Irish interior living space is being radically redefined by the 'Millennial' generation, who are opting for oversized bean bag sofas and chairs over conventional furniture - whilst moving their living room configurations a number of times each year.

Just under a quarter of Irish youngsters aged between 29 and 44 (23%) now own a bean bag item as an alternative to an armchair or recliner, according to research from Big Bertha Original.

The survey, conducted amongst 1,000 Irish residents, revealed that there's a spike in bean bag popularity amongst the age range, higher than any other bracket. Bean bag ownership across the Ireland sits at 20% today, compared to just 11% in 2004.

In addition, 46% of Millennials will rearrange their living room furniture at least twice a year and 33% of them will change their furniture depending on the season of the year. The Big Bertha Original results point towards a renaissance in bean bag furniture, which is proving to be one of the most unlikely living room accessories of the year so far.

Big Bertha Original's Buyer Hannah Blakey said: "Our survey results suggest that interior living spaces are being redefined and reimagined by a younger generation in Ireland.

"They have broad horizons when it comes to style and comfort in their homes, and it is encouraging to see that our bean bag sofas, chairs and cushions are an increasingly prominent part of their vision."

Big Bertha Original products are not only easily portable and affordable, but they're deceptively comfortable too, moulding to the body to deliver optimum physical support. This helps to ease muscle and joint strain and ensures maximum comfort.

Also, modern bean bag furniture maintains its shape due to premium manufacturing processes and robust coverings, available in a wide range of styles and fabrics.

Hannah added: "Our bean bag products offer so many benefits, most obviously in their price point, as one of our highback chairs cost as little as £59.50, compared to up to twice that amount for a conventional alternative from a High Street furniture shop."

"They come in various shapes, sizes and colours, making them extremely versatile pieces of furniture that can complement any room. What's more, they can be lifted and moved easily, making the home a far more interactive living space than ever.

"Overall, the combination of comfort, versatility, affordability, and accessibility makes bean bags an attractive choice, particularly for renters looking to enhance their living spaces with function and fashion at a fraction of the cost."

For more information about Big Bertha Original's huge range of bean bag products, visit https://www.bigberthaoriginal.com/

See more stories here.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The superstructure bridge deck parts of the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge in Waterford, Ireland - designed by Knight Architects in collaboration with Roughan & O'Donovan as lead Engineer and Hardesty & Hanover as M&E Engineer - have now been successfully installed. The 207m-long pedestrian and cycle bridge is a centrepiece of the €200million Waterford North Quays Infrastructure Project, Ireland's largest urban regeneration initiative.

Commissioned by Waterford City & County Council and constructed by BAM, the crossing will create a vital active travel connection across the River Suir when it opens to the public in 2026, linking the historic city centre to the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at the North Quays. The bridge forms a critical component in unlocking the SDZ's potential for private sector-led regeneration, including new homes, offices, hospitality, and public amenities.

Spanning the river with a quiet elegance, the bridge pays tribute to the city's vibrant trading legacy and its deep-rooted connection to the majestic River Suir. The structure's subtle curves and faceted steel superstructure take inspiration from Waterford's celebrated tradition of crystal glassware, while its twin-leaf bascule span - concealed discreetly within the deck - ensures continued navigability of the river for marine traffic. Above each of the feature piers, the bridge deck widens to form generous viewing platforms, furnished with bespoke seating to invite pause and reflection over the Suir and its evolving surroundings.

Designed for multi-modal use, the bridge will facilitate pedestrians and cyclists, forming a new section of urban greenway that ultimately links the Waterford to Dungarvan and Waterford to New Ross Greenways. The bridge design is also future proofed to facilitate a future electric shuttle bus connecting the north and south quays.

To ensure efficient movement on the bridge coupled with safe transitions at the end, Knight Architects designed a new urban realm at the South Plaza landing site which features an array of surfaces which help intuitively guide pedestrians and cyclists in the right direction.

This area activates the waterfront and integrates the area's wider active mobility network, further enhancing the public realm of Ireland's oldest city. In addition to enhancing local transport, the project aligns with Ireland's climate goals by encouraging modal shift and reducing car dependency.

