Trinity welcomes investment in research infrastructure through INSPIRE programme
Posted on: 05 December 2025
Trinity College Dublin has welcomed the launch of INSPIRE, the Government of Ireland’s new €750 million programme to renew and strengthen research infrastructure across the higher education sector.
Announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, INSPIRE is the largest single commitment to research infrastructure and talent in the history of the State. The programme will support the equipment and facilities that enable researchers and students to work at the forefront of discovery, develop new skills and contribute to Ireland’s competitiveness and long-term resilience.
The investment will be delivered between 2026 and 2031, with an initial €100 million available next year. INSPIRE includes funding for local institutional equipment as well as shared advanced infrastructures designed to support collaboration across higher education, industry and enterprise.
Professor Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity, said: “INSPIRE is a welcome and timely investment in Ireland’s research capability. High-quality infrastructure is essential for developing talent and for giving researchers the tools they need to explore new ideas, tackle complex challenges and create knowledge that benefits society.”
“The programme’s focus on collaboration, and national and international impact aligns closely with Trinity’s strategic research objectives. These set out the positive, open and productive research environment we want to foster across our community. We look forward to working with partners across the sector and with industry as the programme unfolds."
INSPIRE will be administered by the Higher Education Authority and Research Ireland. The first phase, opening in early 2026, will invite applications for institutional infrastructure and initial expressions of interest for shared national facilities. This approach is intended to build a coordinated and sustainable foundation for Ireland’s future research capacity.
Over the coming months, Trinity will work with its research community as the University prepares for Phase One. This work reflects the priorities set out in ‘Thrive’, the Trinity Strategy 2025–2030, which places research and innovation at the heart of the University’s mission to advance knowledge and serve society.
Further information on the INSPIRE programme is available from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
ENDS