On 13 October 2026, the winners of the 2026 SETU Research Impact Case Study Competition were announced.
Now in its second year, the competition organised by Dr Saoirse Cummins in SETU's Office of Research, Innovation and Impact (RII), recognises the many ways in which university research can benefit society, whether through improving health and wellbeing, supporting businesses, informing public policy or developing new technologies.
The competition forms part of SETU’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that research delivers meaningful benefits for society, while recognising the contributions of researchers and the organisations, communities and stakeholders they work with. Each category winner received a prize of up to €1,000 to further develop their research impact or build new collaborations and partnerships.
When we think about university research, we often think about scientific discoveries, academic publications or new technologies. But behind so much of this work are real people, communities and organisations whose lives and experiences can be improved through research."
Dr Saoirse Cummins
Dr Leana Reinl and Professor Felicity Kelliher were named winners of the main competition for their project:
GRASS CEILING: Driving Innovation for Rural Women through Living Lab Train-the-Trainer Programmes.
Their work empowered women in rural communities, supported innovation, influenced policy and created opportunities for enterprise development.
The runner-up award went to Dr Robin Stubbs, Dr Emily Shakespeare, Emily Kim and Sinead Barnett for Cúpla Trá: A Digital Twin of the Tramore Dunes and Backstrand, an EPA funded project using digital technology to understand and protect an important local coastal environment.
Dr Aisling McGrath received the Early Career Researcher Award for The Development, Evaluation and National Scale-up of Sheds for Life. Her work has contributed to the development and expansion of an initiative supporting men's health and wellbeing through community-based activities.
In the Policy Impact category, Dr Niamh Maguire was recognised for Building Fair, Robust, and Inclusive Justice Institutions, research that informed and strengthened our justice systems to better serve society.
The Technology Transfer Award went to SETU's Ocular Therapeutics Research Group for Transforming Ocular Drug Delivery Technologies from Laboratory Discovery to Commercial Application. The project highlights how scientific discoveries can be developed into technologies with the potential to improve treatments for people living with eye conditions. The Technology Transfer category was supported by Carol Faughnan, Commercial Case Officer in SETU's Technology Transfer Office.
Dr Saoirse Cummins, SETU's Engaged Research and Impact Officer, worked closely with researchers to help them identify and communicate the difference their work is making. Speaking about the competition, Dr Cummins said, “When we think about university research, we often think about scientific discoveries, academic publications or new technologies. But behind so much of this work are real people, communities and organisations whose lives and experiences can be improved through research.
She continued, “This competition gives us an opportunity to tell those stories and recognise the researchers who are working to make a difference. The range of submissions this year has been fantastic, and I want to congratulate all our winners and thank everyone who took part, including our reviewers for their valuable contribution.”
Professor Marie Claire Van Hout, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact at SETU, congratulated the winners and highlighted the importance of connecting research with societal needs.
“Universities have an important role to play in addressing the challenges facing our communities, businesses and wider society,” Professor Van Hout said.
At SETU, we want our research to make a meaningful difference, whether that's improving people's health, supporting economic development, protecting our environment or helping to shape better public services."
Professor Marie Claire Van Hout
“The projects recognised through this competition demonstrate the talent and commitment of our researchers, as well as the value of working closely with communities and external partners. They reflect the ambitions of our research strategy, Connecting Research to Impact 2025–2028, and the contribution SETU is making both regionally and nationally.”
Details of all Research Impact case studies can be found here.
The competition was funded through TU RISE (TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise), which is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021–27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021–27. TU RISE is managed by the Higher Education Authority of Ireland and the Southern Regional Assembly.
Photo credits: George Goulding, SETU