Tom Osborne, Director at Knight Architects, says:

"This bridge does far more than connect two sides of a river. It connects the past with the future, catalysing the transformation of Ireland's oldest city whilst responding sensitively to its historic cultural and urban context. It represents a bold and forward-looking investment in the city's future and will act as a key enabler for the North Quays development, bringing new homes, jobs and cultural offerings to Waterford. It's been a privilege to help shape a structure that so clearly demonstrates the value of sustainable, people-centred infrastructure."

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, today welcomed the conclusion and signing of the contracts for the commencement of construction of five new buildings across multiple campuses, which are being delivered by Public Private Partnership (PPP). The construction cost of the five buildings is approximately €380 million ex VAT.

The new buildings are located in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway and Letterkenny Campuses, South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford and Carlow Campuses and in the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Limerick Campus.

This is the second phase of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, with buildings in the first phase located in the Technological University Dublin (TUD) Tallaght and Blanchardstown Campuses, Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork and Kerry Campuses, the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone Campus and in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dún Laoghaire. The contract for phase one was signed in December 2022.

When all eleven buildings are completed, they will comprise circa 72,800m2 of additional building space at the campuses and will cater for circa 8,500 student places. In addition, the provision of these buildings will free up space in existing buildings and allow for new student places.

Speaking today, Minister Lawless said: "This significant capital programme demonstrates both my own and the Government's commitment to excellence across all our higher education institutions. It reflects our focus on achieving regional balance and delivering best-in-class facilities for the next generation of learners - and for the long-term economic impact that follows.

"With construction now commencing on five new buildings across five campuses, this €380 million programme will significantly expand student capacity, modernise teaching spaces, and bring state-of-the-art labs, studios, and workshops to regions across the country. It is a vital investment in our economy, supporting scientific education in regional areas.

"I've seen first-hand the transformative impact of buildings delivered under phase one of this PPP programme and the quality of what has been delivered. With today's announcement, we are building on that success, delivering lasting educational infrastructure that will reinforce Ireland's knowledge economy for years to come."

The buildings will have a strong focus on supporting practice-based learning, including laboratories, workshops and studios. They will also have significant flexibility to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs, and to support hybrid and remote learning.

The buildings being delivered in the second phase are as follows:

Atlantic Technological University, Galway Campus: STEM Building

A Science Technology Engineering Mathematics building is planned for ATU Galway Campus consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate science laboratories, general teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of ATU at Galway by c. 500 students.

Atlantic Technological University, Letterkenny Campus: Education Building

A Library, IT and Education Building is planned for ATU Letterkenny Campus. This will consist of a library and various learning resource spaces, general and specialised teaching spaces, ICT laboratories, administration space and ancillary space. In conjunction with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase capacity of ATU at Letterkenny by c. 600 students.

South East Technological University, Waterford Campus - Engineering, Architecture, Computing and General Teaching Building

A new Engineering, Architecture Computing and General Teaching building is planned at SETU Waterford Campus which will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate laboratories, general a...

Guest post by Ronnie Hamilton, Pre-Sales Director, Climb Channel Solutions Ireland

If compliance feels overwhelming right now, you're not imagining it. New regulations covering cybersecurity, data protection, AI, and more are emerging - from the latest PCI DSS updates to the EU AI Act. As a result, compliance is actively shaping the IT channel, influencing how we do business, how we anticipate industry shifts, and how we support our partners and customers with the right solutions to stay ahead.

Navigating compliance in 2025 means being aligned with regulatory requirements, but it's a balancing act because at the end of the day, we all still have a job to do: delivering the right solutions, tailoring services to customer needs, and being a trusted partner.

With new regulations coming into force and the mounting challenge of understanding cybersecurity, AI governance, and data integrity requirements, it's more important than ever to stay ahead. On the other hand, those who stay agile and deliver solutions that meet regulatory demands have an opportunity to turn the compliance headache into a competitive advantage.

The Agility Advantage of Smaller Partners

Smaller channel partners face growing pressure from complex customer environments, resource constraints, and fierce competition for skilled talent. However, their agility provides a unique advantage. Unlike larger enterprises, they can quickly adapt to evolving customer needs, position themselves as trusted advisors, and identify emerging vendors - particularly those offering AI-powered and automated solutions.

AI adoption plays a critical role in maintaining a competitive edge. By embracing AI, smaller partners can deliver exceptional managed services with fewer resources, keeping costs low and service quality high. This approach ensures they remain competitive in a crowded market.

