Ireland has announced plans to invest €4.55 billion (£3.94 billion) over the next five years into the country’s universities and research and innovation sector. Officials hope that the roadmap, released in December, will strengthen Ireland’s position as ‘a global leader in talent development, cutting-edge research, and innovation’.

James Lawless, minister for further and higher education. said in a statement that the new 2026–2030 plan ‘represents the largest capital injection ever delivered to the tertiary sector’. ‘The plan is about building capacity for Ireland’s future – in our people, our institutions and our economy,’ he added. Over the 2021–2025 period, the government invested €2.9 billion in the sector.

Over €2.45 billion of the 2026–2030 plan is set to be invested directly into research and innovation, with the aim of funding research facilities and centres, advanced equipment and fostering international collaborations. Taighde Éireann (Research Ireland) will provide €1.4 billion in research funding across all disciplines. The government hopes that investment in research and innovation will improve Ireland’s ability to create high value jobs and improve long-term social and economic progress.

The plan will also increase capacity in fields such as healthcare and veterinary medicine, expand funding for apprenticeships and provide more support to students

‘Further education and training has a transformative impact,’ said minister of state Marian Harkin. ‘This [plan] will ensure that people of all ages, backgrounds and regions can access the skills that they need to thrive.’