Powering disruptive technologies and innovation
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a flagship investment under Project Ireland 2040, delivered with support from Enterprise Ireland to fast‑track the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies through high‑impact industry–research collaboration.
The University of Galway is a national leader in DTIF, leveraging the programme to accelerate spin‑out growth, drive research translation, and deepen collaboration with SMEs, particularly across MedTech, digital therapeutics, and health sciences.
Updated 2026 figures confirm the University of Galway as the top‑performing organisation in the DTIF programme. The University was announced as a partner in 40 of the 131 funded projects, representing nearly double the next closest participating organisation.
DTIF has also been a powerful catalyst for the University’s innovation ecosystem. To date, 26 DTIFs were awarded to University of Galway spin‑outs, with an overall value of €114.9m including InVera Medical, Endowave, Luminate, Tympany Medical, AuriGen Medical, SymPhysis Medical and Relevium Medical, demonstrating the University’s strength in translating research into high‑growth companies.
40
projects awarded
University of Galway has been involved in 40 out of 131 funded DTIF projects.
26
awards to spin-outs
University of Galway spin-outs have partnered on 26 projects valued at €114.9m
34%
projects in Galway
128 consortium partners in County Galway have attracted 34% of the overall funding to date
The scale and quality of engagement across the programme reinforces the University’s contribution to Ireland’s innovation ecosystem and to the delivery of Project Ireland 2040. DTIF provides a valuable pathway to impact for our research and encourages industry engagement.
Building on this momentum, through our emerging Research and Innovation Strategy, the University will continue to lean into an engaged, partnership‑led approach, working closely with industry to co‑create, test, and scale disruptive technologies that deliver impact for the region and beyond.
This performance is a clear indicator of the scale and maturity of disruptive and deep‑tech activity centred in County Galway and beyond. It reflects a concentration of capability across MedTech, digital health, and advanced technologies, supported by strong links between research, enterprise, and the health system. Together, these strengths position Galway as a nationally significant location for developing, testing, and scaling next‑generation technologies with global impact.
Professor David Burn
President, University of Galway
Lily: Breakthrough Technology to Prevent Chemotherapy Induced Hair Loss
University of Galway spin-out Luminate Medical is developing the Lily, a wearable cap that prevents chemotherapy-induced hair loss using low-level scalp compression therapy, and received €6.4M in DTIF funding in 2025 to accelerate its development and clinical trials. The device aims to reduce the emotional distress caused by hair loss and is part of Luminate's broader goal of enabling at-home cancer care by preventing chemotherapy side effects.
Luminate Medical also spearheads a DTIF project called LILAC, a platform to detect and prevent peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. University of Galway supports research and technology integration, enhancing patient safety and treatment tolerability.
Lilac, a wearable set of gloves and boots, is designed to prevent peripheral nerve damage in the hands and feet of cancer patients – a debilitating condition that requires frequent in-person monitoring of patients. Meanwhile, Lily, a wearable cap-like device designed to be worn during chemotherapy, allows patients to prevent hair loss caused by chemotherapy.
In addition to these initial products, the team has begun the development of a novel system, Lotus, designed to enable at-home administration of low-risk anti-cancer drugs by patients.
Luminate was founded in 2018 by Aaron Hannon, Dr Barbara Oliveira and Professor Martin O’Halloran when the group were working as medical device researchers at the University of Galway in Ireland. Headquartered until recently at the University’s Business Innovation Centre, the team has since grown to over 60 people employed in the US, Ireland, and Georgia.
”DTIF has been a real game‑changer, providing SMEs in Ireland with the scale of support needed to translate university research into technologies that can genuinely improve patients’ lives. For Luminate Medical, it enabled us to accelerate clinical development while remaining deeply connected to the University of Galway’s research and innovation ecosystem. That combination of funding, partnership, and clinical focus has been critical to moving Lily towards real‑world impact for cancer patients.”
N-LIFT: First-in-human cancer cell therapy trials to start in Galway
The largest award to date under the DTIF, almost €12 million, was secured for the N‑LIFT project, a major collaborative initiative focused on overcoming treatment resistance in advanced or metastatic solid tumours that no longer respond to existing therapies. The consortium, comprising LIfT BioSciences, Hooke Bio, and University of Galway, will advance the N‑LIFT platform towards the first‑in‑human clinical trial of a novel immune‑cell therapy.
The project will launch the first‑in‑human trials of a ground‑breaking neutrophil‑based cancer immune‑cell therapy developed by LIfT BioSciences, a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta with an Irish base in An Spidéal, Co. Galway and in the University of Galway's Research and Innovation Centre. Neutrophils form part of the body’s first line of immune defence, and this next‑generation therapy, known as Immuno‑Modulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs), is designed to overcome resistance in solid tumours.
