Four Research Centres affiliated with Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) will receive the cash.

They are the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre, I-Form SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, FutureNeuro SFI Research Centre for Neurological Diseases, and BiOrbic Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre.

Partners in the sector have pledged an additional €21 million to the centres.

The four centres, according to Dr Ciarán Seoighe, Deputy Director General of SFI, constitute a nationwide research network of 17 host and partner institutions that has worked with over 130 industry partners to date, spanning all regions and sectors and consisting of SMEs and international corporations.

"Research Centres play a vital role in developing and nurturing the next generation of research leaders and innovators, and today’s funding awards will support over 600 researchers at senior researcher, post-doctoral, PhD and MSc levels," stated Dr. Seoighe.

The manufacturing, agrifood, neurological disease, and bioeconomy sectors are all vitally important, according to Patrick O'Donovan, Minister of Research, Innovation, and Science, Further and Higher Education, and Research.

"While significant scientific advances have been made in these areas by Ireland’s research ecosystem, we need to remain vigilant in addressing challenges old and new, and turning these opportunities into real world impacts that people can see and feel," said Mr. O'Donovan.

Charlie McConalogue, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, announced that his department is co-funding the SFI Research Centre programme with approximately €8.7 million.

"Supporting VistaMilk SFI Research Centre over the next six years will help drive development and deployment of digital technology to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of dairy production and processing in Ireland," said McConalogue.