Tackling the EU NIS2 Directive

The EU NIS2 Directive reinforces the need for robust cybersecurity measures, urging businesses to adopt a more comprehensive approach to risk management. Essential security practices such as multi-factor authentication, regular cybersecurity training, incident response planning, and strong supply chain security are no longer optional but essential.

A key principle underlying the directive is the Identify, Detect, Protect, Respond, and Recover framework. While most organisations focus heavily on detection and protection, recovery is sometimes a weak link. A lengthy recovery period following a breach can be as harmful as failing to detect the threat in the first place. The integration of automation into threat detection and response processes is becoming more important for meeting compliance requirements.

The EU AI Act: Compliance Meets Innovation

The EU AI Act introduces new obligations for organisations deploying AI solutions - emphasising transparency, accountability, and risk management throughout the AI lifecycle. These requirements extend to all aspects of AI implementation, from data sourcing and model training to real-world deployment.

To address compliance risks, managed service providers may consider introducing AI governance roles, such as "AI Managers as a Service." These specialists help organisations navigate AI regulations without requiring full-time in-house expertise. While compliance with AI regulations may introduce additional costs, the long-term benefits - such as enhanced customer trust, clear documentation, and ethical AI practices - can significantly outweigh the initial investment. Rather than viewing compliance as a regulatory burden, partners should position it as an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships and stand out.

Automation and AI: Key Enablers of Compliance

AI and automation are proving indispensable for managing compliance complexity. From automating repetitive processes to monitoring security events and ensuring adherence to evolving standards, these technologies help organisations streamline compliance efforts while mini...

As summer holiday season gets into full swing and the hunt for the best deals ramps up, FraudSMART is issuing a timely reminder: be vigilant against a seasonal rise in travel scams.

FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative developed by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), warns that these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters capitalising on the demand for last-minute getaways, particularly touting 'recent cancellations' or 'limited time offers' at heavily discounted rates. Holidaymakers are being lured in with these tempting offers and discounts, often through fake websites, online ads and social media links.

To help consumers navigate online travel bookings safely, FraudSMART is urging every holidaymaker to utilise a free tool available on the FraudSMART website: Scamchecker.ie. This essential resource allows you to quickly verify the legitimacy of any website or link before making a booking, acting as your crucial first line of defence against online fraud.

FRAUDSMART'S TOP TIPS FOR A SECURE SUMMER:

Book Smart: Always use trusted and well-known booking websites or travel agents.

Verify before you buy! Before you commit, check the link on Scamchecker.ie. This free tool is your essential safeguard against fake websites and fraudulent offers.

Be Wary of Unsolicited Offers: Exercise caution with unsolicited emails or social media ads offering cheap holiday deals. Always verify special offers by visiting the official website of the travel company, rather than clicking on embedded links in an email or advert.

Avoid Bank Transfers: Avoid making payments through bank transfers, as these are difficult to trace and recover.

Use secure Wi-Fi: Do not use unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks when making payments; switch to 3G/4G on your phone if necessary.

Keep Records: Print or save a copy of your order and purchase details.

Update Security: Ensure your computer's security is up to date with reliable antivirus and browser software.

Protect Your Card: Keep your card in your sights and protect your PIN - never share or write down your PIN details.

Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime at BPFI and lead for the FraudSMART campaign, said: "As people across Ireland plan last-minute getaways, fraudsters are working just as hard to take advantage of the holiday rush. These scams can be incredibly convincing and come from multiple sources including fake and copycat websites, convincing online adverts and social media posts. However, once payment is made - often by bank transfer - the so-called agent or website disappears, leaving victims without a booking and out of pocket. Some victims may even receive a fake booking confirmation, only to discover the scam after they have travelled to the destination and find the property doesn't exist when they arrive."

Ms Davenport added: "However, there are a number of red flags to look out for, such as being asked to pay by bank transfer or being pressurised to act quickly. Our Scamchecker.ie tool gives consumers a simple, effective, and free way to double-check the legitimacy of a website or link before making a booking. If you pause before you pay, and use Scamchecker.ie, it can be the difference between the holiday of a lifetime or a holiday disaster and significant financial loss."

FraudSMART is encouraging holidaymakers to make Scamchecker.ie the first stop before booking any holiday deal online. If you suspect you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to the Gardaí.

