NovaUCD signs MoU with Sandyford Business District and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
10 April 2026
Back row: Frank Curran, CEO of DLRCC; Greg Brennan, SBD. Seated: Ger Corbett, CEO of SBD; Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of DLRCC; Liam Cronin, UCD Director of Innovation
NovaUCD has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sandyford Business District (SBD) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) to support enterprise and innovation.
Through their new partnership, the three organisations aim to drive high-value employment, strengthen links between industry and NovaUCD, and enhance access to education and skills development.
Plans are also in place for the development of a Start Up and Innovation Campus in Sandyford.
“Our goal is to support start-ups and scale-ups, advance research and innovation, and foster talent development to drive sustainable economic growth,” explained Liam Cronin, UCD Director of Innovation.
“We now look forward to working collaboratively to connect start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and multinationals from the Sandyford Business District with NovaUCD and UCD’s wider innovation and research ecosystem, enabling opportunities for knowledge exchange, industry engagement, and the development of collaborative innovation initiatives.
“These initiatives will include the design and delivery of programmes to support early-stage companies, business acceleration, and research-industry partnerships, alongside the creation of opportunities for students, graduates, and professionals to engage with both emerging ventures and established companies.”
“I welcome this Memorandum of Understanding as an important step in strengthening collaboration across our county and advancing a shared collaborative vision for innovation, enterprise and education,” said Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of DLRCC.
“The development of a Start-Up and Innovation Campus in Sandyford will play a vital role in positioning the district as a regional hub of excellence, where businesses, educators, and government work side by side to drive opportunity and economic resilience.
“By deepening links between industry and the university research ecosystem, this initiative will open new pathways for knowledge exchange, skills development, and collaboration.”
“As we advance the objectives set out in this Memorandum of Understanding, SBD has the potential to become one of Ireland’s leading locations for innovation districts; a place where business, academia and policy work together to drive new ideas and continuous learning, support entrepreneurs and scaling companies, attract investment and create high-value employment,” added Ger Corbett, CEO of SBD.
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
