Three universities are to come together and pool resources in a bid to create greater global research projects.
The collaboration between NUI Maynooth, Dublin City University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has been announced this afternoon by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Mr Kenny said the move will see Ireland compete more on the global stage, while the President of NUI Maynooth, Professor Philip Nolan, said it will see the three institutions "deliver more with less".