SEAM Research Centre, of South East Technological University Waterford, has secured €4.8 million funding under the Technology Gateway Programme of Enterprise Ireland. This phase 3 Technology Gateway Programme (2023-2029) is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Southern Regional Assembly. This funding, which primarily covers operational expenses of SEAM Gateway staff, will assist in providing continued support to industries, in the region and beyond, in Materials Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing related fields.
This investment is a testament to the importance of the work being conducted at the centre and a strong vote of confidence in the team at SEAM, led by Dr Ramesh Raghavendra. SEAM Research Centre can now plan and execute its applied research agenda with a long-term perspective. This is essential for achieving meaningful and impactful results in many fields of research, not only for the benefit of industries but for society as a whole.
SEAM continues to be one of the leading Technology Gateway Centres in Ireland, providing innovative materials science and engineering solutions for industries seeking assistance on materials-related issues that cannot be solved by utilising their on-site resources. SEAM has assisted over 275 companies in Ireland. Its capabilities include engineering simulation, 3D printing, materials characterisation, sustainability and industrial X-RAY and CT scanning.
SEAM greatly acknowledges the funders for this significant endorsement. SEAM will ensure that its prime focus will remain to advance the cutting edge of innovation, bringing novel technologies with a view to transferring the knowledge acquired to Irish based industries. This seven year funding for SEAM Gateway staff strengthens its human resources base and this, undoubtedly, will assist in the growth of the centre and expand its services to more industries. Furthermore, this will also assist in SEAM’s vision of creating a dedicated additive manufacturing infrastructure with incubation facilities in the South East to drive enterprise and employment growth in the region.