The award includes the donation of the IBM Cell Broadband Engine, a computer processor that will assist Trinity engineers in developing more realistic human animation in films, video games and virtual reality sites such as Second Life.

Trinity will use the technology on a number of research and development projects, including a real-time massive simulated virtual Dublin with realistic people, traffic and urban noise, for use as a platform for future online interactive worlds.

Trinity's computer science department has form in this field, having been the birthplace of video game development software firm Havok.

The company's products are essential ingredients in many of the world's top video games for the Sony Playstation2, Xbox and Nintendo Wii, including titles like Splinter Cell, Halo2 and Cars. The firm's products were also used to develop special effects in films including The Matrix and Kingdom of Heaven.