UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity.

As Ireland's largest university, with its great strength and diversity of disciplines, UCD embraces its role to contribute to the flourishing of Ireland through the study of people, society, business, economy, culture, languages and the creative arts, as well as through research and innovation.

Tackling Global Challenges: Research and Innovation at UCD

Research and innovation are essential drivers of a dynamic economy, an informed society and a vibrant culture. The spectrum of research and innovation at UCD encompasses individual scholars, research groups, start-up companies and large-scale collaborations with industry and other partners. Research is conducted within each of the University's extensive range of disciplines, and in multidisciplinary research programmes addressing challenges of global scale.

In 2022/23 UCD researchers secured €161 million in research grants from national and international funding agencies, companies and foundations. Since 2012/13 UCD researchers have secured over €1.3 billion in such grants. Their research underpins national research and technology institutes and centres, including the SFI funded Insight Centre for Data Analytics, Food for Health Ireland, Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), CeADAR Centre for Applied Data Analytics and Machine Intelligence, BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and NexSys (Next Generation Energy Systems). UCD is the national leader in winning European Union research funding.

Over the last decade UCD researchers have increased their annual number of papers in the international literature by 62% and have authored more than 40,000 papers in total. These papers are cited by other researchers at a rate that is 74% above the world average. In addition, 62% of the papers were co-authored with institutions in other countries/regions, underlining UCD’s role as Ireland’s global university.

As Ireland's leader in innovation, technology transfer and commercialisation, UCD's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship recognises the importance of active participation and collaboration to exploit leading-edge research and development outputs. Supports for innovation include NovaUCD – the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs, NexusUCD – the Industry Partnership Centre and the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm. Since 2003 UCD has provided support to over 550 companies and early-stage ventures through the services and supports provided across the university, through NovaUCD, and through business support programmes run and managed by NovaUCD.

Excellence in research and innovation that delivers strong and meaningful impact is central to all we do in University College Dublin.

UCD is a community of world class academics making fundamental discoveries with real, far-reaching impact for people and our planet.