The clinical trial will focus initially on patients with metastatic cervical and head and neck cancers who have exhausted all standard treatment options, including checkpoint inhibitors. Trials will be conducted at Galway University Hospitals and are expected to begin in 2026, offering new hope to patients with critical unmet clinical need.
The award will also enable the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) at University of Galway to expand and further develop its role as a national manufacturing hub for advanced cellular therapies. Building on its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)–certified status and established track record in delivering clinical‑grade therapeutic products, CCMI will provide the specialist manufacturing capability required to support this innovative cell therapy and future clinical programmes.
University of Galway will contribute deep expertise in oncology and cell‑therapy clinical trials, as well as in translating laboratory research into clinical application, including the development of predictive biomarkers to assess treatment response. Hooke Bio will provide advanced analytical tools to optimise therapy performance and better understand patient response.
The study will first establish the safe and effective dose of the immune‑cell therapy before exploring its combination with other immune‑based treatments, with the aim of overcoming resistance mechanisms observed in some patients. Together, the consortium is working to accelerate the delivery of a potentially life‑saving therapy from laboratory discovery to patient care.
"The Institute for Clinical Trials is delighted to partner with industry on this award. Projects like N-LIFT demonstrate the extraordinary impact that can be achieved when world-class academic research and innovative industry expertise come together with strategic investment. This collaboration brings together complementary strengths across discovery, cell therapy, advanced analytics, manufacturing and clinical trials, creating a powerful pathway from scientific innovation to patient care.
The €12 million investment through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is a major vote of confidence in this partnership and in Ireland’s capacity to develop and deliver the next generation of advanced cancer therapies. It gives us the opportunity to accelerate this promising technology towards first-in-human clinical trials here in Galway, while further strengthening our clinical research and advanced cell-manufacturing capabilities.
For patients with advanced cancers who have exhausted existing treatment options, the potential impact is profound. N-LIFT is a great example of how collaboration and targeted investment can turn innovative science into new possibilities for patients — and place Galway and Ireland at the forefront of this rapidly developing field.”
Professor Fidelma Dunne - Director, Institute for Clinical Trials, University of Galway
DAVID: Data-center Audio/Visual Intelligence on-Device
The DAVID platform is an €6.8 million DTIF-funded project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, and an edge-AI solution designed to deliver advanced, low-power artificial intelligence directly on device, enabling rich, voice-enabled interaction in smart toys without reliance on cloud-based processing.
Combining audio and visual sensing, DAVID integrates:
- Speech-driven interfaces
- Computer vision for gesture and facial-expression recognition
- On-device text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis
- Support for object and gesture detection and recognition, and automatic speech recognition (ASR)
The project refined Xperi and SoapBox Labs technologies for the smart-toy market, introducing child-specific innovations. The University of Galway contributed neural-based TTS and child-speech-understanding technologies, customisable to different voices, and enhanced existing AI solutions to deliver intelligent, low-cost, and energy-efficient smart-toy experiences. The project also incorporated a privacy-by-design approach, enabling AI processing on device without reliance on cloud-based processing of personal data.
"DAVID showed us the real value of bringing industry and academia together around an ambitious technology challenge. Our collaboration with the University of Galway combined world-class research with industrial engineering to turn new ideas in AI, speech and vision into a working, privacy-conscious edge-AI platform. The impact has lasted well beyond the project itself, advancing our technology, creating new IP and expertise, and establishing a partnership with the University that continues today."
Dr. Petronel Bigioi - CEO Fotonation
From Drones to Digital Healthcare: ÉireComposites and University of Galway
The long-standing partnership between University of Galway and spin-out company ÉireComposites has secured six DTIF awards in total, with three projects delivered in collaboration with University of Galway, representing more than €10.4 million in DTIF funding. Together, these projects demonstrate the breadth and impact of the partnership, supporting innovation across sustainable mobility, advanced manufacturing, space technologies and digital healthcare.
MDigiStent, €4 million, DTIF Call 6, 2I-DRONE, €2.4 million, DTIF Call 3, 2021
MI-DRONE developed advanced drone manufacturing technologies for autonomous last-mile delivery. The project used lightweight composite materials and innovative manufacturing processes to enable faster, more sustainable deliveries, with the potential to reduce associated emissions by up to 80%. Completed in 2024, the project strengthened Ireland’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and autonomous logistics.
FreeForm-OPTIX, €4.1 million, DTIF Calls 4 & 5, 2023
FreeForm-OPTIX is developing lightweight, high-performance freeform mirrors for applications in space, satellite communications, aerospace and scientific instrumentation. The project combines expertise from ÉireComposites, University of Galway and industry partners to develop lower-cost optical technologies and strengthen Ireland’s position in advanced manufacturing and photonics.
