€72m National Institute for Bioprocessing, Research and Training gets the green light with DCU partnering UCD, TCD and Sligo IT.
Thursday 1 September 2005

Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski and Prof Martin Clynes

The Minister for Trade and Employment Micheal Martin has announced Government approval for an IDA proposal to establish the National Institute for Bioprocessing, Research and Training at a cost of €72m over the next seven years with DCU as a key partner.

The Institute (NIBRT) will be based at the UCD Industry Park but will be owned by all the collaborating academic institutions including DCU, TCD and Sligo IT. However, it will operate independently of them and will be run by its own independent board with the Chairperson appointed by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

The President of DCU, Ferdinand von Prondzynski welcomed the Government’s establishment of NIBRT. “This facility will provide critical research and training facilities for bioprocessing technologies which will demonstrate that Ireland is determined to be a leading centre in this industry. It will also provide assurance for investors that Ireland will have the skill base to support key biopharmaceutical research and product development. The Institute will provide wonderful opportunities for Ireland’s graduates in this field ” he said.

He also thanked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment Michael Martin for his tribute to DCU for leading the way in developing this concept. DCU Professor Martin Clynes was one of the key figures in Ireland pressing for the development of this kind of research and training facility.

The Minister’s press statement said he praised the work and effort of the DCU led consortium who in collaboration with the Athlone Institute of technology and NUI Galway had led the way in developing the concept.

Minister Martin said “this is an extremely important initiative and illustrates the commitment of the Government and IDA Ireland to developing Ireland as one of the worlds leading locations for biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing. It is being funded to build in Ireland a world-class research platform in bioprocessing technologies and state of the art education and training for this emerging industry, which is constrained, globally by skills shortages and technology challenges”.

The NIBRT will provide new opportunities for training and education of bioprocessing technologists and graduates, as well as state-of-the-art research facilities in support of indigenous and multinational corporations already established of planning to set up in Ireland.

The pharmaceutical sector employs over 20,000 people at 83 locations throughout the country and annual exports from the sector exceed €30 billion. Ireland has the enviable record of attracting 25% of the entire pharmaceutical industry’s foreign direct investment.

The Institute will include large-scale fermentation facilities that are capable of growing fragile cell cultures under controlled conditions, a core technology for the growing bioprocessing sector in Ireland. The facility will ensure that Ireland has the skilled workforce required to support this technology-intensive industry.

This development comes after the Summer announcement of a key €10m biopharma collaboration between the multinational company Bristol-Myers Squibbs, DCU and NUI Galway.

State-of-the-Art Bioprocessing, Research and Training Institute to be established

DCU President welcomes the establishment of €72m BioTech Institute