For further advice and to sign up for email alerts on current risks and trends, visit www.FraudSMART.ie.

See more stories here.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podc...

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has published its 2024 Year in Review, highlighting a transformative year of progress in areas critical to Ireland's future, including housing innovation, digital resilience, and sustainability.

In a year of global uncertainty and rapid advances in areas like cybersecurity, NSAI played a pivotal role in supporting business competitiveness and advancing Ireland's strategic ambitions under Housing for All, the Climate Action Plan, and the Digital Europe Programme.

Minister of State with responsibility for Employment, Small Business and Retail, Alan Dillon TD said:

"The NSAI plays a vital role in strengthening Ireland's business ecosystem. From enabling housing innovation through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) to advancing cybersecurity and sustainability, NSAI's Year in Review displays how the organisation supports our industries to grow safely, smartly, and compete internationally. The Year in Review reflects the important role NSAI plays in supporting Irish businesses and setting and maintaining world-class standards, measurement services and certification systems."

In 2024, NSAI advanced key pillars of its Strategic Plan 2022-2026 in the areas of housing, digital transformation, climate and MedTech through standards, metrology and certification that directly support Ireland's Programme for Government and economic growth.

Geraldine Larkin, NSAI CEO, said:

"NSAI is committed to supporting businesses to enable growth, competitiveness and long-term success. We're proud to act as a bridge between innovation and assurance, empowering Irish businesses of all sizes to operate with confidence, integrity, and international credibility. Whether it's bringing a new MMC housing system to market or achieving ISO certification in information security, we ensure companies can move faster, meet expectations, and lead by example."

Key highlights from the report include:

Supporting housing innovation: With 80 new MMC enquiries and 48 new applications received in 2024, NSAI's MMC department is supporting faster, safer and more efficient construction outcomes.

NSAI's Sustainability and Built Environment department approved 1,132 construction products last year and NSAI established a dedicated Building Information Modelling department before Christmas.

Agrément certification is specifically aimed at products or systems that are new or innovative. The KORE group in Cavan, for example, achieved MMC Agrément certification through NSAI for its insulated concrete formwork system and its insulated foundation system.

Caroline Ashe Brady, Commercial Director with the Kore Group said:

"NSAI's rigorous assessment process has been crucial in enabling us to bring next-generation construction solutions to market with confidence. MMC Agrément certification helps manufacturers in the construction industry, like ours, to meet both compliance requirements and sustainability goals."

Cybersecurity at the forefront: In September 2024, NSAI was appointed lead co-ordinator for the EU TrustBoost programme, aimed at strengthening cybersecurity certification across the EU. With threats to data privacy and digital infrastructure on the rise, this initiative under the Digital Europe Programme is helping to develop new technologies and tools to create a more secure digital ecosystem for Europe. Separately, NSAI developed a new certification readiness tool for Irish SMEs around information security.

Innovation and excellence through standards: As Ireland prepares to take over the presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2026, NSAI continues to take a leading on the role of standards in support of the single market. This is a vital role at national and European level. In 2024:

1,467 standards were published

286,209 standards were accessed

200 new members joined technical committees (there are now over 2,400 national committee members)

Precise measuring for trade: NSAI's Nati...

Queen Mary University of London is renowned for world-leading research and is committed to sustainable development across all its operational and academic activities.

As part of a new project to improve its data centre sustainability, the University worked with Schneider Electric and its EcoXpert Partner, Advanced Power Technology (APT), to implement a new cooling solution that would enable heat reuse.

By connecting with its district heating systems, the University has developed a data centre platform that can meet current and future research computing needs, while delivering on its sustainability strategy.

Combined Data Centre & District Heating Project at Queen Mary University

Schneider Electric, the global leader in energy management and automation, and its EcoXpert Partner, Advanced Power Technology (APT), have delivered a cutting-edge, data centre modernisation project at the Queen Mary University of London - one of the world's top 100 universities.

Together, the companies have created a platform for heat recovery at the University's data centre, enabling waste heat from the facility to be connected to a campus-wide district heating network, providing heating and hot water for the buildings and student accommodation nearby.

The project not only reduces the campuses scope 1 CO2 emissions in line with Queen Mary's sustainability goals but has also allowed it to reduce the costs of its energy bills. Further, the new energy efficient data centre has provided the University with increased resiliency and processing power for its on-premises, large-scale research and intensive computing applications, helping it to provision for future expansion.