DigiStent, €4 million, DTIF Call 6, 2023
DigiStent is developing a wireless digital stent platform for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. The smart stent aims to continuously monitor patients and predict potential failure, with accuracy exceeding 95%. The technology could transform post-operative care by providing clinicians with real-time information and enabling earlier intervention.
Together, these projects demonstrate the breadth and impact of the ÉireComposites and University of Galway partnership, translating research and innovation into technologies addressing real-world challenges across healthcare, sustainability and space.
“DTIF Funding has been transformative for ÉireComposites – it has allowed us to leverage our expertise on advanced materials to develop disruptive technologies and generate IP in multiple sectors, including aviation, space and med tech. In addition, DTIF has significantly strengthened our relationship with the University of Galway and enabled us to attract new commercial contracts”.
Tomás Flanagan - CEO ÉireComposites
From Connected Care to AI-Driven Healthcare: FeelTect and University of Galway
The partnership between University of Galway spin-out FeelTect and University researchers has secured almost €11 million in DTIF funding across two projects, supporting the development of next-generation compression therapy and digital healthcare technologies for chronic wound management.
HealIntel, €4.6 million, DTIF Call 4, 2023
HealIntel is developing a data-driven clinical decision support system for wound care, building on FeelTect’s Tight Alright® technology, which monitors sub-bandage pressure during compression therapy. By capturing real-world treatment data, the project aims to help clinicians optimise treatment, improve healing outcomes and enable more personalised care.
HealAsystant, €6.3 million, DTIF Call 7, 2025
HealAsystant is developing an AI-assisted system to support patients in managing their compression therapy at home. Combining connected health technologies, AI and remote monitoring, the project aims to improve treatment adherence, support earlier intervention and give clinicians greater insight into patient progress.
The projects build on the success of Tight Alright®, which has achieved regulatory approvals across the US, Europe and Australia and launched commercially in Switzerland in 2025. Clinical research has also demonstrated significant improvements in healing rates for venous leg ulcer patients.
Together, HealIntel and HealAsystant demonstrate how collaboration between FeelTect and University of Galway is translating research into innovative healthcare technologies with the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce pressure on healthcare systems.
“The DTIF has allowed FeelTect to forge valuable ongoing collaborations with the University of Galway and Granite Digital, bringing together highly complementary skillsets and providing critical resources to drive the advancement of pioneering technology that will have profound positive impacts to the lives of patients with chronic wounds.”
Dr Andrew Cameron, FeelTect CEO and Founder
"Thanks to the Government’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), we have brought together the clinical and data science strengths of the University of Galway with the specialised connected health, digital and engineering expertise of our industry partners, especially FeelTect Ltd. The DTIF is an excellent programme, which bridges the gap between academic research and commercial innovation."
Prof Andrew Simpkin - Professor in Statistics, University of Galway
RestOAre: New Treatments for Chronic Pain
The partnership between University of Galway spin-out Relevium Medical and University researchers is advancing the development of innovative treatments for chronic pain, supported by €4.6 million in Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) funding.
RestOAre, €4.6 million, DTIF Call 7, 2024
RestOAre is developing a novel treatment for knee osteoarthritis, a painful and progressive condition affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Current treatments often provide temporary relief, while long-term use of some pain medications can carry significant side effects. The project aims to develop a longer-lasting treatment that can provide targeted pain relief while addressing the progression of the disease.
Led by Relevium Medical, the project brings together University of Galway and HookeBio, combining expertise in pain research, drug discovery, marine biodiscovery and advanced screening technologies.
University of Galway researchers are playing a key role in the project, with Dr Leo Quinlan leading research into innovative pain models and drug screening approaches. Researchers are also investigating bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms that could target receptors involved in osteoarthritis pain.
The project builds on research originating at University of Galway and the BioInnovate Ireland programme, which led to the creation of Relevium Medical in 2022. The company was co-founded by Dr Alison Liddy, who is now CEO, alongside a multidisciplinary team of University researchers.
The company’s lead programme, RM-010, is an injectable hydrogel being developed to provide targeted and sustained pain relief for people living with osteoarthritis. If successful, the technology could offer patients a new treatment option for managing chronic pain and potentially reduce reliance on existing therapies.
The collaboration demonstrates how University of Galway research can progress from identifying an unmet healthcare need, through innovation and spin-out creation, to securing significant competitive funding to develop potential new treatments with the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
"The DTIF grant has been instrumental in supporting our pipeline development and the discovery and screening of novel pain-targeting compounds."
Alison Liddy - CEO and Founder Relevium Medical
Sources of data include https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/disruptive.technologies.innovation.fund/vizzes.
For further information email researchmatters@universityofgalway.ie