Friday 8 December 2023

Two new UK-Ireland research centres to focus on climate and sustainable food

A joint UK and Ireland investment of more than £60 million has been announced for the creation of two new research centres focused on climate change and sustainable food production.

They will bring together academics, industry and policymakers across government departments in the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity and Water aims to be a home of research, innovation and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and water degradation.

The Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems seeks to develop innovative and transformative solutions to transition the food system for positive and sustainable change in the transition to climate-neutrality by 2050.

The Co-Centres programme is funded over six years, with up to €40 million (£34m) from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), up to £17 million from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and up to £12 million through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is co-funded by industry.

The two research centres will formally commence activities from January 2024 and will be funded to 2030.

Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “As I know from my own family links, the UK and Ireland share deep ties – and in today’s fast-moving world, we share many of the same challenges, too. From our ground-breaking international work on AI, to our deal to join Horizon, the UK is determined to seize the opportunities for growth and prosperity that can be delivered, when we work together on science and tech with our neighbours.

“By bringing together the genius that exists across our islands, we will unlock the new ideas and inventions that will help us secure our food chains and tackle climate change, delivering innovative solutions for global good.”