Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will open the new €50 million headquarters of the Marine Institute in Co Galway today.
The 11,000-square-metre building at Rinville, Oranmore, will house the Marine Institute's 200 strong staff
It also houses 54 scientific laboratories, office space and a 150-seat auditorium for national and international marine science conferences.
The Marine Institute was created in 1991 to carry out marine research and development in Ireland.