inventions & innovations

InventIons & InnovatIonsthe positive impact of ideas from research on irish industry and society

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CONTENTS

Foreword 3

Introduction 4

Creatingclevercompaniesfromground-breakingresearch 6

Spinoutsfrompublicly-fundedresearch 7

IntroducingIrishindustrytoinventionsfromresearch 11

PositiveImpact:Storiesfromresearchersand 1�companiesengagedintechnologytransfer

SmarterSport 1�

Acloserlookatdisease 14

Enablingthelifescienceindustry 16

Tacklinginfectioncontrol 18

Tomorrow’streatments �1

Gettingmorefromfoodproduction �3

Towardsagreenerworld �5

Makinglifebetterforpatients �8

Informationonthemove 3�

Supportingindustry 35

Bringinginformationtolife 37

Galwaymaterialstechnologyflieshigh 39

Readyforyourcloseup? 40

Guitarzerotohero 40

Anearlypredictionofpre-eclampsiariskinpregnancy 41

Acknowledgments 4�

technology transfer contents

3technology transfer foreword

FOREWORD

ThispublicationisacleardemonstrationofthesuccessofIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystem,featuringresearchteamsfromalloverIreland.ItisatestamenttothevaluableongoingworkbyEnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOffices.ItalsodemonstratesthetypeofcommercialpossibilitiesthatexistinthelaboratoriesandresearchfacilitiesofourUniversitiesandInstitutesofTechnology.

TheDepartmentofJobs,Enterprise&InnovationiscommittedtofacilitatingthetransferofideasandknowledgefromthegreatmindsinourHigherEducationInstitutionsintoIrishindustry,forthebenefitofoureconomyandsociety.

WiththeMinisterforResearchandInnovationSeanSherlockTD,Irecentlyannouncednewstructurestomakeiteasiertocommercialise-andultimatelycreatejobs-fromideasdevelopedthroughpublicly-fundedresearch,whichcurrentlyreceivestotalfundingofover¤800millionperyear.

ThelaunchofthisnewIntellectualPropertyProtocolrepresentsthedeliveryofakeycommitmentintheProgrammeforGovernmentandtheActionPlanforJobs2012.

Itwillimprovethepartnershipbetweenindustryandpublicly-fundedresearchbymakingiteasiertocommercialisetheresultsofpublicly-fundedresearch.

Itwillcreateanewworld-classsystemthatwillmakeiteasierandfasterforentrepreneursandcompaniestonegotiateacommercialarrangementwithresearchers.ItwillprovideasignificantimprovementtoIreland’sinternationalofferingandencouragemorecompaniestolocatehere.ItwillencouragemoremultinationalsandindigenouscompaniestousetheintellectualpropertygeneratedbyIrishresearchtocreateproductsandservicesandultimately,createmorejobs.

Thenewpoliciessetoutintheprotocolwillalsosupportthebuildingofrelationshipsbetweenindustryandthepublicresearchsectorthatwillsupportasustainableflowofcommercialisation

activitiesandbuildnetworksoflongtermknowledgesharing.Itisourambitionthatthesemeasureswillincreasethequalityandquantityofcommerciallyvaluableintellectualpropertyemergingfrompublicly-fundedresearch.

IwouldliketocommendEnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOfficesfortheireffortsinbringingthetechnologiesfeaturedinthispublicationtothemarket.IlookforwardtoseeinganincreaseinthelevelandqualityoftechnologytransferasthemeasuresintroducedintheIntellectualPropertyProtocoloutlinedabovecomeintopractice.

AkeypartoftheGovernment’splanforjobsandgrowthisensuringthatwecreatemoreproducts,servicesandultimatelyjobsfromIreland’shighqualityscientificresearchsystem.ThequalityofourR&Dplaysamajorpartinthesuccessofourmultinationalandindigenouscompanies–butwemustdomore.

Richard Bruton tDMinister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation

July 2012

4

ToillustratetheeconomicandsocialimpactofIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystem,EnterpriseIrelandandtheTechnologyTransferOfficeshavepublishedthesestoriesaboutresearchprojectsbeingdevelopedintovaluableinnovationsforindustry.

Theyincludetechnologieswhichwillhelpuscreateagreenerenvironment,newproductstoimprovefoodproductionandtohelppeoplegetmoreoutoftourism,sportsandleisureandclevernewwaystodeliverhealthcaretoimprovethequalityofourlives.ThesestorieswillgiveyouaglimpseoftherangeofinnovationswhicharecomingoutofresearchgroupsinIreland’sHigherEducationInstitutions

andillustratehowEnterpriseIrelandisworkinghardtogettheeconomicreturnfromtheGovernment’sinvestmentinresearch.

Where has this come from?EnterpriseIrelandhasprovided¤30MtodevelopIreland’snationaltechnologytransfersystembetween2007and2012.ThisfundingisundertheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiative(TTSI)whichinvolvestenTechnologyTransferOfficesaroundIreland.

TheaimoftheTTSIwastoincreasethelevelandqualityofIntellectualProperty(IP)fromresearch,andhelpcreateeffectivesystemstotransferthisvaluableknowledgeintocompaniesin

Ireland.Thistransferoftechnologytocompaniesresultsinthecreationofnewproducts,processesandserviceswhichcanbescaled-upforexport.

EveryHigherEducationInstitutioninIrelandhasbeensupportedthroughtheinitiative,withsignificantsupportgiventothetenTechnologyTransferOfficesphysicallylocatedinDublinCityUniversity,DublinInstituteofTechnology,NUIGalway,NUIMaynooth,UniversityCollegeCork,UniversityCollegeDublin,RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland,TrinityCollegeDublin,UniversityofLimerickandWaterfordInstituteofTechnology.

How has it progressed?A2009TechnologyTransfersystemreportfoundthat“…the system that has been developed and supported through Enterprise Ireland has

made enormous progress in a short period of time and there is now in place a system staffed with an impressive set of skills.”

Themostrelevantindicatorsofcommercialisationperformanceinthesystemaretherateofspin-outcompanyformationandthenumberoftechnologieslicensedtoindustry.SincetheinceptionofEnterpriseIreland’ssupportsin2007therehasbeenanalmostfour-foldincreaseinthenumberofspinoutsgenerated.Technologieslicensedtoindustryhaveincreasedten-fold,from12in2005,beforeEnterpriseIrelandsupportexisted,to121in2011.

Othermetrics,suchasinventiondisclosuresandpatents,aremeasuresoftheproductionof“raw”technologyandhelptoprovidesomeinsightintothepipelineproductivityoftheoverallsystem.

Thispublicationprovidesaglimpseoftheexcitingnewproducts,servicesandtechnologiesemergingfromresearchteamsinIrishHigherEducationInstitutions.

EnterpriseIrelandworksinpartnershipwithTechnologyTransferOfficesinHigherEducationInstitutions(HEIs)totranslateresearchfromthelabtothemarketplace.

INTRODuCTION

2005 2006 2007 2008

Technology Transfer Strengthening

Initiative Introduced.

2009 2010 20110

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Licences Spin outs

FIg 1. TECHNOLOgy TRaNSFER PERFORmaNCE 2005-2011

technology transfer introduction

5technology transfer introduction

In2011,86percentofthetechnologylicenceswenttocompaniesbasedinIreland,continuingatrendsetinpreviousyears.

ComparisonswithinternationalstatisticsfortechnologytransfershowthatIrelandiscurrentlygenerating20percentmorelicencesand2-4timesasmanyspinoutsfortheamountofexpenditureonresearchwhencomparedwithmorematuretechnologytransfersystemsworldwide.

How do we ensure this continues?Toensureapipelineofnewideasfromresearch,EnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFundsupportsacademicresearcherstoscopeoutanddevelopthecommercialfeasibilityandmarketopportunityfortheirresearchwhileitisstillatanearlystage.

Theprogrammefundsthedevelopmentoftechnologiesatallstagesofthecommercialpipelinetoapointwherethetechnologyisreadytobecommercialised.

Since2010,EnterpriseIrelandhasinvested¤25Min126technologydevelopmentprojectsthroughtheCommercialisationFund.Theseprojects,manyofwhicharefeaturedinthispublication,aredevelopingnewtechnologiesfortomorrow’sworld.

EnterpriseIreland’sdedicatedteamofcommercialisationspecialistsworkcloselywithresearchgroupstodevelopproposals.

EnterpriseIrelandhasbeensupportingtheTechnologyTransferOfficesacrossthecollegesinrecentyearstobringaboutaradicalchangeintheprofessionalismwithwhichthesystem

managesitsintellectualproperty.Asthefirstphaseisduetoconcludeattheendof2012,EnterpriseIrelandlaunchedacallforproposalstothenewprogrammeattheendof2011.

Buildingontheinvestmenttodate,theoverallobjectivesofphase2oftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativeare;todeveloptheIrishtechnologytransfersystemsuchthatitwillrespondquicklyandflexiblytoindustry,wherethelicensingoftechnologywillbringdirecteconomicbenefits,andtoradicallyenhancethecultureofcommercialisationamongresearchersintheIrishHEIsector.

EnterpriseIreland’spartnershipwiththeHigherEducationInstitutionsisgoingtocontinueanddevelop.Buildingonthehighqualityresourcesthat

arenowinplace,wearecreatingconsortiaofcollegestomakebetteruseoftheexpertiseavailableandgreatervalueformoney.Thisworkrepresentsakeypartoftheprocessofunlockingthecreativepotentialofourresearcherstosupportinnovationinindustry,leadingtojobsandeconomicgrowth.

ThestoriesinthispublicationgiveasenseoftheenormousimpactoftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativeonthequalityandimpactofIrishresearch.Whilethenumbersofspinoutsandlicencedealsarevaluableandmustbemeasured,theaimofthispublicationistohighlightother,insomecases,moremeaningfuloutcomessuchasimprovementstoourhealthandqualityoflife.

2008 2009 2010 2011

ei clients 73 50 59 59

mncs based in ireland 4 29 11 9

irish companies not ei clients

10 9 17 18

companies outside ireland

13 12 13 14

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Technology Transfer

Strengthening Initiative Introduced.

Disclosures Patents

FIg �. NumbER OF INvENTION DISCLOSuRES aND PRIORITy

PaTENT aPPLICaTIONS 2005 TO 2011 taBle �. DESTINaTION OF LICENCES (%) – 2008 TO 2011

6 technology transfer creating clever companies from ground-breaking research

Thelistthatfollowsidentifiesthe117companiesthatemergedfromHigherEducationInstitutionsinIrelandfrom2007toyearend2011.

Eachofthe117spin-outsisatadifferentstageofdevelopment,butitispossibletogrouptheminto3broadcategories;

Category 1:Incorporatedentity,builtonintellectualpropertyfromaHigherEducationInstitution.

Category 2:Licenceconcluded,workingwithEnterpriseIrelandand/orBusinessPartnertoexpand.Typicallyemploying2-3people.

Category 3:Haswoninvestment/sales,andisanEnterpriseIrelandhigh-potentialstartupclient.Typicallyemploying5-10people.

Currently,thereare64companiesincategory1,20incategory2,and33incategory3.

Althoughonlyestablishedforashorttime–afewmonthsinsomecases–the33companiesincategory3,or‘highpotentialstartupcompanies’whichhavetheiroriginsinpublicly-fundedresearchcurrentlyemploymorethan135peopleinIrelandbetweenthem.Itisexpectedthatthisfigurewillgrowasthecompaniesmature.

Buildingonthissuccesstodate,EnterpriseIrelandisaimingtodeliver30spin-outcompaniesfromresearchin2012.UndertheGovernment’sActionPlanforJobs2012,atargetofconverting14oftheseintohighpotentialstart-upclientsofEnterpriseIrelandthisyear,and15in2013hasbeenset.

Deliveringonthesetargetswillnotonlyproducenewcompanieswithsubstantialemploymentprospects,butwillbringinnovativesolutionsforsocietalchallengestothefore.

SinceEnterpriseIrelandinitiatedthe¤30millionTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativein2007tobetterresourcetheTechnologyTransferOffices,therehasbeenafour-foldincreaseinthenumberofspin-outcompaniescreatedfromintellectualpropertyproducedoncampus.

CREATINGCLEvERCOMPANIESFROm gROuND-bREakINg RESEaRCH

7technology transfer spinouts

SPINOUTSFROm PubLICLy-FuNDED RESEaRCH

2011 Emerged From Category

AeriaqFiltrationLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 2

ALRInnovations UniversityofLimerick 2

AppliedProcessConsulting UniversityCollegeDublin 2

BelfieldTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

EcovolveLimited DublinCityUniversity 1

Glanta TrinityCollegeDublin 3

infiniLEDLimited UniversityCollegeCork 3

ISAAT NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1

MitamedLtd UniversityCollegeCork 2

NeuropathLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 2

NewLambdaTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2

PBOCLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

PilotPhotonicsLimited DublinCityUniversity 3

PixelPuffinLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

PolyPicoTechnologiesLtd UniversityofLimerick 1

ProFectorLifeSciences NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3

RadicalCoatingsLtd. DublinInstituteofTechnology 1

RelationalFrameTraining NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1

ScientiaSportsLimited DublinCityUniversity 1

ScreamTechnologiesLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

SEEvLLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

SindiceLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

SonicLadderLtd DublinInstituteofTechnology 1

SonexMetrologyLimited DublinCityUniversity 3

TrimodTherapeuticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3

UssherExecutiveEducationLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

vornia NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

WatticsLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2

XceleratorMachineTranslationLtd DublinCityUniversity 1

8 technology transfer spinouts


3PROEnergyWatchLimited UniversityCollegeCork 1

ALSEWasteLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

AlternativeSustainableEnergyResourcesLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3

AniScan NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1

AstryneLtd DublinCityUniversity 3

AzotosAnalytics UniversityofLimerick 1

BofinnDiagnosticsLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

CareergroLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 3

CereBeo NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 2

CityAnalyticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

ClinicalSupportInformationSystemsLtd UniversityCollegeCork 3

CodexOncology TrinityCollegeDublin 3

CropResearchLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

CurrencyTradersLtd DublinInstituteofTechnology 1

CuttingEdgeMedicalDevicesLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 2

DRIvEINTELLLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

FeedHenry WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3

GreenEgg DublinCityUniversity 1

JalicoLtd DublinCityUniversity 2

JlizardLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

LearnoptLtd UniversityofLimerick 2

MoletestLtd. DublinInstituteofTechnology 1

Mutebutton NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3

NicheProteinLimited InstituteofTechnologyTralee 1

PeractonLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

SurgacolltechnologiesLtd RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland 3

SynergyFlow TrinityCollegeDublin 1

TethraGeoLtd. NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

ThinksmartTechnologies UniversityCollegeCork 1

TolerantNetworksLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

TrinityClinicalAppsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

xceleritComputingLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

ZolkC WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3


9technology transfer spinouts


AnalyzeIQLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

AnamatesLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

AremonLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

BearnaMedical UniversityofLimerick 2

BeckmanCoulterBiomedicalLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

BeemuneLimited NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3

BioCroiLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3

BioPlastechLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 3

BlueBoxSensors NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3

BrimBrothers DublinInstituteofTechnology 2

CapstanHealthcareLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 1

CauwillTechnologies UniversityofLimerick 2

DariusMedicalLtd UniversityCollegeDublin 2

EagledgeLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

Equinome UniversityCollegeDublin 3

FairviewAnalytics DublinCityUniversity 1

FutureBuildingsConsultingLtd. UniversityCollegeDublin 1

GoFerICTLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

GourmetMarine UniversityCollegeCork 3

HMEMZLtd UniversityCollegeCork 1

iGeoTechTechnologiesLimited NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 1

KeelvarSystemsLtd UniveristyCollegeCork 2

KinometricsLtd-SurewashLtd. TrinityCollegeDublin 1

KnowledgeHives NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

LeeOncology UniversityCollegeCork 1

LexasResearch DublinCityUniversity 3

MiravexLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3

NubiqTechnologyltd WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 2

Pro-cureLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 2

QpercomLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

Recitell TrinityCollegeDublin 1

ShareNavigator TrinityCollegeDublin 1

SolvotrinTherapeuticsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3

TagCrumbsLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

Trezur DublinInstituteofTechnology 3

10 technology transfer spinouts


BreakoutGamingConcepts DublinInstituteofTechnology 1

EmpowerTheUserLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 1

Headway WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 1

HeyStaksTechnologies UniversityCollegeDublin 2

NewGame TrinityCollegeDublin 1

Socowave NationalUniversityofIreland,Maynooth 3

TreochtLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3


AdvancedDiagnosticsLaboratory UniversityCollegeDublin 1

APEnveon UniversityCollegeDublin 1

Biontrack UniversityCollegeDublin 1

EirzymeLtd NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3

Hash6 WaterfordInstituteofTechnology 3

NeuroResearchServicesLtd RoyalCollegeofSurgeonsIreland 1

Oncomark UniversityCollegeDublin 2

Phive DublinCityUniversity 1

SeraScientific DublinCityUniversity 1

SonitusSystemsLtd TrinityCollegeDublin 3

StokesBio UniversityofLimerick 3

ThetaChemicals NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 3

Triskel NationalUniversityofIreland,Galway 1

total 117 spinouts


11technology transfer introducing irish industry to new inventions from research

INTRODUCINGIRISHINDUSTRyTO NEW INvENTIONS FROm RESEaRCH

121licencedealswereconcludedin2011,bringinginnovativenewideasfromresearcherstothemarketplacetothebenefitofthecompaniesinvolved.

Examplesofhowtheselicencedealsimpactedontheperformanceofthecompaniesthatlicensedthetechnologiesfollowinthispublication.

Inaddition,EnterpriseIrelandprovidedfundingforarangeofotherprogrammeswhichlinkindustryinIrelandwithresearchteamsandallowformutually-beneficialcollaborationtotakeplace.

In2011alone,1,965companiesinIrelandbenefitedfromthesecollaborativeprogrammes.Thetableidentifiesthemainprogrammesandhowmanycompaniesbenefitedfromeach.

Therehasbeenaten-foldincreaseinthenumberoftechnologieslicensedtoindustryfromHigherEducationInstitutionssinceEnterpriseIrelandprovided¤30MundertheTechnologyTransferStrengtheningInitiativein2007.

Support provided by Enterprise Ireland

No. of Companies benefited

TechnologyCentresandAppliedResearchcentres

399

Innovationvouchers&InnovationPartnerships

852

R&DFundandnon-financialsupport

236

AccesstointernationalR&Dprogrammes

76

Start-upslocatedinEnterpriseIrelandfundedcampusincubators

327

Companiesfacilitatedtoreceivecompanytocompanylicences

20

Companiesfacilitatedtoreceivedlicencesfromthirdlevelresearch

55

total 1,965

numBeR oF companIes ReceIvIng InnovatIon suppoRt

FRom enteRpRIse IRelanD In �011

1� technology transfer case studies

boosting performance with innovation

WhenDublin’sseniorGAAfootballerssecuredvictoryintheAll-Irelandfinalin2011,the‘Blues’celebratedforweeks.

ButtherewasatleastoneCorkmanwhowashappywiththeresulttoo.

“IwasprobablyoneofthefewCorkmencheeringforDublininCrokeParkinthefinalthatday,”recallsJamesCarroll,CEOofScientiaSports.Why?BecausetheteamhadbeenusingProvue,ane-diarybeingdevelopedbyScientiaSportsthatletsathletesandcoachesrecordandanalyseinformationabouttrainingandperformance.

TheDublinteamputthesystemthroughitspacesintherunuptothefinal,saysCarroll,whodescribeshowtheonlinediaryworks.

“Athletesgoonlineandfilloutinformationabouthowtheyaredoingaftertraining.ThatmeansthatDublinmanagerPatGilroycanpulluptherelevantplayerinformationonthesquadimmediatelyinsteadofhavingtomake60phonecallseverymorning.”

Gilroysaysthee-diaryisinvaluableasatooltomonitorplayers’multi-

commitmentsandcanbeusedasacentralplatformtosharevideoanddietaryinformation.“Intoday’sworlditisahighlyefficientwaytomanagefatigueandhealthissues,”hesays.

Thesystemalsoallowsathletestoseehowtheyaredoing,explainsCarroll.

“Theycanlookattheirsprintandexercisetimes,anditworksasatypeofmotivationtool-theycanseehowtheyaredoingagainsttheirpeers.”

ThetechnologybehindProvuecomesfromDublinCityUniversity,whereitwasdevelopedbyexpertsinhealthandhumanperformanceledbyProfNiallMoynaandDrMarkRoantree.IthasbeenlicensedtoScientiaSportsthroughtheEnterpriseIreland-supportedInventCentreatDCU.

“WefoundthepeopleatInventverypracticalandgo-aheadintermsoftryingtoworkwithentrepreneurstocommercialisewhattheyhadintheblackbox,”saysCarroll.

ScientiaSportshasbeenintroducingthesystemtosportsorganisationsandteamsinEuropeandAustralia.MeanwhilerugbycoachMattWilliams,whoisdirectorofsportinthecompany,hasbeenusingProvue

SMARTERSPORTPOSITIvEIMPACT:

STORIES FROm RESEaRCHERS aND COmPaNIES ENgagED IN technology transfer.

13technology transfer case studies

withhisteamsinFrance.

AndCarrollseesmorevaluebeingaddedtothesoftwareinthefuture:suchaslinkinginsensorsthatcanmonitorphysicalmetricsofperformancelikeaerobiccapacityandlactateintheblood,andofferingasportservicebehindthesystem.

Theareaofconnectedhealthholdsevenmorepromisefortheplatform,hedescribes.“Thatiswhereitcouldcreatealotofjobs-fordiabetesinparticular,wherepeoplecouldusethee-diaryaftertheyhavebeendiagnosedandphysicianscouldmonitortheirsymptomsandmanagement.”

