Research Ireland programme aims to fast-track research breakthroughs into commercial healthcare solutions

ARC Hub for HeathTech led by University of Galway in partnership with Atlantic Technological University and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

University of Galway is to be the headquarters for a new €34 million investment in healthcare technology solutions under Research Ireland’s ARC Hub programme - Accelerating Research to Commercialisation.

The announcement of the ARC Hub for HealthTech was made today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D. and forms part of wider initiatives and funding awards to drive the commercial impact of research.

The ARC Hub for HealthTech is being led by University of Galway, in partnership with ATU and RCSI and starts with 23 research-led innovation projects selected for their strong potential to improve patient outcomes.

The landmark funding investment of €34.3 million is provided by the Government of Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to position the Northern and Western Region as a national and international leader in MedTech and connected health innovation.

Primary objective of the ARC Hub programme is to drive regional development by accelerating novel, cutting-edge research and make it ready for commercial impact while also supporting the development of entrepreneurial scientists and engineers with the skills to realise commercial opportunities from research.

The ARC Hub for HealthTech brings together clinical and commercial expertise, cutting-edge research and regional networks to develop impactful solutions to tackle chronic disease.

Its focus will be on smart implants, advanced wearable medical devices, novel sensors and AI- and machine learning-driven modelling.

The ARC Hub for HealthTech will support interdisciplinary teams, provide regulatory and market insight, accelerate clinical and commercial pathways and build partnerships with industry and healthcare stakeholders. It will act as a national testbed for innovation translation, guiding academic research teams through key steps towards commercialisation.

            Speaking at the announcement, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D., said: “The Research Ireland ARC Hub for HealthTech will help transform regional innovation and entrepreneurial training in the North West region and beyond. Enhancing the existing academic-enterprise healthcare and technology ecosystems, the ARC Hub will deliver a suite of impactful, on-the-ground supports, benefitting everyone in the process – researchers, engineers, technologists, manufacturers, clinicians, physicians and, critically, patients. The provision and delivery of appropriate and effective healthcare is, by its very nature, time-sensitive. The ARC Hub for HealthTech will play an instrumental role in accelerating the commercialisation of research and getting health solutions to those that need them faster.”

            Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “This investment recognises the power of regional collaboration and the strength of our academic and clinical talent pool. While our region faces significant challenges – scoring below the EU and national averages in regional competitiveness – we also have a unique and internationally-renowned ecosystem from which to build, and a proud history of achievement in the broad health technology domain. University of Galway’s long-established presence, including our network of medical academies, combined with ATU’s multi-campus reach and RCSI’s expertise, creates a formidable alliance. This ARC Hub will drive impact where it's needed most and working collaboratively it allows us to address shared challenges and harness the innovation potential that already exists in our communities.”

            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, added: “We're excited to bring together regional and national expertise in connected health innovation. Our goal is to create solutions that will transform how we manage chronic disease in our communities. This is about building a global beacon for MedTech and connected health innovation - rooted in the Northern and Western region of Ireland. The Hub will allow us to scale up efforts already underway and build a nationally coordinated platform to fast-track technologies that can improve quality of life and care. At the heart of the ARC Hub are 23 innovation projects selected for their strong potential to improve patient outcomes. Each will undergo an accelerated pathway from research to market, designed to bring solutions to those who need them, faster."

            Professor Aoife Lowery, Professor of Surgery at University of Galway, Director of the Clinical Research Facility Galway and Clinical Lead of the ARC Hub for HealthTech, said: “Our aim is to connect breakthrough science with the people and systems who can translate it into patient benefit. By embedding clinical insight from the earliest stages of innovation, we will support technologies that are both impactful and implementable in real-world healthcare settings.”

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