World-leading research

Queen Mary University of London is ranked 94th in the world in the 2025-26 edition of the US News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings, and today has over 32,000 students from over 170 nationalities and 5,700 staff - with no less than nine?Nobel Prize winners?among its former staff and students.

It is committed to conducting world-leading research and adheres to the principles of sustainable development across all areas of its operational and academic activities. Its vision is to create and oversee the evolution of a large-scale distributed computing infrastructure needed to maintain the UK's position as a world leader in particle physics.

As such, it is a participant in the Grid for Particle Physics (GridPP) project, a collaborative effort among particle physicists, computer scientists, and engineers to analyse data generated by high-energy physics experiments, such as those conducted at the world-famous Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.

The size, scale, and importance of this work means that the University must operate and maintain a highly efficient, on-premises data centre - ensuring it meets the technical requirements of existing and future research developments, especially those requiring High Throughput Computing (HTC) applications.

Legacy challenges

Prior to the modernisation project, Queen Mary's data centre was experiencing reliability, scalability, and availability issues, which required manual on-site interventions to fix. It was also becoming outdated, and its operations were, at times, impacted due to a build-up of heat in its server racks from its inefficient cooling systems.

Future research computing may also have been hindered due to the data centre's hosting limitations. The refresh was, therefore, vital to improve and stabilise day-to-day operations, and its proximity to the campus' district heating network presented an opportunity for a new solution be designed and implemented to bring the data centre in line with the University's sustainability goals.

Solution - a catalyst for sustainability

Schneider Electric's data centre, power and cooling solutions were already installed across Queen Mary's estate, so when it came to the plans to upgrade its operations, the University directly sought help from Schneider Electric's partne...

The Irish Government and IDA Ireland today welcomed IBM's announcement to create additional high-value jobs in the south-east of the country. The leading global technology company will, over the next three years, hire up to 75 software engineers, dedicated to research and development (R&D), based in Waterford.

The roles will focus on cutting-edge innovation for IBM Z, the infrastructure powering 70% of global transactions by value. The Waterford software engineers will closely collaborate with IBM's R&D teams around the world, from designing processors and firmware to software development and advancing the Linux operating system.

Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment, said:

"IBM's decision to expand its operations in Waterford with the creation of up to 75 highly-skilled software engineering roles is very welcome news. This investment is a strong endorsement of the South-East region's growing reputation as a hub for innovation and advanced technology.

It also reflects the government's commitment to supporting regional development and fostering strong partnerships between industry and academia. I commend IBM for its continued confidence in Ireland and for its collaboration with the South-East Technological University to build a future-ready workforce."

Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, said:

"I welcome this very positive development which underscores Ireland's attractiveness as a location for businesses to invest in and to expand R&D operations. This strengthens IBM's long-standing presence in Ireland where it employs thousands of people today. IBM has cited Ireland's strong talent pool as a key factor in allowing the company to grow here, which reflects the significant increased investment by the Government in education, and particularly our third-level sector, over recent years.

We are committed to supporting research and development in our tech sector, including in the South-East of our country, to drive balanced, regional development and economic growth."

In addition to the expansion of R&D functions in Waterford, IDA Ireland also welcomes IBM's decision to deepen its collaboration with the South East Technological University, to develop a technical skills ecosystem with a focus on mainframes and Linux.

Nathan Cullen, country general manager, IBM Ireland, said:

"I am delighted to see our footprint in Ireland evolve further. This is testimony to the deep talent pools available across the country, upon which we have steadily built our business, including mainframes which are a cornerstone of global transactions. IBM has now operated in Ireland for nearly 70 years and this milestone investment for the region also speaks volumes about the ecosystem that has built up around the South Eastern Technical University."

IBM last year announced the recruitment of another 800 high-tech jobs in Ireland by 2027, cementing the country's position as a globally strategic location for the company. These new roles, spanning R&D, digital sales and Consulting operations, will be spread across Dublin, Cork and Waterford.

Michael Lohan, IDA Ireland CEO, said:

"This R&D investment announced by IBM is fantastic news for Waterford and indeed the South East Region. This investment is also closely aligned to Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation, 2025-29, where IDA has committed to positioning Ireland at the centre of cutting-edge global technological innovation in the next five years. I warmly welcome this decision by IBM and assure them of IDA's continued partnership."