Anotherapproachtogatheringusefuldataaboutsportsperformancecamewheninspirationstrucktwoengineercyclists,orcyclingengineers.Themusevisitedastheyrodeoutwiththeirclub

inSouthDublin.

Theystartedthinkingaboutadevicecalleda‘powermeter’thatattachestoabiketomeasureperformance.“Someonehadapowermeterontheirbikebutwedidn’tlikethewayitwasdesigned,”recallsDrBarryRedmond,alectureratDublinInstituteofTechnology.

“Westartedtalkingabouthowwecoulddesignabetterone,sittingonthebikesatthebackofthebunchonaSundaymorningandourideasevolvedalittle.”

Whatifyoucouldputthepowermeterontoyourshoeinsteadofthebikeandmeasuretheforcesasthecyclistpressedonthepedal,theythought:thatwayifyouswitchbikesyoustillhaveyourpowermeterattached.

Theideamightsoundsimple-putadevice

ontheshoeratherthanthebike-butinpracticeittooksomecraftyresearch,developmentandengineering.

Thefledglingcompany,calledBrimBrothers,wentthroughtheDublinInstituteofTechnologyHothouseventureProgramme,anEnterpriseIreland-supportedinitiativethatofferstrainingandspacetostart-ups.

“I’vebeeninvolvedincompaniesbefore,soinitiallythoughtIdidn’tneedHothouse,butIwaspersuadedandI’mextremelygladIwentthroughit,”saysRedmond,whoisnowCEOofBrimBrothers.

“youarewithabunchofotherpeoplewhoaregoingthroughsimilarproblemsandchallenges,eventhoughttheirbusinessesareindifferentareas.yougettotalktopeopleinanopenwayandeveryonehastheirownperspective.”

Gettingtheshoe-basedpowermeterreadyforthemarkethasencounteredafewbumpsalongtheway:Redmondexplainsthattheyhadtocomeupwithnewsolutionsaroundmakingthesensorssmallandaffordable-buthearguesthatithasstrengthenedtheirhardwareandsoftwaretechnology.

And,nostrangerstoboutsofadverseweatherandless-than-pristineterrainsonthebike,BrimBrothersalsohadtomakesurethepowermeterscouldwithstandtherideinthisnew,lowdownposition.

“Whensomethingisonyourshoewhenyouarecycling,ithastoputupwithdirt,beingimmersedinwater,andbeingwallopedaroundinmanyways,”explainsDrRedmond.“Therobustnessisachallenge,andwehavetokeepthecostsdown.”Cyclistsarenowlininguptotrialandpre-orderthepowermeters,whichwillbeassembledandcalibratedbyengineersandtechniciansinDublin,accordingtoDrRedmond.

AndbecauseBrimBrothershasalreadyputthelegworkintodesignanddevelopment,professionalandamateurcyclistsalikeshouldfinditaconvenientadditiontotheirsport.

“Thewholeideaofthisisthatsomebodywilljustputitonanduseit,there’snospecialtreatment,thattakesalotofengineeringanddesign,”saysRedmond.

“Theeasierwewanttomakeitforanendusertouse,theharderitisforustodevelop.Wedothehardwork,notthem.”

14 technology transfer case studies

getting a better view of cancer

Whenyouputcellsfromthebodyunderamicroscopeandtakeacloselook,youcantellalotaboutthem.Including,insomecases,whetherornottheyarecancerous.Suchmicroscope-basedtestsareamainstayforscreeningcervicalsmearsamplesfrompatients.

Cervicalcancer-orcancerattheneckofthewomb-isthesecondmostcommonfemale

cancerinEurope,butittendstodevelopslowly.Manycountries,includingIreland,runscreeningprogrammeswherewomengivecervicalsamplestobecheckedforsignsofcellschanging.

Atthemoment,thesamplesaretypicallystainedwithspecialdyesandanalyseddownthemicroscopebycytologistsorpathologists,wholookattheshapesandothercharacteristicsofthecellstojudgewhethertheremightbeaproblem.

Butwhilehumanexpertiseiscrucialtodiagnosis,technologycanlendahandtoo.

OneapproachbeingdevelopedatDublinInstituteofTechnologyislookingtoscreenhighvolumesofcervicalsmearsamplesinanewway.

TheDITtechnology,calledCervassist,wantstoautomatethereadingofthesamplesunderthemicroscopebyshiningalaseronthemandmeasuringaparticulartypeoflightcalled‘Ramanscatter’thatisreflectedback.

Thisreadingprovidesinformationaboutthemolecularstructuresinthecell,offeringabiochemicalfingerprintthatsoftwarecanthenanalyseforwarningsignalsofcancer,explainsresearcherDrFionaLyng,whomanagestheDITCentreforRadiationandEnvironmentalScience.

“WehavebeenshowingthatRamanspectroscopyisverygoodatdiscriminatingbetweennormalandabnormalcellspurelybasedonacell’sbiochemicalcontent,”shesays.

“Wearealsoworkingonacellrecognitionalgorithm,whichisawayofautomaticallyfindingthecellsinasampleandthenautomaticallyrecordingtheirRamanspectra.”

TheCervassistteamhasbeenworkingcloselywithHothouseatDITtocommercialisethesystem,andhavelicensedtechnologytopartnercompanyRamanDiagnostics.

ThepotentialbenefitsoftheRamanapproachincludebettersensitivityofscreening,explainsDrLyng,whoreceivedtheEnterpriseIreland‘OnetoWatch’awardin2011.

“Incurrentpractice,inaverygoodlabthesensitivityofscreeningcervicalsmearswouldbeabout70percent,”shesays.“ButinourinitialtestsusingRamanspectroscopy,theaccuracywasgreaterthan98percent.”

TheCervassistteamiscontinuingtodeveloptechnologywithfundingfromEnterpriseIrelandandthroughacollaborationwithTheCoombeHospitalinDublin,andtheyhavealreadystartedtodevelopRamanspectroscopyforanalysinghumanpapillomavirus(HPv)infectionincervicalcells,whichislinkedtoanincreasedriskofcervicalcancer.

DrLyngexplainsthattheautomatedapproachcouldbeusedtoassistscreeningprogrammesbyidentifyingthenormalsmears,andflaggingthesamplesthatneedtheexperteyesofcytologists

ACLOSERLOOKaT DISEaSE


orpathologiststoexaminemorecloselyforpotentialproblems.

IrishcompanyOncoMarkisalsousingsmarttechnologytocaptureinformationaboutcancersfrompatienttissuesamples.Theirhigh-throughputimage-analysissystemcanautomaticallyrecognisethefeaturesoftumourcellsandcanquantifylevelsofimportantbiomarkers(moleculesofclinicalinterest)inmanydifferenttypesofcancer.

“Welookatbiomarkerexpressionintumourtissue,”explainsProfWilliamGallagher,co-founderandCSOofOncoMarkLtd,whichisaspin-outfromUniversityCollegeDublin.

“Wewanttobeabletopredictdiseaseoutcomeofcancerpatients.Ofparticularinteresttousispredictionofresponsetotherapies.Thisimportantlysupportscancerdrugdevelopment.”

OncoMark’sIHC-Marksoftwarecan‘learn’howtoautomaticallyrecognisetumourcellsinatissuesamplethatcontainbiomarkersofinterest,explainsProfGallagher.HestartedtodeveloptheapproachasasolutiontoaproblemthatwascroppingupinhisresearchatUCD.

“Weweredoingalotof

workwithtissues,andwewouldhavehundredsofspecimensonasingleslide,”herecalls.“Therewasahugebottleneckwhenitcametogettingdataandinterpretingthosesamples.”

ProfGallagherworkedonthebasicscienceunderpinningthehigh-throughputanalysistechnologyinhislabatUCD,andEnterpriseIrelandtookupthebatonandfundedfurtherdevelopmentandvalidation.

“Wevalidatedthetechnologywithtissuefrommorethan1,000breastcancerpatientsand3,000prostatecancerpatients,”herecalls.“Thatreallyincreasedthevalueofthiscoreplatformtechnology.”

OncoMarkhasnowin-licensedIHC-MarkandProfGallagherdescribesthatcombiningthehigh-throughputapproachofrecognisingtumourcellcharacteristicswiththeabilitytoquantifybiomarkersinthecellswouldbeofinterestincancerdrugdevelopment.

“AspartofourBiomarkerInterpretationWorkflow,IHC-Markisnowbecomingpartofthecancerdrugdevelopmentprocesscarriedoutbypharmaceuticalcompaniestoidentifypatientswhowillbenefitfromsuchdrugs,helprecoverdrugsthathavepreviouslyfailedinthedevelopmentprocessandsimplyinformwhethersuchdrugsarehittingtheirintendedtargets.”

ThecompanyisitselfusingIHC-Marktolookfornewbiomarkersincancerand,inthelongerterm,thehopeisthattheapproachwillalsohelptoinformdoctorssotheycantailortherapiesforindividualpatientsbasedonthecharacteristicsoftheirtumourtissue.

OncoMark,whichisnowgrowingitsworkforceatNovaUCD,hasgenerated¤3.5millioninEUfundingcoveringthenextthreetofouryears,andislookingtobuildupitsproductpipeline,asProfGallagherdescribes:“WearelookingatavarietyoftechnologiescomingfromIrishuniversitiesandinternationallywithaviewtolicensingin.OncoMarkiswellpositionedtobethego-toportalforcancerbiomarkercommercialisation.”


Cutting costs in drug discovery by keeping cells happy

Ifyouareinthebusinessofdrugdiscovery,findingthatspecificmoleculewhichcanhitthetargetisthekeytosuccess.

Onewaytodoitistoscreenmillionsofindividualcells,watchingwhatcandidatemoleculesdotoeachone.Butit’sanexpensiveandtime-consumingprocess.Sohowcanwemakeiteasier?

IrishcompanyBioCroihashitonawaytolightentheloadinthoseheavy-dutyscreeningstages.

Thetypicalapproachtakeninindustryistogrowthecellsinsmallholes,orwells,ona

plasticplate,thenroboticsystemscananalysethemandgatherthedataforanalysis.

“Thesecell-basedassaysareperformedunderhighspeedusingautomatedmicroscopes,”explainsPeadarMacGabhann,ManagingDirectorofBioCroi.“Butthere’salotofnoiseassociatedwiththeresults-sotheyhavetodolotsofexperimentstogetoverthatproblem.”

Whatifyoucouldreducethatnoise,byprotectingthecellsinthewellsfromtheoutsideenvironmentalittlebetter?

That’stheideadevelopedbyinventorDrAnthonyDavies,whodirectstheIrishNationalCentreforHighContentScreeningandAnalysisatTrinity.Hecameupwithagel-basedbufferingsystemwhich

surroundsthewellsofeachindividualculture.

“Itinsulatesthecellsagainstchangesintemperatureandalsocreatesavapourcloudoverthewellwhichpreventsevaporation,”saysMacGabhann.

