Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has announced 27 new academic and industry research collaborations on behalf of Science Foundation Ireland, valued at €2.1 million. Insight’s Lukasz Porwol has been awarded a fellowship with Fidelity Investments Ireland – Next-Gen VR-driven Serious Communication & Collaboration Hybrid Infrastructures for Business.

The SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme will support the temporary placement of academic researchers in 19 companies. These researchers undertake research projects across a variety of areas, including microbiology, virtual reality (VR), chatbots optimisation, biotechnology, coastal erosion, breast cancer, photodynamic therapy and more. The industry partners on these awards will provide co-funding with a combined value of €1.9 million.