Queen’s University recently welcomed the announcement that €70 million in joint funding is to be invested in two research centres on climate and sustainable food, both co-directed by Queen’s academics as part of the Co-Centres Programme.

These new virtual research centres capture transformative opportunities for collaboration between academia, industry and policy-makers across Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The investment will engage the public, businesses and governments to address complex societal challenges, from sustainable food supply to climate change. Crucially, they will harness the power of research and innovation partnerships to ensure a coordinated and agile approach to addressing our shared challenges.

To showcase and further discuss the opportunities for all-island research and collaboration the Chief Executives’ Club will host an event in the Royal Irish Academy, Dubin on Tuesday 4 June, 5:30pm. This networking event will focus on the importance of partnerships between the higher education, business and civic sectors on the island of Ireland.

The evening will include a facilitated discussion with the two major co-led research centres on climate and sustainable food – Professor Mark Emmerson, Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Yvonne Buckley, Trinity College Dublin, from the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, and Professor Eileen Gibney, University College Dublin from the Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems.