Over the past decade the DKIT has positioned itself as one of the leading Institutes of Technology with international reputation, in terms of its research performance.  There has been a continual growth in the Institute’s research expenditure, with in excess of €35M in research funding being secured from both national and international sources, such as, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, Irish Research Council (IRCSET), the Higher Education Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, the Welcome Trust, National Institutes of Health, cross border funds, Atlantic Philanthropy and the European Union.

Additionally, the number and breadth of internationally peer reviewed research publications (i.e. journal articles, conference papers, reviews) from has grown substantially over the past number of years.  Consequently, there has been an associated growth in its international impact as measured by the number of citations the Institute’s research publications have attracted. In addition, the Institute was one of the first Institutes of Technology to have put in place an open access digital research repository (http://eprints.dkit.ie/).

The Institute is committed to developing its PhD research programmes and at present there are in excess of 60 registered postgraduate researchers, representing a 250% increase since 2005. The Institute continues its involvement in structured PhD programmes within its prioritised research areas. This has been achieved through formal membership of large scale university led national research and graduate education platforms, such as, PRTLI Cycle 4 (i.e. RCSI led National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform, NUIM led “An Foras Feasa”) and Cycle 5 (i.e. DCU led Bioanalysis and Therapeutics “BioAT” GREP) funded initiatives and Science Foundation Ireland Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (i.e. UL led LERO CSET ).

The Institute has also put in place the key elements required for structured PhD programmes, in line with national policy from the Irish Universities Quality Board and Irish Universities Association (IUQB). Such elements include generic “transferable” and discipline specific skills training, formal progress monitoring policies and procedures, structured research supervisory training and appropriate governance structures around 4th level education.