A new €10m collaborative research project ONEHEALTH has been officially launched by science and technology hub Catalyst with its partners at an event in Belfast.
The project, which is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), has received funding of €9,852,752 and will be led by Catalyst, in partnership with Atlantic Technology University (ATU), Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), Tyndall National Institute Cork and the University of Galway.
Aiming to address some of the most critical public health challenges over the next four years, ONEHEALTH is a cross-border life and health sciences partnership that will use pioneering artificial intelligence and digital health approaches to tackle pressing health and agrifood challenges by recognising the vital connections between human, animal, and environmental health. This holistic approach to connecting data intelligence, academic expertise and local industries’ know-how, in a concerted joint effort, is an incredibly exciting opportunity that will be unique at this scale.
The launch event was addressed by Dr Rob Grundy, Catalyst’s Director of Innovation Partnerships. It continued with video messages from Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA and the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Niamh Smyth TD, remarks from Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and a speech from Catalyst CEO Steve Orr.
Attendees then heard from all ONHEALTH partners through a panel discussion led by Catalyst’s Head of Collaborative Research & Development, Katrina Kilkenny. The panel explored both the exciting opportunities the project has revealed and the common challenges such as fragmented health data, limited collaboration between research bodies and SMEs, and a shortage of scalable solutions for complex health issues were considered and debated.
Through strategic investments in research and innovation, ONEHEALTH’s ultimate vision is to create lasting improvements in health and economic resilience by significantly enhancing cross-border research collaboration between Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Key targets for the project’s four-year timeline include:
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “I want to congratulate all partners on the launch of ONEHEALTH. This dynamic collaboration is positioning the north as a leader in health and agri-food innovation, delivering cutting-edge digital and AI-driven solutions. ONEHEALTH reflects the ambition set out in my Department’s Life and Health Sciences and Agri-Tech Action Plans. Partnering with key research and innovation organisations to support SMEs, this investment will strengthen our cross-border innovation ecosystem, address critical health and agri-food challenges, and enable SMEs to create new products and processes that enhance health outcomes and drive economic growth.”
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: “The launch of the ONEHEALTH project represents a significant step forward in fostering cross-border collaboration and innovation. I welcome the project’s close alignment with Ireland’s strategic priorities under the National AI Strategy and our Research and Innovation Strategy. By harnessing cutting-edge AI technologies and bringing together expertise from academia, industry, and research bodies, this initiative will help address critical health and agrifood challenges while driving economic growth. The partnership exemplifies how cooperation between Northern Ireland and the border counties can deliver real benefits for our people, our environment and our shared future.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said:“Funded through the PEACEPLUS Innovation Challenge Fund, ONEHEALTH reflects the vision we share for a healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous future for the citizens of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. This innovative cross-border research project sets out to harness the power of innovation and strengthen the ties that bind communities, researchers and enterprises across the island of Ireland. This comes at a critical time. We are living in a world that is more connected but also more vulnerable to climate change, emerging diseases, economic shocks and societal divisions. Economic development in any post-conflict region is essential for building and sustaining peace. ONEHEALTH is a demonstration of how targeted investment in this area supporting innovation can deliver tangible benefits for health, the environment and the economy.”
Dr Rob Grundy, Director of Innovation Partnerships, Catalyst said: “We are proud to lead ONEHEALTH, a project that represents a transformative step in how we approach public health challenges. By connecting expertise across borders and harnessing the power of AI, we will create real tangible, lasting improvements which will benefit generations. This collaboration will not only drive innovation but also create real-world impact for communities and businesses, strengthening our shared health and economic resilience.”
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