GMIT president Dr Fergal Barry has welcomed the decision by the Galway City Council to grant planning permission for a substantial extension to the institute’s Innovation Hub building at its Galway (Dublin Road ) campus. Construction on the new c1,400sq m three-storey building is expected to commence in the autumn.
“GMIT colleagues in research and innovation, and the Buildings and Estates Department, have worked in close collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and GMIT’s appointed design team, led by Van Dijk architects, to produce an exciting and dynamic design on a very prominent site on the Galway campus, with south facing aspect over Galway Bay, on one of the busiest arterial routes in and out of the city,” Dr Barry said this week.
“The extended building will provide enhanced infrastructure to foster job creation and business growth in areas such as market research, sales process improvement, customer interface, legal and intellectual property advice, business plan development, fundraising supports, business networking and training, and access to the research and development capabilities of GMIT.
“It will increase our innovation infrastructure which, under the management of George McCourt, GMIT’s head of innovation, has contributed positively to the economic and social development of Galway, Mayo, and the western region.”
David Lee, GMIT head of buildings and estates, added: “This project, which has received substantial funding from Enterprise Ireland, is an excellent example of constructive collaboration across the Department of Enterprise and Employment, the Department of Education and Skills, and GMIT to deliver worthwhile infrastructure to support job creation in Galway city and the western region. The building when completed will be one of the largest regional third level innovation centres. The building incorporates external finishes matching the highest third level building standards, consistent with the existing finishes on GMIT’s multi -award-winning learning resource centre.”
GMIT’s head of innovation George McCourt also welcomed the planning approval. “To date, GMIT innovation hubs, at the Galway and Mayo campuses, have supported the creation of circa 550 jobs, 32 high-growth start-ups, 42 client companies relocating to the regions as well as raising circa €140m in investment funding,” Mr McCourt said.
For further information on the GMIT iHubs see www.gmit.ie/gmit-innovation-hubs