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is inviting entries from individuals and organisations across all sectors of the Irish economy at the vanguard of Ireland's clean energy transition, to enter the 2025 SEAI Energy Awards.

The Awards showcase exemplary achievements and inspire others to follow suit. More than 2,000 previous entrants over the past two decades have saved over half a billion euro by pursuing their sustainable energy ambitions.

2025 Entrants Can Choose from 10 Award Categories including:

Large Business

Small Business

Residential Energy Upgrades

Inspirational Sustainable Energy Community

Transport

Energy Research (comes with a €15,000 bursary prize)

Last Year's Winners include:

Mannok (Large Business)

BWG Foods (Transport)

Tallaght District Heating (Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy)

University College Dublin: Bike Library (Excellence in Research and Innovation)

William Walsh, CEO SEAI, said:

"SEAI's Energy Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible efforts of communities, businesses, public bodies, and individuals driving Ireland toward a sustainable energy future. These awards don't just celebrate progress - they spark it. They showcase fresh thinking, new ideas, and ground breaking innovations that are helping to phase out fossil fuels and power a greener tomorrow.

As we gear up for the 2025 SEAI Energy Awards, we're excited to honour the next wave of changemakers and visionaries. Whether you are part of a local initiative, a pioneering business, or a passionate individual, we invite you to share your story. Enter the awards and help inspire the future."

Closing date for entries is Friday, 18 July 2025. Overall winners will be announced at a lunch event in Dublin in Autumn 2025.

Read here about the impact of winning the 2024 Team of the Year award had on Swords Pavilions and why they feel others should enter the SEAI Energy Awards.

Researchers at TU Dublin have secured over €650K to develop innovative cancer diagnostic technology under the prestigious Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland Pathway Programme. The award is part of a national €23 million investment announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, aimed at empowering Ireland's emerging research leaders.

"This investment, through Research Ireland's Pathway programme, will support emerging researchers in their journey from postdoctoral work towards establishing themselves as independent investigators. The projects receiving funding span a broad range of disciplines, ensuring a broad impact on scientific discovery and societal progress. By aligning with Ireland's national research priorities, these projects will help drive advancements in key sectors such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, history and education," stated Minister Lawless

The research, led by Dr Anand V.R., a postdoctoral research fellow at TU Dublin's Photonics Research Centre (PRC), will combine two advanced light-based technologies - whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensing and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) - to build a powerful new tool for detecting cancer. This new system won't need chemical labels and will be highly sensitive, making it possible to quickly and accurately detect important cancer signals in the body, even in very small amounts.

Based at TU Dublin's Photonics Research Centre, the project will benefit from the Centre's state-of-the-art facilities, including 90m of specialised lab space and a multidisciplinary research environment. The project will also engage a PhD student under the co-supervision of PRC Director Prof. Yuliya Semenova.

Further collaboration will come from TU Dublin's Nanolab Research Centre (NRC), led by Dr Furong Tian, whose expertise in nanomaterials and nanoparticle modification will support the development of the sensor's biomedical capabilities.

A key outcome of the project will be the creation of a proof-of-concept prototype for a rapid, non-invasive diagnostic tool that can detect minute quantities of breast cancer biomarkers in blood samples, offering promise for earlier detection and improved patient outcomes.

"I am honoured to receive this support through the Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland Pathway Programme. This funding will enable us to develop a next-generation biosensing platform that merges the unique advantages of whispering gallery mode resonant sensing and surface-enhanced Raman scattering," said Dr Anand V.R.

"Our goal is to dramatically improve the speed, sensitivity, and accuracy of breast cancer detection. This project is a testament to the collaborative research environment fostered at the Photonics Research Centre and Nanolab Research Centre, and I look forward to translating our scientific innovation into real-world clinical impact."

Commenting on the awards, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO, Research Ireland, said "Our Pathway programme equips promising researchers with the resources needed to reach the next level and help drive impactful discoveries. These projects will contribute valuable insights into pressing global and national issues, including public health policy, digital well-being, technological advancements, healthcare and more."

The Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland Pathway Programme is co-funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and Met Éireann, contributing a total of €1.7 million to support projects with cross-sectoral relevance in sustainability, environment, and climate.

For more information, please visit www.tudublin.ie/PRC

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-te...