Withthatmorestableenvironmentcomeslessnoiseandbetterreadings.Theapproachalsomeansthatthevolumesofthecellculturescouldbemadeordersofmagnitudesmallerandstillgiveaccurateresults.

“Whereassaysarecurrentlydoneusing100microlitreswearedoingawellof100nanolitres,”explainsMacGabhann.“Thiscutsdownvastlyontheamountofmaterialsyouhavetouse,soitcutsdownoncost.”

Whiletheideaofbufferingthewellstokeepthecellshappyandthenoisedownsoundssimple,itwasn’tthatstraightforwardinpractice,explainsMacGabhann,whopartneredwiththegroupjustbeforethecompanyspunoutin2009.

“Alotoftheseassaysareverysophisticatedandtheyaredevelopedinlabsoveraperiodofyears,”hesays.“Ithasn’tbeenthateasy.”

ButthecompanyhasbeengoingfromstrengthtostrengthwiththetechnologyandMacGabhanncreditstheTrinityCollegeDublinTechTransferOfficeforfacilitatingtheinitialpartnershipandspin-out.

“PeoplelikeJamesCallaghanandGordonElliottcameintoTrinityandtheytransformedthatwholeprocessofspinningoutcompanies,”hesays.

“InordertogetIPoutpreviouslyyouhadenormousadministrativestructurestogothrough,buttheycutthroughalotoftheredtape.”

In2011BioCroireceived¤800,000inseedinvestmentfromtheMedTechAcceleratorFundmanagedbyKernelCapital,including¤300,000fromEnterpriseIrelandandprivateinvestors.

Andasthecompanynowexpandsandmovesintodevelopingplatesandbetatesting,MacGabhannreckonsthefactthatindustryisnowusing‘smarter’robotsmeanstheirsystemshouldbewellaccommodated.

“Therobotshavegottenclever,theycanworkwithlotsofdifferentformats,andthatisgoodforus,”hesays.

ENABLINGTHE LIFE SCIENCE INDuSTRy


a new window on brain activity

Asyoureadthis,biochemicalreactionsaretakingplaceinyourbrainthatallowyoutoregisterandunderstandit.Andasyouliveyourlifedayandnight,whenpartsofyourbrainbecomeactive,theystarttoneedmoreglucoseandoxygentofueltheirwork.

Gettingahandleontheimportantchemicalchangesthathappeninthebrainisachallenge,andatthemomenttechnologiestendtobequiteimpractical,particularlyifyouwanttogetinformationinrealtimeandoverthelongerterm.

FunctionalMRIcantrackhowbloodflowchangesinthebrain,whichsuggestsunderlyingchangesinchemistry,butitisanexpensive,cumbersomeapproachandthebrainhastobestill,there’snomovingaround.

Therearealsowaystomeasurehowlevelsofchemicalsthemselveschange,buttheytendtobeinvasivebecausetheyextractfluidsamples.Alsotheyprovideasnapshotofinformationforjustonepointintime.

ButnewtechnologydevelopedinIrelandisopeninganewwindowforresearchintobrainchemistry.Theapproach,

whichimplantstinysensorsintothebrain,gathersdatainsituinrealtime,andmeansthatresearcherscanmonitorbrainchemistryandbehaviouroverthecourseofmonthsinanimalsthatareawakeandmoving.

“Researcherswanttoknowhowthechemistryofthebrainischangingasaresultofinteractionwiththeoutsideworldorwithpotentialdrugcompounds-itcouldn’tbedonebeforeandnowitcanbewiththesesensors,”explainsRoryGeoghegan,CEOandco-founderofBlueBoxSensors.

Theimplantablesensors,whichweredevelopedbyProfJohnLowryandhisgroupatNUIMaynooth,areineffecttinywireswithsomecleverchemistryonthetips.

Theycanbeimplantedsurgicallyintospecificregionsofthebrainandleftthere,whereeachsensorcanmeasurechangesinvarious‘analytes’,includingoxygen,glucoseandnitricoxideaswellassignallingchemicalsthattellbraincellstofire.

Thescopeforsuchtechnologyinlifesciencesresearchandindustryissubstantial:ultimatelythesensorswouldbeofparticularinterestfordrugdiscoveryandtesting,particularlyinthefield

ofcentralnervoussystemdiseases,wherebetteranimalmodelsareneededtoprogresspromisingtherapeuticcompoundsfrompreclinicalstudiestoclinicaltrialsinhumans.

BlueBox,whichspunoutofNUIMaynoothin2009haslicensedsensortechnologyfromtheuniversity,andiscurrentlyintroducingthetetheredsensorsolutionintolargeresearchlabsandpharmaceuticalcompanies.Thecompanyisalsodevelopingawirelessversionofthesensorsanditislookingtorecord

changesaboutmultiplechemicalsinrealtime.“Webelievethattheimplantablesensortechnologywillallowquickerresultswithfeweranimals,”saysGeoghegan.

EnterpriseIrelandinvestedalmost¤1millionintheresearchthatwascarriedoutbeforeBlueBoxlicensedthetechnology,andGeoghegancommendsthepracticalandefficientwayinwhichtheCommercialisationOfficeatNUIMaynoothmanagedthecompany’sspin-out.


The bug stops here

It’sacruelirony,buthospitalsandclinics-whicharetheretohelppeoplerecoverfromillnessandinjury-canalsobeasourceofnewinfection.

Theagentsofthose‘healthcare-acquiredinfections’orHCAIscanbeviruses,bacteriaorfungiwhichmightbeharmlesstohealthypeoplebutcancauseproblemsforpeoplewithcompromisedimmunesystems.Andsomebacteriahaveevendevelopedwaystosurviveconventionaltreatmentssuchasfrontlineantibiotics,sotheycanbeespeciallydangerous.

InEuropealone,it’sestimatedthatmorethan4millionpeoplecontractaHCAIeachyear,andaround140,000peopledieasadirectresult.Andquiteapartfromthehumansufferingofindividualsandtheirlovedones,HCAIsarealsocostlytohealthcareprovidersbecausetheycanresultinextendedhospitalstaysduetocomplications.ItisestimatedthattheannualcostofHCAI’stoEuropeanhealthservicesisover¤30billion.

Thepushisontodeveloptechnologies

TACKLING INFECTION CONTROL


thatcanstopthosepathogensintheirtracks.Anditcouldbeassimpleasclinicalstaffwashingtheirhandseffectively.

IrishcompanyGlantaisweighinginwithamobiletrainingsystemthatgetsstaffuptospeedwithhand-washingtechniquesthatremoveorkillpathogensandreducetheriskofcross-infectingpatients.

TheirSureWashtrainingsystemallowsindividualstopracticetheirhand-washingskills,intheirowntimeandwithouttheneedforatrainerbeingpresent.Thesystemcanidentifyerrorsintechniqueandoffersolutions.

“Handwashingisaphysicalactivity,andpeoplearebesttrainedinphysicalactivitythroughrepetition,”explainsSeanBay,CEOofGlanta,whichspunoutofTrinityCollegeDublinin2010.

“Oursystemfacilitates‘ontheward’training,staffcantraininshortburstswhentheyhaveacoupleofminuteshereandthere.Theycanberesponsiblefortheirowntraining.”

ThemobileSureWashsystemcanbebroughttoawardanduserscanpracticehandwashingwhilesoftwareimage-analysistrackstheirefforts.Theycan

practiceanonymouslyorelseputintheirIDandbuilduparecordoftheirskills.

“It’sliketyingyourshoelace-ifyoutrainenoughthenyoucandoitwithyoureyesclosed,”saysBay.“Thisiswhatwewantwithhandhygiene-everyonewillwashtheirhandsorusegelcorrectlywithoutthinkingaboutit.”

TheideafortheinnovativetechnologycamewheninventorDrGerardLaceywasinhiscar,listeningtoareportontheradioaboutSARSandhowwashinghandscanhelpreducethespreadofthevirus.HisownworkonvisualgraphicsinTrinitywaslookingathowvideotechnologycanrecognisehandmovements.

HeputtwoandtwotogetherandcameupwiththeSureWashtechnology,explainsentrepreneurBay,whopairedwiththeteam,andtheyspunoutGlanta.

Gettingthevideo-recognitionsoftwareto‘understand’thewholepictureofhandwashingrequireddevelopmentandexpertise,saysBay.

“It’snotjustviewingwhatyousee,it’sunderstandingwhatyoudon’tseeaswell,”heexplains.“Sowhenthehandsinteract,whatis

happeningbetweenthetendigitsandthepalmspaceandthearm.”

Thetrainingtechnology,whichispatentedinEuropeandtheUS,hasundergonetrialsinhospitalsintheUKandIreland,whichsawhand-washingcomplianceratesincreasebymorethan200percent.

ThesystemisnowinuseinhospitalsinIrelandandSwitzerland,andithasbeenwelcomedwithopenhands-astheexperienceinDublin’sMaterPrivateHospitaldemonstrates.

“WebroughttheSureWashTrainingintothehospitalonaFridayeveningandthenurseinchargepositioneditonthecardiologyward,turneditonandtoldthestaffhere’sanewdevice,”recallsBay.“WhenshecameinonMondaymorning,61staffhadalreadygonethroughthetrainingprocess.”

Glantahasnowsecuredprivateinvestment-whichwasmadesmootherbythegoodworkingrelationshipswithEnterpriseIrelandandTrinityCollegeDublin,accordingtoBay-andisnowrollingouttheproductinEuropeandAustralia.Meanwhile,operationsinIrelandaresettogrowindevelopment,manufacturingandsupport.

“Wehavespecialisedsoftwareengineersandarelookingtodevelopourcustomerserviceandsupportareas,”saysBay.“WecaneffectivelyruntheinternationalsupportfromhereanduseIrelandasahubforglobalactivity-wearewellplacedfortimezones.”

Andaswellasgivingindividualhospitalsfeedbackonhand-washingeffectiveness,morewidelythetrainingtechnologycouldhelpeconomiessavetensofmillionsofEuroeachyearbyreducingHCAIlevels,accordingtoBay.“Themoneysavedcouldbefedbackintothehealthservice-andthat’sallwithoutlosingasinglejob.”

Ultimately,reducinglevelsofHCAIswillresultinbetterpatientoutcomes,quickerrecoveryandsavedlives.“Patientsarethebeneficiaryofthistechnology,”hesays.

Andit’snotjusthands,potentiallydisease-causingmicrobescanalsohitcharideontextilestomovearoundahealthcaresetting.

Whilestaffcanwashtheirhandsbetweenpatients,cleaninguniformshappenslessfrequently-sohowcanyouhelpkeepbugsfromlivingonclothes?

�0 technology transfer case studies

TACKLING INFECTION CONTROL

AEuropeanprojectledbytheUniversityofLimerickhascomeupwithNanoplast,whichisawaytoincorporatenanoparticlesontotheoutersurfaceoftextilesthat,whenactivatedbylight,cankilloffbacteria.Sobysimplyexposingthematerialtolight-indoorsorbetteryetgoingforaquickwalkinsunlight-hitchhikingbugscanbekilled.

