Queen’s University. Image: Gena_BY/Shutterstock
Queen’s University Belfast. Image: Gena_BY/Shutterstock

40 new roles at Queen’s Uni as EU puts €9m into major energy hub

24 Jul 2017

Queen’s University in Belfast is on the hunt to fill 40 new positions thanks to a tranche of EU bioenergy funding.

A new ‘virtual centre of competence’ is being created at Queen’s University Belfast, after the EU’s Interreg VA Programme pumped money into further bioenergy research.

Billed with supporting cross-border research into bioenergy and marine-based renewable energy sources, the hub will see the creation of 40 new roles.

Renewable energy

The €9.3m project will focus on heat, biogas and electricity, which can be produced through the anaerobic digestion of agri-food waste. The research findings produced will benefit many SMEs struggling to enhance their innovation capacity within the renewable energy sector.

Some of the cross-border research to benefit from the programme includes the use of tidal power at Strangford Lough and the North Antrim Coast, ocean energy sites in western Scotland, as well as the potential for wave and tidal power generation in Donegal.

34 PhD students and six postdoctoral research associates will be located at the Bryden Centre for Advanced Marine and Bioenergy Research, named after the late Prof Ian Bryden.

“The region has a low level of industry-relevant research and innovation within the renewable energy sector,” said Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body, which manages the EU’s Interreg VA Programme.

“The Bryden Centre project will help address this issue by creating a new centre of competence made up of dedicated PhD students creating high-quality research with strong commercial potential.

“This is one of the core objectives of the EU’s Interreg VA Programme as it has allocated a total of €71.7m worth of funding to enhance and develop the research and innovation capacity of businesses on both sides of the border.”

Cross-border research

Working with a number of cross-border partners – including the University of the Highlands and Islands, Letterkenny IT, Ulster University, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Donegal County Council, and Dumfries and Galloway Council – the organisers claim this project will create the largest amount of cross-border research in this specific area to date.

“I am delighted that my department is co-funding this initiative together with our counterpart department in Northern Ireland,” said Minister of State at the Department of Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.

“The project involves practical cross-border cooperation, which will benefit colleges and companies from both jurisdictions.

“Advanced research on renewable energy is a very worthwhile project and this work will contribute many benefits, including a long-term legacy for the future.”

Gordon Hunt
By Gordon Hunt

Gordon Hunt joined Silicon Republic in October 2014 as a journalist. He spends most of his time avoiding conversations about music, appreciating even the least creative pun and rueing the day he panicked when meeting Paul McGrath. His favourite thing on the internet is the ‘Random Article’ link on Wikipedia.

Loading now, one moment please! Loading