Eco-Innovation Research Centre (EIRC)

‘Eco-Innovation’ is a term commonly used to describe new products, technologies, services and processes that contribute to sustainable development. With vast commercial potential, Eco-Innovation is identified by WIT as a key research Centre of Excellence (CoE), characterised by international reputation, strong links with industry & the international academic community, and is prioritised for development under the WIT Strategic Plan 2007-2010. These strategies support the creation of a knowledge society by establishing sustainable centres of research, development and innovation which are world leaders, capable of attracting resources and investment from the national and international arena.

Research activities at the EIRC focus on the innovative development of ‘high value-added technologies/products/processes from natural resources’ and ‘low environmental impact processing/growth methods’. Sustainable solutions for the future development of industries such as the marine, agriculture and forestry sectors, and ‘green’ chemistry for pharmaceutical synthesis, require a collaborative approach. Eco-Innovation Research at WIT is supported across a broad range of disciplines:

• Molecular Ecology Research   e.g. Development of DNA identification techniques for mammals; Population analysis of Pine Martins in Ireland
• Sustainable Marine Research  e.g. Bioremediation of toxic heavy metal species using seaweed biomass; Environmental biomonitoring; Isolation of bioactive compounds from sustainable marine sources
• Agri-Food Research   e.g. Exploitation of novel bioactive molecules in human and animal health applications
• Sustainable Agriculture Research   e.g. Biofuel research; Agri-environmental management
• Sustainable Forestry Research  e.g. Wood energy; Vegetation management; Invasive species management - Traditional & novel control methods, including biological control

EIRC Research Groups

The EIRC is comprised of a number of cross-disciplinary research groups:

Molecular Ecology Research Group (MERG)

Estuarine Research Group (ERG)

Sustainable Agriculture Research Group (SARG)

Forestry Research Group  (FRG)

Contact:    Dr. Peter McLoughlin          E-mail:    pmcloughlin@wit.ie           Tel:    +353 51 302029