Govt Announces Living Laboratory Project At ATU'S Galway Campus

The Irish Government has announced a project at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF).

The project will include the construction of a living laboratory at ATU which will include cross-disciplinary facilities focussed on sustainability, a digital technology suite and classrooms to greatly increase capacity to design and deliver on-line/blended learning.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said:

"We are investing tens of millions of euros across the country to ensure each learner benefits from the highest quality of education.

"The funding will allow ATU Galway enhance the digitalisation capability especially in relation to more flexible offerings such as micro credentials, serving the needs of a dispersed learner population in the region they serve.

"It is through multi-million euro investments such as this that we will truly change the student experience for the better, by providing the highest quality of infrastructure.


"ATU is transforming education for its region. It is expanding its presence, growing its student numbers and making a significant impact here and abroad.

"This project ensures it continues to be a driver of regional and national development.

"The HEA in advancing these capital proposals, is playing a crucial leading role in rolling out the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund ensuring a pipeline of key strategic projects that delivers for our learners and our economic and societal needs."

President of ATU Dr. Orla Flynn stated:

"We are delighted to hear that we can progress to the next stage of our proposed new Future Living Lab – this cross-disciplinary new facility will build on global themes of sustainability and digitalisation.  It will also address significant space constraints on our Galway City campus, in relation to space and quality of infrastructure for teaching and learning.

"We are extremely grateful to the Minister, to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Higher Education Authority, for their support in bringing this project to fruition.

"My thanks also to everyone across ATU who work collegially on this project, and we look forward to work commencing as soon as possible."

Ciarán McCaffrey, Head of Capital Programmes in the HEA added:

"The investment is key to expanding capacity to meet the growing requirements of ATU and supporting its role as an anchor of regional development through the alignment of infrastructure with key skills, research, and innovation needs.

"The HEA looks forward to continuing to work closely with ATU as they move towards implementation of this transformative capital project."