start-up companies from research. It will equip researchers with early clinical validation pathways, entrepreneurial skills and commercialisation supports, to transform novel ideas into patient-focused healthcare solutions with global market potential.  To mark the official launch, applications have been opened for new projects to be assessed for funding and support on the journey to commercialisation.  The ARC Hub for HealthTech has the support of a high-calibre Advisory Committee whose diverse expertise will strengthen every aspect of its work. The Committee includes private investors, entrepreneurial training specialists from the US and Europe, industry leaders from various start-ups and multinational corporations, and government and public sector representatives.  The ARC Hub for HealthTech is one of a family of three ARC Hubs announced in 2025 as part of a multi-annual investment programme. The ARC Hub for Therapeutics (led by Trinity College Dublin) and ARC Hub for ICT (led by TU Dublin) are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.  The primary objective of the ARC Hub programme is to drive regional development by accelerating the commercialisation of novel, cutting-edge research, while also supporting the development of scientists and engineers with entrepreneurial skills to realise their commercial ambitions.  Ends