Thetechnologyputstheseverysmallparticlescallednanoparticlesintotextilematerial,”explainsDrTofailSyedfromtheMaterialsandSurfaceSciencesInstituteatUL,whowasaleaderontheEU-fundedBioElectricSurfaceconsortium.“Thenwhentheyreactwithpartofthesunlighttheybecomeantimicrobial.”

Theapproachfacedafewchallenges,particularlybecausethetextilesandnanoparticlesweresodifferentfromeachother.

“Themaindifficultytherewasthattheseparticlesarehardlikesand,whilethetextileisverycompliantandsoft-sohowdoyoumixsomethingthatissohardintosomethingthatissosoft,”recallsDrSyed.

Theconsortiumcameupwithafinishingprocessthatwouldapplythenanoparticlestothesynthetictextileattheendoftheproductionline.Itusesthepropertiesofthematerialitself,ratherthanneedingchemicalbinders.

Nextstepwastoseehowwelltheystuck,sointothelaundrythetextileswent.“Wehadwashingmachinesgoingdaysandnightstotestthem,”saysDrSyed.“Wetestedthemforupto40washesinaconditionthatwouldbesimilartoindustrialscalewashing.”

Testsshowedthatthenanoparticlesstuckwelltothetextiles:butdidtheykilloffthebugswhentheywereinsitu?yes,accordingtothetests,whichwerecarriedoutwithcolleaguesinWroclawUniversityofTechnology

andWroclawMedicalUniversity,Poland.

Light-activatedtitaniumnanoparticlesonthetextileswereactiveagainstMRSA,whilesilver-dopedtitaniumnanoparticlesappliedbythetechnologycouldseeoffE.coliwhenexposedtolight.

DrSyedcreditsEnterpriseIreland’ssupportandexpertiseinUL’sinitialsuccessfulinvolvementwiththeEuropeanproject,andtheextensivehelpprovidedtotheprojectbySeamusBrowneofUL’sTechnologyTransferOffice,bothinsurveyingthemarketandinofferinghands-onsupport.

EnterpriseIrelandiscontinuingtosupportNanoplastthroughaCommercialisationFundTechnologyDevelopmentaward.

Andwhiletheapproachisstillbeingdevelopedandtested,DrSyedisconfidentitwillworkonothersynthetictextilesandsyntheticblends.

“Clothesareapotentialsourceofcontamination,butbecauseourtechnologyismakingthetextilephoto-sterilisable,itmeansifyougoforawalkinthesunyouwillbecleansingthem.”

�1technology transfer case studies

using the immune system to fight cancer

Cancerisoneoftheworld’smajorkillers:in2008,itaccountedforabout13percentofalldeathsworldwide,accordingtotheWorldHealthOrganisation.FiguresforEuropealonesuggestthatnearly1.3millionpeoplewilldiefromthediseasethrough2012.

Medicaltreatmentforcancerisadvancing,butwhataboutrecruitingthebody’sownweaponsagainsttumourcells?

IrishcompanyTriModTherapeuticsLtdisdevelopingawaytohelpharnessaperson’simmunesysteminthefightagainstcancer.

Ithaslongbeenknownthattheimmunesystemcantargetcancerinthebody,butrampingupaperson’simmunedefencesisn’taseasyasitsounds,explainsDrJeremySkillington,CEOandco-founderofTriMod.

“Theimmunesystemhasmanymechanismstoputthebrakesonitself,”hesays.“Ifyourampuptheimmunesystemit’sverygoodatshuttingitselfbackdown.”

Butwhatifyoucouldtakethosebrakesoff?

ScienceFoundationIreland-fundedresearchbyTriModco-founderProfKingstonMillsatTrinityCollegeDublinhasfoundaroutetoinhibitthebiochemicalpathwaysthatapplythebrakes-withthe

neteffectsofboostingimportantimmunecells.

TriModhassecuredseedfundingof¤750,000fromEnterpriseIreland,OpsonaTherapeuticsandOysterTechnologyInvestmentsLtdtohelpbringthetechnologyoutofthelabandtowardstheclinic.

EnterpriseIrelandwasparticularlyhelpfulinthecriticalassessmentofTriMod’sbusinessplan,andwereabletorespondrapidlytothecompany’sneeds,accordingtoDrSkillington:“TheysawthevalueTriModcouldprovidetobothmedicineandIrelandandtheydidaterrificjobtohelpsecurethefinancing,”hesays.

Sowhatisnextforthecompany?Theimmune-boostingapproachhas

workedwellinpreclinicalmodelsofcancer,andTriModisnowlinkingwithbiotechandpharmacompaniestodevelopfurtherapproachesthatexposetumourstoanampedupimmunesystemandmovetowardsclinicaltrials.

“Wewanttoopenawindowfortheimmunesystemtorecognisethetumour,thentheimmunesystemcanstartitswork,”saysDrSkillington.

“Onpaperthecancerisverysmartatevadingtheimmunesystem.ButifyoucanfindanAchilles’heeltoexposeitagain,theimmunesystemispowerfulenoughtowinthatbattle.”

TOMORROW’S TREaTmENTS

�� technology transfer case studies

a novel ‘no-flush’ niacin for better cholesterol control

Niacin,orvitaminB3,iswellestablishedasahighlyeffectiveagentfortreatingcholesterolproblems.ItcanimprovetheprofileoflipidsinthebloodsuchashighLDL(“badcholesterol”)andlowHDL(“goodcholesterol”).Butmorethanoneintwopatientsstoptakingniacinduetotheside-effectofskinflushing.

Thankstosomecleverchemistry,anewniacinprodrugcouldhelpovercomethatproblem:byengineeringthecompoundtoreleaseaspirininthebloodstream,whereitinhibitsthechemicalsthatcauseflushing,andthenreleasingniacinwithadistributionprofilethatresultsingreaterefficacy.

Thenewchemicalentity,whichwasengineeredbyDrJohnGilmeratTrinityCollegeDublin,isnowbeingdevelopedbypharmaceuticalcompanySolvotrinTherapeuticsLtd,whichspunoutin2009.

CEOandco-founderPatO’FlynnbecameinvolvedwhenhemettheTrinityteamthroughtheEnterpriseIrelandBusinessPartnersProgramme.

Cork-headquarteredSolvotrinsecuredinitialfundingof¤1.2millionfromthefoundersandEnterpriseIreland,andisnowdevelopingthenew,chemicallymodifiedniacincompound.

Thecompoundhasalreadyshownapositiveeffectonbloodlipidsinpreclinicalproof-of-conceptstudies.Thisisontopofitsbenefits

demonstratedasa“noflush”niacin,explainsO’Flynn.

“HavingIrelandrecognisedinternationallyfordevelopinganewchemicalentitywouldbeagreatthing,”hesays.

Solvotrinwonthe2010-2011EnterpriseIrelandLife-science&FoodCommercialisationAward.

TOMORROW’S TREaTmENTS


Foodproductionisoneofthemostcriticalsectorsforhumansurvival:aglobalpopulationofmorethansevenbillionmeansenormousinvestment-andopportunities-intechnologytoimprovefarming.

Happy,healthyanimalstendtobemoreproductive,andIrishcompanyReprodochasdevelopedtechnologytomonitorthereproductivewellbeingofbeefanddairycattle.

NowanEnterpriseIreland-supportedprojectwithDublinCityUniversityislookingtogoglobalwiththeapproach.

“WeprovidereproductivemanagementservicestothedairyandbeefindustrythroughoutIrelandandourobjectiveistoimprovethewholewellbeingofanimals,”explainsDanRyan,founderofReprodoc.

Tomonitorthecattle,heusesultra-sonographytocaptureinformationabouteachcow’sreproductivesystematvariouspointsintheproductioncycle.

“Iftheanimalishappyintheenvironmentsheisin,thereproductivetractoftheanimalwillshowusimageswhichareconcurrentwithananimalthatishappy,”heexplains.“Butifthe

animalisinanadverseenvironment,wherethehousingornutritionisnotconcurrentwithherproperwelfare,thereproductiveimageswillshowthattheuterineenvironmentishostilesoshewillnotgobackincalf.”

RyanisnostrangertothehighwaysandbywaysofIreland,visitingaround3,000farmseachyear.

Butwhilethetechnologycangivetheanswers,thedifficultbithasbeentophysicallyprocesstheinformationfromtheultrasoundequipment.

ThankstoanEnterpriseIrelandInnovationPartnershipgrant,thecompanyhasbeenworkingwithimageanalysisexpertsattheCentreforImageProcessing&AnalysisinDCUtocomeupwithasolution.

Thetechnologytheyaredevelopingwouldmeanthatatechniciancouldmonitortheanimal,thentheinformationgetsrelayedtothecompanyforautomaticanalysisontheherd.

“Bybeingabletoautomatethetechnologywecanprovideservicesworldwide,”saysRyan.“Thiswillallowusscaleupfromourmarketstoaglobalnetwork.”

GETTINGMOREFROm FOOD PRODuCTION


a helping hand for food producers

BeefanddairymightbefamiliarstaplesonIrishmenus,butgloballythere’salsoanenormousappetiteforseaurchinroe,andIrishcompanyGourmetMarinehasdevelopedanew,efficientwaytofarmtheanimals.

ItspatentedUrchinPlatter™systemusesspeciallydesignedmodularcagesandtanksthatallowthesea

urchinstogrowhappily.Andthecompanyisstartingtotapintotheglobalmarketforseaurchinfarming,whichisworthabout¤800mperyear,accordingtofounderDrGerryMouzakitis.

GourmetMarinespunoutfromUniversityCollegeCorkin2008.WithfundingfromEnterpriseIrelandandprivateinvestorsithascompletedsuccessfulacademicandindustryvalidationoftheseaurchinfarmingsystem,includingmajortrialsin

Chile,whichisoneoftheworld’smajorproducers.“ItworksverywellwiththeChileanseaurchin,whichisimportantasitaccountsforabout45percentofworldproduction,”saysDrMouzakitis.“Wecanshowwecanmakehighqualityroeusingafeedofonlyseaweed-youarenotgivingitanyartificialflavoursorcolours,youaregivingitwhatiteatsinthewild.”

GourmetMarineisnowexpandingglobalsalesandoffersequipment,trainingandconsultancy

toseafoodproducers.ButMouzakitisisadamantthatwhilethefocusisworldwide,productionanddesignoftheproductwillremaininIreland.

“Thatisreallyimportantforme,”hesays.“IcangoonadaytripfromCorktoGalwayandsitwiththedesigner.IfthedesignwasoutsideofIrelandthatwouldbeverydifficult.”

GETTINGMOREFROm FOOD PRODuCTION


Hot water that doesn’t cost the Earth

Hotwaterissomethingweprobablytakeforgranted-whetherweareathomedoingthedishesorhavingashower,orinindustryforcleaningandhandhygiene.

Butheatingwatercanbeanexpensivebusiness,particularlyduringthedaywhenelectricitytariffstendtohehigher.Nottomentionthewiderenvironmentalimpactofusingelectricitytoheatthetank.

