Research projects involving Irish participants have won €251 million in funding from the European Union’s programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020.

The Department of Skills, Research and Innovation said 588 projects with Irish participation had secured funding from the EU programme, which runs from 2014-2020 and has a budget of almost €75 billion.

The latest funding covers the first two years of the programme.

Ireland has set a target of securing €1.25 billion in funding over the course of the programme.

Higher education accounted for €157 million of the funding and companies based in Ireland a further €72 million.

Minister of State for Research Damien English said: "I hope that this success will inspire other researchers to look to the opportunities in Horizon 2020. Important as the funding is, participation in Horizon 2020 provides invaluable additional benefits to the participants, ranging from networking to opportunities to collaborate with Europe's best researchers and most innovative companies."