Minister Harris launches €50m Technological Sector Advancement Fund to provide support for initiatives that are critical to the strategic development of the technological sector

Posted: 20 July, 2023

Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, today announced the launch of the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF), a €50 million fund that aims to build on the success of the technological sector in Ireland.

The TSAF is a 30-month fund running from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2026 that is open to Technological Universities (TUs) and Institutes of Technology (IoTs). The fund will support a range of initiatives designed to further institutions’ progress with a focus on quality, excellence, and capacity building.  Key objectives of the fund include enabling established TUs to realise the ambitions of the Technological Universities Act 2018 and supporting institutions to reach their stated objectives in regard to further landscape reform.

The TSAF is the latest installment of significant investment in the technological sector following Landscape Funding, the Technological University Transformation Fund (TUTF), the EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan N-TUTORR project, and the TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise scheme (TU RISE), which is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

The TSAF will support the continuing development and success of the technological sector and is an important step in ensuring recently formed TUs are enabled in terms of sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Minister Harris highlighted the significance of the TSAF commenting:

“This new fund builds on significant investment in the technological sector. However, it is important to move past establishment phase to embedding the TUs in our regions.   

This fund will ensure there is no cliff edge in terms of support but critically, it will take these new Technological Universities to a different stage of their development.  

This fund will be about supporting TUs to fulfil their mission – to support the needs of individuals, business, and local communities. That is the next stage of our TU agenda and it is absolutely essential this funding is used to deliver for the regions they serve.” 

Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the Higher Education Authority, welcomed the launch of the TSAF:

“The TSAF follows significant national and EU investment in the technological sector. This funding will nurture the growth and success of our Technological Universities and enable institutions to achieve their strategic ambitions.

The fund will also enhance the capabilities of the technological sector as a whole, demonstrating its economic, social and educational impact in regions across Ireland”.

Eligible institutions are invited to apply for funding by 19 October 2023, with successful projects expected to commence on 1 January 2024.

Notes for the editor

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is responsible for the design and management of the TSAF.

Institutions eligible to apply are: Atlantic Technological University; Munster Technological University; Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest; South East Technological University; Technological University Dublin; Dundalk Institute of Technology; Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

The TSAF call document and application form can be downloaded from the HEA website. Queries regarding the fund will be managed through an FAQ process. Questions should be directed to systemperformance@hea.ie and answers will be published on the HEA’s TSAF webpage.