DrMickMcKeeveratDublinInstituteofTechnologyhascomeupwithaneatsolutiontohelpkeephotwaterontapduringthedaywithoutincurringextracost.

Hisinvention,theWarmerWedge,sitsattheoutersideofthetankandstoresenergyfromtheheat.Thenitreleasestheenergyslowlybacktothewaterinthetankovertime.

Thatmeanssavvyconsumerscanheatwaterduringthenightwhenelectricityischeap,andgetthebenefitsduringthedaywhentheyneedhotwater.

DrMcKeever,alecturerinengineering,gottheideawhileworkingonsolutionsforhot-watercylindertanksthat

involvephase-changematerials,whichmeltastheyabsorbenergyandthengivetheenergybackastheysolidify.

Puttingphase-changematerialinsidethetankwasoneoption,butitwouldmeanbuildinganewtankfromscratch,andeventhenthecostswouldbeprohibitivelyhighforhomeconsumers.

DrMcKeeverdevisedamorepracticalsolution:modular‘wedges’containingthephase-changematerialthatcanbeclippedtotheoutsideofanexistingtankinstead.

Inpractice,thatmeanswhenthetankgets

hotitheatsthephase-changematerialinthewedges,thentheyreleasetheenergybacktothetanklater.

“Itisamodularsystemsoyoucanbuyupto10ofthemdependingonthesizeofyourtank,”heexplains.

“Ifyouheatthewateratnighttime,whenthecostofelectricityischeaper,theWarmerWedgewillallowyoutohavemorecapacitysoyoucangetthroughthenextday,ratherthanneedingtoheatthetankagaintowashthedishes.Sotherearecostsavings.”

Whenhewasworkingonthenow-patentedtechnology,hecalled

DIT’stechnologytransferstaffaboutthecommercialpotentialandgota“morethanhelpful”response.

TheyadvisedhimaboutfundingoptionsandbroughthimthroughtheprocedurestosecurecommercialisationfundingfromEnterpriseIreland.

ThatfundingisallowingDrMcKeevertodevelopprototypesandaddressissuessuchaspackaging,andheisnowlookingatroutestobringingtheWarmerWedgetomarketandtalkingtointerestedcompaniesandretailoutlets.

TOWARDSAgREENER WORLD


Environmental testing - the smart way

Thequalityofwateriscriticalforlifeandhealth.Pollutioncanmeanthatplantsandanimalsdie,orthatentireregionsneedtoboiltheirdrinkingwater.

ButatechnologybeingdevelopedinIrelandaimstoenableautomaticmonitoringofwaterinthefield,soproblemscanbedetectedearlyandwithouttheneedforpeopletovisitremotesitesoften.

Carlow-basedcompanyT.E.LaboratorieshasbeenlinkinginwithDublinCityUniversitytorealisethisgoal.

“Wehaveavisionthatcertainamountsofenvironmentaltestingcanbedoneinthefieldratherthanthelaboratory,”explainsMarkBowkett,CEOofT.E.Laboratories.

Onewayofdetectingpollutionremotelyistodeploysensorsinthefieldandmonitorthemovertime.Tolookintotheapproach,TELaboratorieswenttoDCUforexpertise-theresearchersmet

throughanorganisationcalledQUESTOR,whichlinkscompanieswithacademicexpertsforenvironmentalinnovation.

Sincethen,throughanEnterpriseIrelandInnovationPartnershipAwardgrant,T.E.LaboratorieshasbeencollaboratingwithProfDermotDiamond’slabattheNationalCentreforSensorResearchinDCU.

Theiremergingsensortechnologyusesmicrofluidichardwareandcustomisedchemicalstodetectchangesinwaterquality,thentheinformationisrelayedtoanonline

monitoringsystem.

“It’sanearlywarningpollutiondevice,”explainsBowkett.“Wecanputthisintoariverandifthere’samaterialchangeintheriverthatcanindicatepollution,thisdevicewillissueawarningandasampleofthewateriscapturedforanalysis.”

Asidefromtheenvironmentalandsocietalbenefitsofbeingabletodetectpollutionearly,thehopeisthatmanufacturingandmonitoringthesensorswillalsosupportfurtheremploymentinIreland.

TOWARDSAgREENER WORLD


Exploring more efficient waste-water treatment

AtechnologycalledOxyMemisbeingdevelopedatUniversityCollegeDublin,tomakewastewatertreatmentmoreefficient.

“Currentlywastewatertreatmentplantsuseair-spargingtosupplybacteriawithoxygenforbreakingdownpollutants,”explainsDrEoinCasey,aseniorlectureratUCD.

Butcurrentprocessesarewasteful-around70percentofoxygenbubbledintowastewatergoesunusedbythebacteria,andthiscontributestoenormouselectricitybillschalkedupbywastewaterplants.

DrCasey’steamhasbeenworkingonadifferentwayofintroducingoxygen,anditdoesn’tusebubbles.“Insteadofusingbubblesweareusingtubularmembranes-airoroxygenflowsontheinsideandtheoxygendiffuses-withoutbubbles-throughthemembraneintotheliquid,”explainsDrCasey.“Theonlyoxygenyouprovideistheoxygenthattheorganismsneedsothere’snowaste.”

TheOxyMemsystemallowsmicrobestogrowinbiofilmsonthemembranesthat

aredenselypacked,whichimprovestheproductivityofthewastewatertreatmentplant.

Butitcanalsomonitorwhenbiofilmsarebecomingaproblemandarelikelytocauseclogging.“Ourinventionallowsustomonitorquiteeasilywhatisgoingonandtoknowwhentoapplyacontrolstrategythatunclogsthesystem,”explainsDrCasey.

“Theideaisthatthewholeprocesscouldberetrofittedintoexistingwastewatertreatmentplantsandrunautomaticallywithminimalintervention.”

AnEnterpriseIrelandcommercialisationgranthasallowedthegroupatUCDtobuildalarge-scalepilotsysteminthelab,whereitcanbecloselyevaluatedbythedevelopmentteam.

Andoneofthehighlightsofbringingtheresearchtowardscommercialisationhasbeentheinvolvementofanindustrialadvisoryboard,accordingtoDrCasey.“Severalcompaniesareprovidinguswithreallygoodfeedback,”hesays.

Ultimately,thetechnologycouldoffertheenvironmentaldouble-whammyofpurifyingwaterwhilereducingenergyconsumption,

explainsDrCasey.

“IfsomeonewhoisoperatingawastewatertreatmentplantcouldimplementthisOxyMemtechnology,theycouldsavedramaticallyonenergyusage,whilstachievingincreaseddischargestandards.”


The Irish medical device revolution

Adevicethattrainsthebraintomutetheimaginarysoundsoftinnitus.Animplantablescaffoldtohelpbonestohealafterinjury.Amonitorthathelpspeoplewithasthmalearntousetheirinhalersproperly.

ThosearejustsomeoftheEnterpriseIreland-supportedmedicaltechnologiesthatareemergingfromresearchinIreland.

Medicaltechnologyor‘medtech’isoneofthegreatsuccessstoriesinIrelandinrecentyears.Thesectoremploysaround25,000peopledirectlyinIrelandandhadexportsinexcessof¤7.2bnin2010–up14percenton2008levels.

ThismeansIrelandhasbecomethesecondlargestexporterofmedtechproductsinEurope,behindonlyGermany.

Historically,largemulti-nationalmedtechcompanieshaveinvestedinIreland,andtodaymostoftheworld’stopnamesintheindustryhaveapresencehere.

Butindigenousmedtechhasbeenthrivingtoo,andEnterpriseIrelandstronglysupportsIrishcompaniesindevelopinginnovativenewdevicesandtechnologiestohelpcliniciansdelivercareandtoimprovethequalityofpatients’lives.

MAKINGLIFE bETTER FOR PaTIENTS


Silencing tinnitus

Imagineifyoucouldhearringing,whistling,buzzingorhissinginyourears,eventhoughtherewasnoexternalsourceofthenoise.Nowimaginethatnoisewouldn’tgoaway,youjusthadtolivewithit.Welcometotinnitus.

Around40millionpeopleworldwidearethoughttohavethecondition,whichinseverecasescanimpairthequalityoflife.

MuteButton,amedicaldevicecompanythatspunoutoftheHamiltonInstituteatNUIMaynoothin2010,isworkingonanewwaytohelpsilencethatillusorynoise.

Thetechnology,whichwasdevelopedatNUIMaynoothbyDrRossO’Neill,DrPaulO’GradyandProfBarakPearlmutter,aimstotrainthebraintoidentifythephantomnoiseandknowwhattotuneout.

Todothis,theMuteButtondeviceplaysmusictostimulatethesenseofhearing,andatthesametimestimulatesthesenseoftouchbydeliveringtheinformationtosensorsplacedonthetongue.

Inthiswaytheapproachtargetspartsofthenervoussystemthatintegratesoundandtouch.Thenbycomparingtheinputs,theperson’sbraincan

learntodistinguishtherealsound,whichmatcheswiththetactileinputfromthetongue,fromtheillusorysoundthat’sheardintinnitus.

In2010DrO’NeillwonEnterpriseIreland’s‘OnetoWatch’award,whichwasacatalystforinvestmentintothecompany.“ItgotMuteButtontheperfectlevelofmediaexposure,”hesays.“Wegotanumberofinvestorswhoapproachedusandoneoftheminvested.”

EnterpriseIrelandhasalsoinvestedinMuteButtonasittrialsthetechnologyclinicallyandmovestoseekregulatoryapprovaltomarketitforuseinthetreatmentoftinnitus.

AndDrO’Neillhasplanstogomuchfurther:MuteButtonisalsolookingtodevelopotherapplicationsthatallowbrainactivitytobemodulatednon-invasively.

Heexplainsthatprocedureswhichcurrentlyuseneuromodulation,suchasthephysicaldeep-brainstimulationthatcanhelpalleviatethesymptomsofParkinson’sdisease,ofteninvolvebrainsurgery,whichisanexpensiveandinvasiveapproach.

SoMuteButtonisnowexploringlessinvasiveoptionsthatstimulate

peripheralnervesinotherpartsofthebody,effectivelyusingthemaschannelsintothebraintoaffectactivitiesthatarelinkedtosymptomsofdisease.Andforthepatient,itcouldinvolvelittlemorethanadevicebeingplacedontheirskin.“WhatIwantfromMuteButtonistobuildonthefirstgeneration

ofsuccessthathasbeenachievedbyotherswithinvasiveneuromodulationdevices,”saysDrO’Neill.“Wewanttobuildasecondgenerationofnon-invasivedevicesthatachievethesameresultthroughnon-surgicalmeans.”


making inhalers count

Inhalerdeviceslikethehand-held‘puffers’usedbypeoplewithasthmaofferadirectrouteforgettingmedicinesintotheairwaysquickly-butdopatientsalwaysusethemproperly?

