University of Galway Becomes Europe’s First ZEISS Site

By Hannah Sharpe

The University of Galway has made history by becoming the first site in Europe to host ZEISS’s most advanced microscopy technologies.

The partnership with ZEISS, the German optics and optoelectronics company, marks a significant moment for Galway and for Ireland’s research landscape, positioning the city at the centre of advanced scientific discovery.

Under the agreement, Galway has been named as Ireland’s first ZEISS Labs@Location, a title held by only a handful of leading research institutions around the world. The University will act as a European reference site for ZEISS, showcasing the company’s most advanced imaging platforms.

Professor David Burn, University of Galway President, said the partnership reflects Galway’s growing reputation as a hub for science and innovation.

“At University of Galway, our research community is committed to pushing the boundaries of discovery and innovation,” he said. “Our new partnership with ZEISS strengthens that commitment by positioning Galway as a unique hub for advanced imaging technologies in Europe.”

Funded by Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland, the partnership brings three world-class systems to Galway including the GeminiSEM 360 with Volutome, the Elyra 7 SIM² Super-Resolution Microscope, and the Xradia Versa 620.

Together, they give researchers the ability to examine tissues, cells, and sub-cellular structures in exceptional detail – insights that could lead to new breakthroughs in health and disease research.

For Galway, the move also signals a boost in international visibility, with the University set to attract visiting scientists, industry partners and collaborators from across Europe.

Professor Ted Vaughan, Director of the University’s Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, said the development was “transformative” for research in Ireland.

He said: “Being recognised as the first Labs@Location site in Ireland underscores our global leadership in microscopy and imaging for biomedical applications. It enhances the capabilities of our University’s Institute for Health Discovery and will open new opportunities for collaboration and innovation across disciplines, sectors and borders.”

As part of the ZEISS reference network, the University will host training, system demonstrations and joint research projects with partners in Ireland and internationally.

The GeminiSEM 360 with Volutome, the first of its kind in Ireland, will also be shared with University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, strengthening cross-border research ties.

The initiative will be managed by the University’s new Technology Services Directorate, led by Aoife Duffy, which oversees Galway’s core research facilities and technology platforms.

With the arrival of these instruments, Galway joins an elite global network of institutions advancing the frontiers of microscopy. The University’s new status not only enhances its scientific capabilities but also underscores the city’s growing importance as a centre for research excellence and innovation in Europe.

For Galway’s research community, the development is a clear signal that world-class discovery is happening right here on the west coast.