Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Naming ceremony marks University of Galway and TE Connectivity partnership

University of Galway and TE Connectivity have marked their partnership with a naming ceremony of a key facility for the BioInnovate Ireland programme. The TE Connectivity Meeting Room has been unveiled as part of the Ian Quinn Centre for Health Technology Innovation on the University campus, in recognition of the company’s commitment to supporting health technology innovation, talent development and industry–academic collaboration through BioInnovate. President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “Our partnership with TE Connectivity is symbolic of how University of Galway focuses on the translation of research and innovation into real-world impact. The naming of the space in the Ian Quinn Centre is a permanent and visible reminder of the inspiration of Ian Quinn and the support of TE Connectivity for our ambition to ensure we have collaborative facilities to enable ideas to move from concept to application.” Pat Duane, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Medical, TE Connectivity, said: “At TE, we are taking an active role in the creation of a strong pipeline of innovators and engineers ready to take the helm at companies like ours in the future. We support BioInnovate Ireland, and programmes like it all around the world, to inspire the next generation.”   Dr Sinead Walsh, Programme Director at BioInnovate Ireland, said: “Dedicated innovation spaces matter. The TE Room will be a place where BioInnovate fellows and partners can work together, challenge assumptions and progress ideas. It also reflects the strength of our relationship with TE Connectivity, and the importance of sustained university–industry collaboration for the region.” The Ian Quinn Centre for Health Technology Innovation was officially launched at University of Galway in May 2024 in honour of the late Ian Quinn who was central in establishing Galway as a global medtech hub. Ian Quinn was a visionary in medical device design and innovation. Having witnessed the decline of the IT hardware industry and other industries in Ireland, he set about ensuring that the medical device industry would not suffer the same fate. Ian Quinn founded Creganna with his brother Niall, which went on to become TE Connectivity following its acquisition in 2016. The TE Connectivity Meeting Room will be used by BioInnovate Fellows, alumni, clinicians, researchers and industry partners as a dedicated environment for collaboration, ideation and project development. The naming of the space reflects TE Connectivity’s continued engagement with BioInnovate through mentorship, site visits and knowledge exchange, and its broader support for innovation-led growth within the medtech sector. Ian Quinn was a driving force behind the establishment of BioInnovate Ireland in 2011, bringing the BioDesign model to Ireland in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and University of Galway. It is Europe's only affiliate of Stanford Biodesign and Ireland’s national healthcare device innovation training programme. Over the last 15 years it has played a central role in strengthening Ireland’s medtech ecosystem. The programme has trained 170 Fellows and led to the creation of 35 companies, 24 of which are alumni-led high potential start-ups. The Ian Quinn Centre for Health Technology Innovation builds on this success by providing co-working space, mentorship and global connections for emerging health technology ventures, while also serving as a hub where industry, clinicians and campus-based innovators can come together to accelerate the development of new solutions. BioInnovate Ireland is supported under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021–2027. Ends

Friday, 16 December 2022

All eligible University of Galway full time and part time hourly payscales have been updated in line with the provisions of Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-22. Specifically the following increases have been implemented: - With effect from  02nd February 2022, payscales received a 3% increase - With effect from 01st October 2022- payscales received a further 1% increase or €500, whichever is greater  We are still awaiting sanction for the implementation of FEMPI restoration wef 1st July 2022 (save for a limited number of pay scales). Therefore there are no changes to those grades\pensions for now. See paragraph 1.3 in the above link for more details. Further advice will be issued for these grades in due course.

Monday, 24 April 2023

We have been asked to bring to your attention the fact that Secondment Expression of Interest Notices has been issued for the Public Service Transformation Division of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.  Expressions of interest are invited from across all sectors of the Public Service, including higher education, and across a number of grades.  Notices are available directly at the following link, and DPENDR and DFHERIS would very much appreciate your support in circulating to your staff.   The closing date for applications is 2nd May, and we understand the notices issued on Friday 14th April.