Learningthecorrecttechniqueandstickingtoitarekeytogettingthebenefitsofaninhaler,andmonitoringtechnologydevelopedatTrinityCollegeDublinoffersawaytokeeptrackofhowapatientisusingthedevice.

“Complianceisthebiggestproblemwithinhalers,”saysFrankKeane,generalmanagerofvitalographIreland,anEnnis-basedcompanythatspecialisesinrespiratorytechnology.

Whenapatientdoesn’tuseaninhaler

correctly,theresultcanbethatthetreatmentislesseffectiveandmedicationsarewasted,heexplains.Butifthepatientcanmasterinhalertechnique,drugscanbedeliveredmoreaccuratelyandthepersonmayneedfewertripstothedoctor.

TheInhalerComplianceMonitorusestechnologydevelopedbyrespiratoryconsultantProfRichardCostelloatBeaumontHospitalandProfRichardReillyatTrinityCollegeDublininaprojectsupportedbyEnterpriseIrelandthroughitsCommercialisationFund.

“Thesystemhelpsphysiciansorcliniciansorhealthcareprofessionalstomakesurethatapatientisusinganinhalerasprescribed,andthattheyareusingitcorrectly,”saysKeane.

Sohowdoesitwork?Asmalldeviceclipsontothedrypowderormetereddoseinhalerand

itssensor

technologyrecordsacousticdetailsaboutthebreathandwhenandhowtheinhalerisbeingused.

Differenttypesofinhalersrequirepeopletousedifferenttechniquestodelivertheappropriatedosage,andthesystemcanpickupwhetherapersonisusingtheirinhalertherightway.“Itcanchecktheyinhaleforthecorrectamountoftimeandthattheyholdtheirbreathforthecorrectamountoftimeandthenexhale,”explainsKeane.

Theinformationcanbeuploadedtoaweb-basedsysteminaclinicorpharmacy,whereahealthcareprofessionalcanlookattheperson’spatternsofuseandtechnique.Algorithmscanalsoautomaticallyhighlightpotentialproblemswithpatterns.

vitalographiscurrentlyusingthesystemwithpartnersinclinicaltrials,wheredevicemanufacturersaredevelopinganinhalerandwanttotrackitsuse,explainsKeane.

Buteventuallyheseesthetechnologymovingintodoctor’sclinicsforthebenefitofpatientsandbudgetsalike:“Ithinkdowntheroadfortheprimaryandsecondarycaremarketthistechnologywillmeanbigsavingsforhealthcare.”

MAKINGLIFE bETTER FOR PaTIENTS


Lending natural support to bones

It’seasytothinkofthebonesinourskeletonsasbeingstatic,justthereforsupport.Butboneisaliving,dynamictissue,andwhenitgetsdamagedthere’softenscopetofixit.

Ifboneisbadlydamagedordiseased,asurgeonmightopttouseagraft,whereapieceofthepatient’sownbonefromelsewhereinthebody,apieceofdonatedorbovineboneorelsea

syntheticscaffoldgetsimplantedtohelpfillthegap.

“Bonegraftingisthesecond-mostnumeroussurgicalprocedureperformed,secondonlytobloodtransfusion,”saysDanPhilpott,CEOofIrishcompanySurgaColl.

There’sagrowingmarketforsyntheticbonegraftsubstitutes,andSurgaColl’sfirstofferingfromitsportfoliooftechnologiesisaimedatmeetingthatneed.ItsHydroxyCollproductcontainstwosubstances

naturallyfoundinthebody-hydroxyapatiteandcollagen-renderedinawaythatencouragesbonetissuetoregrow.

ThetechnologygrewfromScienceFoundationIreland-fundedresearchbyProfFergalO’Brien’sgroupattheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsinIreland.

Since2007EnterpriseIrelandhasprovidedproof-of-conceptandcommercialisationfundingtohelpSurgaColltogetofftheground,andtodayEnterprise

IrelandcontinuestosupportthecompanyasaHighPotentialStart-Up.

Pre-clinicaltrialsshowthatHydroxyCollcanspeeduphealingindamagedbonetissue,andthetechnologyisbeingbroughttowardsclinicaltrialsandmarketapproval,explainsPhilpott:“Ultimatelyweexpectanoverallrecoveryexperienceinpatientsthatisfasterandbetter.”

3� technology transfer case studies

making the move to mobile

Nexttimeyouareinapublicplacehaveaquicklookaround:howmanypeopleareusingasmartphoneortabletdevice?Theymightbesearchingfor

information,checkingtheirbankbalanceorevendoingupapresentationforwork.

Mobileappsarenowapartofeverydaylife,and

technologiesdevelopedinIrelandareseekingtomakeiteasierforusersandbusinessesaliketoharnessthepowerofinformationonthemove.

INFORMATIONON THE mOvE


Search goes mobile, and social

OneofthegreatadvantagesoftheInternetisbeingabletosearchforrelevantinformation,whetherforworkorplay.

NowIrishcompanyHeyStaks,isopeningupnewformsofmobile‘socialsearching’usingtechnologythatcombinestwopowerfuldriversofInternetuse:searchandthesocialweb.

Theirapproachallowsfriendstoformsearchcommunitiesasawaytocollaborateandshareastheysearch.

“Wewanttohelppeoplesearchmoreeffectivelyonline,”explainsHeyStaksco-founderandchiefscientistProfBarrySmyth.

“Whenpeoplesearchtheyareoftenlookingforthingsthattheirfriendsortheircolleaguesareinterestedinto,sopeopletheytrustmayhavealreadyfoundinformation.Wouldn’titbegreatifwecouldconnectthatup?”

ThetechnologygrewfromscientificresearchattheScienceFoundationIreland-fundedCLARITyCentreforSensorWebTechnologies,a

partnershipbetweenUniversityCollegeDublin,DublinCityUniversityandTyndallNationalInstitutethatProfSmythdirects.

“Inonesensethehardsciencewastheeasybit,nowit’sabouthowyoumarrythatwithagreatuserexperienceandreallytransformitintoabrilliantproduct,”hesays.

TheHeystaksapproachwasinitiallydevelopedforusewithaweb-browser,andnowthemovetoamobileappisopeningupnewopportunitiesforthetechnology,includingpresentingresultsinamagazine-likelayout.

“Whenwestartedlookingatit,especiallyinthemobilephoneandtabletarea,werealisedthatpeoplehadn’tstartedtothinkaboutoptimisingsearchfortouchandtablet,”saysProfSmyth,whoisprofessorofcomputerscienceatUCD.

“Wetookafreshlookatsearchandstartedfiguringoutifthereisabetterwaytodeliversearchresultsnomatterwhatdeviceyouweresearchingon.Andbecausewehaveanappandwearenotrestrictedtoworkingwithinthebrowser,wecandomuchmoreinterestingthings.”

Ultimatelybymaking

searchmoreeffective,HeyStakshopestoboostproductivityintheworkplaceandtobringeconomicbenefittoIrelandintheformofjobs.

Thespin-out,whichisbasedinSanFranciscoandatNovaUCD,raiseditsfirstroundofseedfundingin2010-securinginvestmentof¤1millioninequityfundingfromtheUlsterBankDiageoventureFund,managedbyNCBventures-andthecompanyisnowlookingtoraiseitsnextround.

“Allofthatisgoingtohelptosupportthe

growthofthecompanyandthatultimatelymeansmorejobs-weareestimatingcreatingintheregionofcreating40newjobsovercomingyears,”saysProfSmyth.

And,poisedattheintersectionsbetweensearch,socialnetworkingandmobileapps,heseesplentyofpotentialfortheStaksmodel.

“ThethingtorememberisthatGooglehasproventhatifyoucanattractpeopletoyoursearchengineyoucanmakemoney,”hesays.“Andwouldn’titbegreatifanIrishcompanycoulddisruptGoogle?”


Developing and managing mobile apps made easy

Mobileappsmakelifealittleeasierforusers.Ratherthanbeingtiedtoanofficeoracomputerathome,appsletpeopleaccessandcreatecontentondeviceslikesmartphonesortablets.

Butwhomakesiteasierforthecompaniesthatarelookingtobringthoseappstotheircustomers?Waterford-basedcompanyFeedHenrydoes-itstechnologytakesalotofthehardworkandunknownsoutofbuildingandmanaginganappinthecloud.

“Wehavewhatwecallacloud-basedmobileapplicationplatform,”explainsCEOCathalMcGloin.“Itessentiallyallowsanybody,adeveloper,abusiness,asmallbusiness,tobuildmobileappsolutionsinthecloudthatwillrunonallsmartphonesandtabletdevicesfromasinglebuild.”

Inpractice,someoneusingFeedHenry’splatformcanbuildtheappusingwebtechnologyratherthandeepcode,thentheplatformallowsthemtohandletherequestsandconnectionsandtointegratetheapps

securelyintotheirexistingbusinesssystems,allthroughthecloud.

Theapproachhasattractedsomeofindustry’stopnames,andFeedHenrynowhaspartnershipswithvMWare,securitycompanyRSAandTelefónicaamongothers,andseveralmorelargecompanieseithertriallingorlookingtopartnerwithFeedHenry,accordingtoMcGloin.

Why are they interested?“Therearemanytoolsouttheretohelpdevelopappsthatwillrunonallphones,”hesays.“Buttherearefewertoolsouttherethatwilldothataswellasprovidingthebackend-as-a-servicetointegratewithbusinesssystems.There’snootherplatforminthemarketplacetodaythatenablesthecompletecycleofbuildingapps,integratingthemwiththebackend,managingthemwithdeploymenttodifferentclouds.Thatiswherewearedifferent.”

ThetechnologywasinitiallydevelopedattheTelecommunicationsSoftware&SystemsGroupatWaterfordInstituteofTechnology–butwheredidthenameFeedHenrycomefrom?

Oneoftheinitialdeveloperswho

wasworkingonthetechnologyforusewithfeedscamefromKilkenny,whichisanarch-rivalofWaterfordinhurling,explainsMcGloin.“SohenameditafterHenryShefflin,captainoftheKilkennyhurlingteam.”

McGloinhimselfcametoknowofFeedHenrythroughcontactsatEnterpriseIreland.Hesawthepotentialtouseittoallowbusinessestodevelopandhostappsinthecloud.

“Wetookthetechnologyandrepositionedittosolveamorecompellingproblem:theissueofmobileappsinenterprise.”

Angelandseedcapitalfunding,includingacontributionfromEnterpriseIreland,allowedthecompanytospinoutfromTSSGandgetofftheground.

“Wehadenoughinitialcapitaltotakein13stafffromWIT,totakeovertheIPandtohireanother10staff,”saysMcGloin.

“AndEnterpriseIrelandisnowworkingwithustoputotherprogrammesandgrantsandinvestmentsinplacetogrowthatuptoabout40to45staffbytheendofthisyear.”

Thecompanyisnowideallypositionedbytheintersectionof

twodisruptivetrends:mobileappsandcloudtechnology,explainsMcGloin.

