Scale and Reach
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. Our research community has a broad collaboration footprint, evidenced by (2020–2025):
- Over 18,000 co-authored publications with partners in over 200 countries
- 63% of all research papers co-authored internationally
- Collaborations span 7,000+ institutions worldwide
- Institutional partnerships on 5 continents
- Highest number of industry research agreements (2023) and papers co-authored with industry partners in Ireland
Leader in industry engagement
UCD is Ireland’s leader in industry engagement, with a long track record in forging strong strategic partnerships for research, innovation and talent development. The university's research leaders have spearheaded major consortia including Precision Oncology Ireland (health), Valuation and Risk (financial services), NexSys (Energy) and Lisheen Bioeconomy Scaleup (agribusiness, bioeconomy).
UCD's research collaborations with industry have yielded:
- 418 companies co-authored papers with UCD researchers (2020–2024)
- 1,200+ publications with corporate partners, including IBM, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Fresenius, Alphabet (Google), Eli Lilly, Mars and Samsung, and innovative Irish firms such as GDC, EirGrid , OncoMark and APC
- In 2024, UCD had 72 research agreements, 6 innovation vouchers and 27 consultancy agreements with industry
Learn more about UCD's engagement with industry.
Institutional Partnerships
UCD has forged deep, long-term alliances with leading universities and research organisations across the world, driving research and innovation in key areas including life sciences and advanced manufacturing, fostering collaboration through joint seed funding programmes, and developing the global talent pipeline through student exchange and fellowships.
Our institutional partnerships include:
- UC Davis (USA) – joint research on global challenges in agriculture and One Health
- Northeastern University (USA) – expanding collaboration in engineering, health sciences and AI
- Queen’s University Belfast (UK) – advancing cancer research through the All-Island Cancer Consortium
- University of Liverpool (UK) - collaborating for impact in the humanities, AI, engineering and health.
- University of Edinburgh - fostering research collaboration and student and staff exchange
- Teagasc (Ireland) – national partnership in food, agriculture, and sustainability