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About

UCD plays a central role in Ireland’s dynamic economy, culture, and society, with a diverse community of over 1,700 academic staff, 300 technical staff and 2,558 graduate researcher students. Over the past five years, our faculty have collaborated with over 7,000 institutions in over 200 countries, contributing to over 18,000 research publications. The research community at UCD has generated unprecedented success in the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, seeing the university ranked number one in Ireland for EU-funded research. UCD is also the leader in Ireland for industry engagement, having co-authored research with 418 companies between 2020-2024.

By fostering creative, interdisciplinary collaboration and forging strong partnerships, we deliver transformative insights into the critical issues of our time. Our mission is to achieve breakthroughs that drive measurable impact at scale - addressing challenges such as advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and one health, and pivotal societal transformations such as energy decarbonisation.

UCD Institutes for Research

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UCD\'s centre of biomolecular and biomedical research explores mechanisms of health and disease, preventative strategies and novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. UCD Conway Institute
UCD's centre of biomolecular and biomedical research explores mechanisms of health and disease, preventative strategies and novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.
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UCD\'s institute for multidiscipline environmental, climate and sustainability research, including water, biodiversity, plants for the future, sustainable communities, people, work and society, and the built environment. UCD Earth Institute
UCD's institute for multidiscipline environmental, climate and sustainability research, including water, biodiversity, plants for the future, sustainable communities, people, work and society, and the built environment.
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World-leading multidisciplinary institute for pioneering research in food and health, with a focus on scientific discovery that shapes the future of sustainable healthy and safe food systems. UCD Institute of Food and Health
World-leading multidisciplinary institute for pioneering research in food and health, with a focus on scientific discovery that shapes the future of sustainable healthy and safe food systems.
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A collaboration between academia and industry delivering positive impact through research and innovation, the institute plays an integral part in the energy transition, endorsing a net zero carbon energy system. UCD Energy Institute
A collaboration between academia and industry delivering positive impact through research and innovation, the institute plays an integral part in the energy transition, endorsing a net zero carbon energy system.
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UCD Humanities Institute showcases the university\'s expertise and scholarship in the humanities and stimulates new interdisciplinary areas of research of international distinction. UCD Humanities Institute
UCD Humanities Institute showcases the university's expertise and scholarship in the humanities and stimulates new interdisciplinary areas of research of international distinction.
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UCD\'s institute for public policy is a centre of excellence for policy-relevant, theoretically-informed, empirically-grounded research in empirical social and behavioural sciences within organised themes and research centres. UCD Geary Institute
UCD's institute for public policy is a centre of excellence for policy-relevant, theoretically-informed, empirically-grounded research in empirical social and behavioural sciences within organised themes and research centres.
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Providing expertise and support for emerging and early stage interdisciplinary research in the university, global idea exchange, partnerships and network building, and home to UCD AI Healthcare Hub. UCD Institute for Discovery
Providing expertise and support for emerging and early stage interdisciplinary research in the university, global idea exchange, partnerships and network building, and home to UCD AI Healthcare Hub.
Collaboration

Collaboration

At UCD, collaboration is at the heart of our research mission. We work across disciplines, borders, and sectors to address pressing challenges and generate real-world impact. Between 2020 to 2025, our research community has collaborated with academic and industry partners in over 200 countries, with some 63% of research papers co-authored internationally, reflecting our global research footprint.

UCD is Ireland’s leader in industry engagement, having contributed to over 1,200 publications with industry partners and co-authored research with some 418 companies since 2020. 

In addition, UCD has forged deep, long-term alliances with leading universities and research organisations to further research and innovation in key areas including health and life sciences. Learn more about UCD's collaborations. 

Major Programmes

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Next Generation Energy Systems (NexSys) is the all-island, multidisciplinary energy research programme hosted by UCD Energy Institute, in partnership with industry and eight other leading research institutions. NexSys
Next Generation Energy Systems (NexSys) is the all-island, multidisciplinary energy research programme hosted by UCD Energy Institute, in partnership with industry and eight other leading research institutions.
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Ireland\'s National Bioeconomy Research Centre, based at UCD, promotes and develops Ireland’s bioeconomy through excellent research and innovation by over 100 academics collaborating nationally. BiOrbic
Ireland's National Bioeconomy Research Centre, based at UCD, promotes and develops Ireland’s bioeconomy through excellent research and innovation by over 100 academics collaborating nationally.
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The Research Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences, based at UCD, works towrds a sustainable world through innovative science and technologies to better understand the Earth’s past, present, and future. iCRAG
The Research Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences, based at UCD, works towrds a sustainable world through innovative science and technologies to better understand the Earth’s past, present, and future.
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Ireland’s national centre for AI supports businesses and organisations in Ireland to understand, adopt and leverage the benefits of AI and machine learning in a constantly advancing and evolving environment. CeADAR
Ireland’s national centre for AI supports businesses and organisations in Ireland to understand, adopt and leverage the benefits of AI and machine learning in a constantly advancing and evolving environment.
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One of the largest data analytics centres in Europe, undertaking high impact research in data analytics that has significant benefits for the individual, industry and society by enabling better decision making. Insight
One of the largest data analytics centres in Europe, undertaking high impact research in data analytics that has significant benefits for the individual, industry and society by enabling better decision making.
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The Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at UCD is shaping the future of manufacturing through high-impact research into the application of digital technologies to materials processing. I-Form
The Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at UCD is shaping the future of manufacturing through high-impact research into the application of digital technologies to materials processing.
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Based in UCD Institute of Food and Health, the technology centre connects leaders in industry to a nationwide network of world-class researchers and facilities, to improve global health through innovation in food. Food for Health Ireland
Based in UCD Institute of Food and Health, the technology centre connects leaders in industry to a nationwide network of world-class researchers and facilities, to improve global health through innovation in food.
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Investigating new precision approaches to disease using computational modelling, with a focus on cancer at a systems level, distinguished by its in-house expertise in both experimental and computational biology. Systems Biology Ireland
Investigating new precision approaches to disease using computational modelling, with a focus on cancer at a systems level, distinguished by its in-house expertise in both experimental and computational biology.
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A unique consortium of universities, cancer charities, and international companies developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment, based at UCD. Precision Oncology Ireland
A unique consortium of universities, cancer charities, and international companies developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment, based at UCD.

Academic Centres at UCD

View our full list of active academic research centres and Continued Professional Development (CPD) centres in the live UCD Academic Centres Register. 

See more about UCD research

Visit 'In Focus' to learn more about UCD's research leaders, major projects, programmes and centres, working in all critical domains to address the world's biggest challenges and opportunities.   

Contact UCD Research

UCD Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 4000 |