The building of a new bioscience and electronic engineering facility at Maynooth formally began today.
The Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods, laid the foundation stone for a new £12 million building at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Maynooth.
"An increased level of research activity leading to innovation is essential to our economic future," Dr Woods said.
Research by the Institute of Immunology and the Institute of Bioengineering and Agroecology will be done in the building.
It will also provide accommodation for an extra 300 students in the University's new Electronic Engineering Department and 165 places will be provided for the Bioscience Institute.
The project is being funded jointly by the Government, the European Regional Development Fund and the private sector.