This agreement which was developed under the auspices of Líonra, the BMW Region's higher-education network, combines the individual strengths of NUI Galway, the institutes of technology in Athlone, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny and Sligo, and St. Angela's College, Sligo. It identifies a number of research areas where collaboration will take place, including; biomedical science and engineering; environmental science, health services research, marine and energy; food and agriculture; socio-economic sciences and humanities; social entrepreneurship; and software development and applications.

Mr. Finn stated, "This agreement represents a significant positive milestone for the Region. It will boost the research resources of the regional economy while also placing the institutions in a stronger position to seek research and development funding. The development of the research and innovative capacity of the Region will facilitate the necessary shift towards a regional economic base which creates more sustainable and diversified sectors of employment, is more innovative, more knowledge-based and ultimately can compete on an internationally basis - a necessary transition for the future prosperity of the Region and vital especially in the current economic climate".

The BMW Regional Assembly has promoted the development of the research and development capacity in the BMW Region and has highlighted the lack of public funding awarded to the institutes in the Region under Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and Science Foundation Ireland programmes. This issue has been raised by the Assembly at meetings with An Taoiseach, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Chief Science Adviser.

The Assembly has also supported the activities of Líonra and sits on the management and operational committee of the regional higher education network.