Lero, ''the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software'',
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, is a world-leading Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centre. It was established in 2005 as an SFI Centre for Science Engineering and Technology (CSET), being one of nine (originally ten) such centres established by the
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The governm ...
in various areas of science and engineering.
Overview
Hosted at University of Limerick, Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, is home to around 250 active researchers across eight Irish universities and three Institutes of Technology. Its research spans a wide range of application domains from driverless cars to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, govtech, smart communities, agtech and healthtech.
Lero brings together researchers from University of Limerick,
Dublin City University
Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) ( ga, Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a university based on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. Created as the ''National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin'' in 1975, it enrolled its f ...
University College Dublin
University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...
,
Maynooth University
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM; ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann Mhá Nuad), commonly known as Maynooth University (MU), is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It ...
,
National University of Ireland Galway
The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...
,
University College Cork
University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork.
The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...
,
Munster Technological University
Munster Technological University (MTU; ga, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan) is a public technological university consisting of six campuses located in Cork and Kerry. The university was established in January 2021, the result of a merger b ...
, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology.
As the world’s second largest software exporter, Ireland is recognised internationally as a leading location for companies in the software sector and Lero is a key pillar of that. Fifteen out of the top 20 global technology firms have strategic operations in Ireland. Lero actively engages with industry and currently has in the region of 50 industry partners.
Leadership
Lero's first Centre Director was Professor Kevin T Ryan and its Scientific Director was Professor Klaus Pohl. Professor