Dublin City University (DCU) is setting up a new facility to support the Irish Cleantech sector supporting 200 jobs over the next 18 months.
The sector covers projects that address sustainability issues concerning water, waste, energy and emissions.
The government wants to create 10,000 jobs in the area in the coming years.
It is hoped the DCU Innovation Campus will be a location of choice for Cleantech start-ups, SMEs and larger companies too.
It is to be established on a vacant Enterprise Ireland-owned site.
Hopes for 10,000 additional jobs
Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton officially opened the campus today.
Speaking at the launch he spoke of the significance of the new Innovation Campus in the context of a major government policy focus.
"The green economy is a sector targeted as part of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and late last year we published our plans in this sector aimed at driving the creation of 10,000 additional jobs in this sector over the coming years" he said.
"The DCU Innovation Campus will play a key role in this by bringing together innovative start-ups and more established companies with the skills and ideas that only a university can provide. This is a model that has been used to great success internationally, for example in the North Carolina Research Triangle" he added.
The campus will be a central element of DCU's contribution to the development of the Green Way - a collaborative venture established by industry, academic institutions and public/semi-state players in the north Dublin region to create jobs and trade opportunities through its internationally recognised Cleantech cluster.
President of DCU is Professor Brian MacCraith.
"As Ireland’s University of Enterprise, DCU is strongly committed to delivering real innovation with an economic impact" he said.
"Through the establishment of this new Cleantech hub, companies can leverage the significant research expertise of DCU and its extensive partner network, particularly in the area of sustainability, thus positioning Dublin and Ireland as examples of best practice in public-private collaboration to solve the global issues of energy and environmental challenges" he added.
The campus is set to attract new high-growth, Cleantech enterprises that wish to locate in a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem; international entrepreneurs wishing to take advantage of advanced DCU R&D; university spin-out companies; and student and graduate start-up companies.
