The Government has announced funding of €14.25m for higher education institutions.
The fund was allocated under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) call for submissions.
The majority of the investment, €11.8m, is to be used to create and expand technological universities (TU).
However, funding will also be given to a number of non-TU related proposals - including two North-South cross border strategic alliance building projects, one by Letterkenny IT in the North-West and another by Dundalk IT in the North-East.
The remaining funding is aimed at other collaborative projects in line with Project Ireland 2040 and initial teacher education policy.
Funding has also gone to the ongoing process which will see completion of St Angela's College Sligo incorporation into NUI Galway in the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) area - as well as another ITE and regional clustering project involving the Shannon Consortium of University Limerick, Limerick IT and Mary Immaculate College.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology are to come together as a technological university consortium.
Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, said: "This merging of their respective strengths and attributes will be transformative for the Midlands and Midwest regions, for their communities, regional economies and will provide new and exciting pathways to higher education for students."
Education Minister Joe McHugh added: "We all want to see institutes of technology and further education colleges deepen linkages and expand options for students to provide the skills they need for a changing world.
"In particular, as a proud Donegal man, I am pleased to see the deepening of the connections within the Connacht Ulster Alliance between Letterkenny IT, GMIT and IT Sligo as they work towards their goal of establishing a technological university, as well as the strengthening of cross border links in the North-West.
"This funding package will be significant for these third level institutions to develop and align courses, push on in the field of research and ultimately progress to technological university status."
