UCC looks to secure land for biomanufacturing park
University College Cork (UCC) could look at securing land in the future for a new biomanufacturing park that would liaise with industry to help develop a range of research projects.
The university has recently established a company called Cork Biomanufacturing Park. A spokesman said that for now, the firm will be used to pursue available research grants.
The new company’s directors include Brendan Tuohy, a UCC graduate and the chairman of semi-state company EirGrid.
Mr Tuohy was the secretary general at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2000 to 2007. He is also the chairman of the Science Foundation Centre for Climate, Energy and Marine.
Cork Biomanufacturing Park details its ambitions to develop partnerships between UCC and public and private entities as well as academia.
It will focus on innovation in areas such as biomanufacturing, industrial biotechnology, precision fermentation, and the use of green hydrogen in biomanufacturing.
A UCC spokesman said that the university has a “strong track record” in fermentation and confirmed the establishment of the new company.
“This is required to enable applications for research grants to various Irish and international schemes,” they said.
“In time, the company may consider some other activities, such as those outlined in the company’s constitution but the immediate priority is for the company to apply for specific grants for research.”
Other directors of Cork Biomanufacturing Park include Rory Condon, John Morrissey and Nora Geary.
Prof Morrissey is a microbiologist at UCC. He leads a research group in yeast biotechnology at the university and teaches microbiology and biotechnology there.
Mr Condon is the chief financial officer and operating officer at UCC. Ms Geary is the university’s corporate secretary.
Last year, UCC and the Tyndall National Institute (TNI) were granted permission to develop land at North Mall in Cork city for a new research facility.
The planned 17,000sqm facility will allow TNI to expand its research operations in what it expects to be a stateof-the-art location. It will cater for up to 250 postgraduate students and 750 staff. It will effectively double the size of the TNI.