University College Dublin, Enterprise Ireland, and French Embassy sign MoU to strengthen research and Innovation partnership

Posted 16 December 2022

(opens in a new window)University College Dublin, the Embassy of France and Enterprise Ireland have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establish a new International Technical Expert (ETI) role dedicated to strengthening Innovation and applied research links between France and Ireland.

The post is one of only six of its kind in the world, according to His Excellency Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France. “Research and Innovation is one of the most dynamic areas of Franco-Irish relations and this position highlights the special relationship between our two countries as France is now Ireland’s closest EU neighbour.

“This partnership with Enterprise Ireland and UCD is particularly innovative because of its positioning between administration, research and business. The agreement represents one of several milestones that we have achieved in the France-Ireland Joint Plan of Action… [and] this post is one of only six of its kind in the world, so having one of them in Ireland is a real achievement.”

Building on the strong base of academic and cultural co-operation between France and Ireland, the ETI will be based at NovaUCD, Ireland's leading university incubator, which has supported over 500 start-ups and early-stage ventures.

The role will develop an in-depth understanding of the research and innovation landscape in both Ireland and France to identify strategic priorities common to both jurisdictions, and work closely with the Research and Innovation Department at Enterprise Ireland, which is also the co-ordinator of the Irish National Contact Point network for the Horizon Europe programme.

Pictured: Lilla Korbuly, Global Collaborations Officer, UCD Global; H.E. Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France to Ireland; Shauna Hughes, Director, Global Relations, Partnerships and Mobility, UCD Global; Gaultier Brand-Gazeau, Head of Economic Department, Embassy of France in Ireland; Professor Mark Rogers, Acting UCD President; Abigail Lalor, Senior International Relations Officer, UCD Global; Delphine Tessier, Academic and Science Attachée, Embassy of France in Ireland; Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland and Tom Flanagan, UCD Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation.

“UCD is delighted to be collaborating with the Embassy of France in Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to strengthen innovation and applied research links between Ireland and France, and to be hosting the international technical expert at NovaUCD,” said (opens in a new window)Professor Mark Rogers, Acting UCD President.

“Through NovaUCD and the Enterprise Ireland team, we look forward to working with the international technical expert to strengthen links between the French and Irish start-up, innovation and applied research ecosystems.

Adding: “By leveraging existing partnerships, and building new collaborations, we aim to increase the attractiveness of both countries to the strategic innovation and research opportunities we will create in the coming years.”

Leo Clancy, CEO Enterprise Ireland said the new initiative would strengthen the research and innovation links between Ireland and France.

“Both France and Ireland place a high value on the enterprise and job creation potential of cutting-edge research and innovation and its role in tackling key global issues, such as decarbonisation.I look forward to the new synergies between the research and innovation communities in both countries that this new initiative will foster.”

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Micéal Whelan, UCD Research and Innovation)