Tyndall National Institute has been awarded close to €5m in funding under the Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme.
The funding will support research by providing national capability for growing and analysing ultra-thin semiconductor materials.
Dr Lynette Keeney.
Higher education minister James Lawless has announced an investment of €17m to support nine key infrastructure projects through the Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme, with Tyndall accounting for one of the nine projects awarded.
The programme is designed to ensure that Irish researchers can access the specialised equipment needed to compete on the global stage.
Accelerating progress in advanced electronics and emerging tech
Transforming advanced materials into real-world semiconductor technologies requires reliable ways to grow and characterise ultra-thin layers in device structures. These thin films must be made with incredible precision, down to the atomic level, to tune their performance for next-generation devices. Modern materials growth techniques allow consistent production of these films at scale, moving innovative discoveries from the lab towards applications.
Led by Dr Lynette Keeney, the €4.67m ASPIRE project aims to provide national capability for growing and analysing ultra-thin semiconductor materials with atomic precision, accelerating progress in advanced electronics and emerging technologies.
When combined with state-of-the-art material processing, electromechanical, electrical and magnetoelectric characterisation, this facility will enable comprehensive correlation between physical and functional properties of novel materials and devices. This facility will provide unparalleled insights into materials performance, from synthesis to device integration, will provide a uniquely integrated approach to prototyping novel materials and semiconductor devices, accelerating innovation in computing, biomedical, and low-power electronic technologies.
Dr Keeney said: "ASPIRE will significantly enhance our capacity to develop and prototype the next generation of advanced materials and devices at wafer scale.
"It will strengthen Ireland’s position in strategically important areas including semiconductors, photonics, quantum technologies, and advanced multifunctional oxides, while supporting collaboration across academia, industry, and the wider innovation ecosystem. This investment will help build national capability, attract and retain high-calibre researchers, and reinforce Ireland’s competitiveness in European and international research and innovation landscapes."
Advanced materials, medtech, AI, semiconductors and quantum tech
The Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme will enable the installation of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities across the country, strengthening Ireland’s research capacity in strategically important areas such as advanced materials, medtech, AI, semiconductors and quantum technologies.
Minister Lawless said: "Today’s Research Ireland infrastructure announcement further underscores our strong commitment to ensuring Ireland’s research community have access to world-class facilities. These nine projects will strengthen national capability in areas vital to Ireland’s future, including advanced materials, AI, and medtech. This investment will equip researchers across the country with the tools they need to remain at the forefront of global innovation and strengthen Ireland’s long-term competitiveness."
Professor William Scanlon, CEO Tyndall, said: "I would like to congratulate Dr Lynette Keeney and her team on securing this highly competitive award. This investment underscores Tyndall’s role in delivering critical national research infrastructure for Ireland. The ASPIRE facility will provide world‑class capability in advanced materials growth and characterisation, accessible to researchers and industry partners nationwide, and will play a key role in strengthening Ireland’s semiconductor and advanced materials ecosystem."
Together, this investment reinforces Tyndall’s role in delivering world‑class research infrastructure and supporting Ireland’s long‑term competitiveness in semiconductor and advanced materials research.