WIREDGOV

The new agreement enables further collaboration on research areas that are critical to technological innovation and economic growth.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was announced to coincide with the second UK-Ireland Summit taking place in Cork.

It supports a growing collaboration between UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Research Ireland, which will support researchers to work together in key areas.

These include telecommunications, advanced materials and quantum technologies, and a new creative industries programme launched this year.

It provides an overarching agreement through which the two organisations can work together on further cooperative activities in the future.

Closer collaboration

It supports the UK and Irish governments’ ambition for closer UK-Ireland research collaboration while also supporting economic growth through research and innovation and maximising co-investment.

Through the MoU there will be continued cooperation on the existing lead agency agreement between the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Research Ireland.

The EPSRC-Research Ireland Joint Funding of Research Programme includes collaborations on areas such as ultra-low power electronic devices and complex wireless networks.

The UK-Ireland collaboration in the creative economy is led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Research Ireland, launched in January 2026.

It aims to build and consolidate new partnerships between creative industries researchers, industry experts and policymakers in Ireland and the UK.

Addressing challenges and opportunities

UKRI International Champion and AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said:

From the creative industries, design and advanced communications to vaccines and biomedical research, collaborations between the UK and Ireland are addressing the major challenges and opportunities of our time.

This Memorandum of Understanding deepens the already strong ties between the UK and Ireland’s research and innovation sectors, enhancing our ability to work together to advance our knowledge and deliver growth for the benefit of everyone in society.

Paving the way for partnership

Research Ireland Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, said:

Research Ireland is delighted to agree this MoU with UKRI, which paves the way for both an extension and expansion of our partnership arrangements.

The MoU is aligned with our strategy – launched earlier this month – which is structured around the three interconnected impact themes of talent, economy and society.

We look forward to the research collaboration, knowledge exchange, capacity-building and other cooperative activities that will be facilitated by the agreement.