RTE and the BBC are the latest organisations to become sponsors of Media Lab Europe, the research and development centre at the former Guinness Hopstore in Dublin.

Media Lab was established last year as a joint initiative between the Irish Government and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to create an independent university-level research and education centre.

The interdisciplinary institute offers industry access to research activity and intellectual property. As sponsors, RTE and the BBC will be entitled to participate in all of the research activities at Media Lab Europe and will have rights to use any intellectual property developed there.

In addition, under the terms of the arrangements between Media Lab Europe and MIT, both organisations will also have access to research activity at the MIT Media Laboratory, which has an annual operating budget of around $40 million.

RTE's Director General, Bob Collins, says the sponsorship was a mutually beneficial initiative. "This association with Media Lab Europe will be a critical element of RTE's research into new media. It is particularly appropriate and mutually valuable given the very significant volume of content which we provide to people in Ireland and abroad."

Dr Rudy Burger, CEO of Media Lab Europe, said the new sponsors are particularly welcome.