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25 Dec 2025
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25 Dec 2025
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Lorna Walsh, TUS, Maurice Ryan, CEO of Green Belt Ltd, Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner, Dr Liam Brown, TUS, Dr Yuanyuan Chen, TUS, and Ruth Freeman, director of Research Ireland
THE TECHNOLOGICAL University of the Shannon (TUS) has achieved a major milestone after being awarded more than €1 million through the prestigious Research Ireland National Challenge Fund (NCF).
This marks the first time TUS has secured a victory in the prize phase of the NCF, a significant moment in the university’s research history.
The announcement was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.
READ MORE: Being online late at night contributing to tiredness and lack of focus in Limerick students
TUS was one of only six teams to receive funding from the €8 million prize pot for its innovative Traceless project, which tackles the growing problem of microplastics in forestry.
Led by Dr Yuanyuan Chen of TUS, alongside co-lead Professor Maurice Collins of the University of Limerick and industry partner Maurice Ryan of Green Belt Ltd, Traceless was named the overall winner of the Healthy Environment for All Challenge.
Dr Liam Brown, vice president of Research, Development & Innovation at TUS, praised the achievement, saying: “This is a first for TUS and is a testament to our commitment to finding practical, scalable solutions to the global sustainability challenge. This project clearly demonstrates how applied research can deliver real-world impact and how innovation and sustainability are interlinked.”
Plastic tree shelters commonly used in forestry degrade into microplastics, posing environmental risks. The Traceless project aims to replace these with fully biodegradable, durable tree-support products that also incorporate controlled release fertilizers.
This innovation has the potential to position Ireland as a global leader in sustainable forestry solutions, supporting EU plastic reduction targets and improving soil health.
With this funding, the Traceless team will now scale its solution, helping position Ireland at the forefront of environmentally responsible forestry practices globally.
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