“Mobileappshavecompletelychangedthesoftwareindustry,”hesays.“TheyhavesolvedoneoftheproblemsforsmallIrishsoftwarecompanies,whichishowdoyougetyourproducttothemarketplace.Mobileappshavesolvedthatbyallowingdistributionthroughappstores-anysmalldeveloperinMayoorCorkorKerrycanbuildsoftwareandreachinternationalmarketsquicklythroughtheappstores.”

Meanwhile,IrelandisbuildinganameforitselfasahubincloudtechnologyforEurope,headds.

“FeedHenrysitsattheintersection-weenablemobileappstobeservicedfromthecloud.SowecanpotentiallyhelpIrelandbecomealeadingcentreofcloudandwecanalsoprovidesmalldevelopersandsoftwarecompaniesinIrelandwiththeopportunitytobuildworldclassproducts.”

INFORMATIONON THE mOvE


making light work for industry

Sometimesinnovationcanlieinaseeminglysimplechange.ForateaminTyndallNationalInstituteatUniversityCollegeCork,thatchangewasalteringtheshapeofalight-emittingdiode,orLED.

WearefamiliarwithLEDsasthelong-lastinglightsourcesinindicatorlightsorbicyclelamps,whichcansendoutbrightlightforlongperiodswithoutdrainingthebattery.

ButchangingtheshapeofthesemiconductormaterialthatemitslightintheLEDcanmakeahugedifferenceandleadtomoreinnovativeusesforthetechnology.

InaprojectsupportedbyEnterpriseIreland,theTyndallteamturnedthenormallyflatsemiconductorintoabowl-shapedparabolatomakeminiature‘microLEDs’thatcanfocusorredirecttheemittedlightwithouttheneedforadditionaloptics.

Andbecauseoftheirsmallsize,theycanbearrangedintoarraysormatrices,openingupnewpossibilitiesforuse.

“ThetechnologyisasmallerandmoreefficienttypeofLED,”explainsJoeO’Keeffe,

CEOofinfiniLED,acompanythatspunoutofTyndallandhaslicensedthemicroLEDtechnology.

EntrepreneurO’KeeffeinitiallyevaluatedthemicroLEDtechnologyforcommercialpotentialthroughtheEnterpriseIrelandBusinessPartnerProgramme,andthenco-foundedinfiniLEDwithDrBillHenryfromTyndall.

ThemicroLEDtechnologynowstandstosupportarangeofmanufacturersacrossmanysectors,includingmedicaldevicesandelectronics.

“LEDsareusedinvariousapplicationsandthesamewouldapplytoours,”saysO’Keeffe.

Hecitesexampleswheretheabilitytominiaturise,saveenergyandfocusthelightcouldhelpbringdowncostsandinsomecasesenablelessinvasivetechnologies.

“InonecasethemicroLEDtechnologyisbeingappliedtodevelopablood-monitoringsensorforaverycommonailment.Thissensorwouldeliminatetheneedforpatientstopricktheirfingersseveraltimesadaytomonitortheirblood,”hesays.“Anotherapplicationisinanewwayofmanufacturingprintedcircuitboardsthatsignificantlysimplifies

theprocessandlowersthecostoftheequipmentneeded.”

ThemicroLEDtechnologystandstodelivercheaperproductsforconsumers,andforacompanyitcanmeangreaterflexibilityformanufacturing,headds.AndforIreland,infiniLEDplanstoenrichtheeconomythroughmanufacturingathomeandmainlyexportingproductsglobally.

“Themainbenefitto

IrelandisthatinfiniLEDisahigh-technologyexportingcompany,”saysO’Keeffe.“Andexportsarelikelytobetheengineoftherecovery.”

InfiniLED,recentlysecuredaninvestmentof¤1.6millionfromILInvestmentGroupfromQuebec,CanadaandEnterpriseIreland.Itwillimmediatelyresultintheformationofeightnewhigh-techpositionsatInfiniLEDwithupto16stafftargetedbeforetheendof2013.

SUPPORTING INDuSTRy


a sound way to ‘see’ faults

Whenyouaremanufacturingsomethingasvaluableasasiliconwafercontainingthousandsofdollars’worthofcomputerchips,itpaystoavoiddefectscroppingupthatcouldrendertheentirewaferuseless.

Buthowcanyou‘see’suchdefects?AclevertechnologydevelopedatDublinCityUniversityshinespulsesoflightonthematerialandmeasurestheacousticsignalthatcomesback.

Detectingthiswithahigh-technologymicro-phoneallowsfaultsinthematerial’ssurfaceorsub-surfacelayerstobepickedupandclassifiedascriticalortolerable.Themethodbywhichthelightisdeliveredandtheacousticsmonitoredandanalysedisprotect-edIP.

ThetechnologyarosefrombreakthroughresearchattheNanomaterialsProcessingLaboratoryheadedbyProfPatrickMcNallyinDCU,anditisnowbeingdevelopedforindustrybyspin-outSonexMetrologyLtd.

Theapproachcouldbeusedinafailureanalysisoryieldimprovementsettingtounderstandhowdefectsariseinmaterialsandhowto

avoidthem,explainsMikeCunningham,CEOandco-founderofSonex.

Andbecausethetechnologyisnon-invasive,itcouldalsobeusedtomonitormaterialsastheyarebeingprocessedformanufacturing.Thiswouldgivereal-timeinformationaboutpotentialproblemsandsohelptoimproveoverallyield.

SonexrecentlysecuredfundingthroughEnterpriseIreland,privatevCbankinginstitutionsandangelinvestors,andthecapitalwillallowthecompanytoworkwithindustryanddevelopmoresophisticatedprototypes.

“It’sanexcitingtimewherewewilllooktovalidateinanobjectivewaythatourscienceworksinrealliveexamples,”saysCunningham,notingthateventually,thetechnologycouldalsobeappliedtomanufacturersacrossvarioussectors.

“Whatwearedesigninghereisapieceofstate-of-the-artmetrology,andlikeanymetrologywhetherit’samicroscopeorasimple12-inchruler,itcanbeappliedinmanyfields.Thepotentialopportunitiesforitsapplicationarevast,”hesays.

“Thebeautyofthisscienceisthatyouareabletolookatdefectsonorbelowasurface,eventhroughopticallyopaquelayers.Wearedoingthefirstroundofproductsbasedonsiliconapplicationsbutitcouldbeusedinotherfields:pharmaceuticals,foods,anywherethatyouneedaqualitycontrolmeasuretobefinanciallycompetitive,reliable,non-destructiveandaboveallverymanufacturingcompatible.Therearemanyapplicationsforitinthefuture.”

TheenvironmentinIrelandhasbeenfavourableforthetechnologytodevelop,accordingtoCunningham.

“Ineverygoodchemicalequationyouneeddifferentingredientsandyouneedtheclimatetoberightforthingstohappen.Wehaveabodyofworld-classscientistsworkinginthelabsinuniversitiesinthiscountry,andwecouldneverhavedonethishadProfMcNallyandhisDCUteamnotbeenworkingonthisforthepasteightyears.Thatisacriticalingredient,”hesays.

“WehavesomeofthebestandbrightestoftechnicaltalentintheworldhereinIrelandacrossabroadrangeoftechnologies.Manyoftheworld’sgreatand

innovativecompaniesarealsolocatedhereandtheyareallwellintegratedwiththiscreativegenepoolcreatedbyourschoolsanduniversities.”

ThepoliciesinIrelandthatfavourbusinessandinnovationhavealsosetthescene,accordingtoCunningham.

“TheaccessthattheuniversitiesandIrishentrepreneurshavetoEnterpriseIrelandforexampleisakeyassetwehaveandneedstobesupportedandnurturedevenmoresointhesedifficultfinancialtimes,”hesays.

“Productinnovation,technicalleadershipandexportorientedbusinesswillplayacriticalroleinourfutureasanation.Thisrequiresacloseworkingpartnershipbetweenoureducationfacilities,privatebusiness,financialinstitutionsandGovernmententerprisebodiessuchEnterpriseIreland/SFIandIDA.Weareveryluckythatthispartnershipexistsandkeepingthisstrongandhealthyiskeytoourfuture.”

SUPPORTING INDuSTRy


a guide in the palm of your hand

ForentrepreneurTrevorWinckworth,achanceconversationonaflightsparkedanideathathasledtoabusinesswithglobalappeal.

Afellowpassengershowedhimabasicaudiodevicethatplayedpersonalmotivationmessages,andWinckworth’sbackgroundinhealthcaresethimthinking:couldthisapproachbespruceduptechnicallyandusedtohelppatientstosticktolong-termtreatmentregimens,ortopromotehealthybehaviours?

WinckworthcontactedtheNimbus/TechnologiesforEmbeddedComputing(TEC)CentreatCIT,andthankstoanInnovationvoucherof¤5,000fromEnterpriseIreland,theysetaboutbuildingacost-efficientandsmallMP3playerthatcanbepre-loadedforcustomerswiththerelevantaudiocontent.

Andgrowingfromthatcollaboration,Cork-basedInHandGuides,ofwhichWinckworthisfounderandmanagingdirector,nowsuppliestheplayerswithaudiocontentandbrandingartworktoclientsaroundtheworld.

Applicationsincludehealthcare,wheretheplayersareusedindiabeteseducationandanti-smokingprogrammes,andpublicadvocacyasameanstoinformpeopleoftheirrights.

Thenthere’stourism,wherethesmallplayercanreplaceunwieldyrentalaudiounits,whichcanbeexpensivetoinstallandmaintain.

InHandGuidescurrentlysuppliestouristattractionsinIrelandandinternationally,whereratherthanrentingaunitthevisitorsimplybuysthesmallplayerandlistenstotheaudiocontenttogetmorefromtheirvisit.

Thecustomisedartworkonthedevicemeansitisanattractivesouvenirofthetripthattheycantakehomewiththemtoo.

WiththesupportofanotherEnterpriseIrelandInnovationvoucher,thecompanyhasrecentlyworkedwiththeNimbus/TECCentretoaddevenmorevaluebyincorporatingaticketintotheMP3player.

Inpractice,thismeansthatavisitortoanattractionorsite-liketheBookofKellsinTrinityCollegeDublin,wheretheticket-enableddeviceshavebeenfieldtrialled-hastheoptiontobuythedeviceas

theirentrancepass,thentheyhavetherelevantaudiocontentattheirfingertips.

InHandGuidesisnowsettotakethetechnologytothenextlevel:workingwithanIrishcompanytheyaredevelopinga‘smart’versionthatplaysaudioonthebasisoflocation.“youcouldwalkaroundacityoragroupofattractionsandtheaudiowilltriggerautomatically,”explainsWinckworth.

InHandGuidesexpectstoexpanditsworkforceinIrelandto10by2013andintendsto

collaboratefurtherondevelopmentoftheproductwithCIT,andWinckworthcreditsthesuccessofthetechnologytothegoodworkingrelationshiphehaswiththeexpertsattheNimbus/TECCentreandtothesupportofEnterpriseIreland.

“Itwouldn’thavebeenpossiblewithoutstartingwiththeInnovationvouchersandbuildingitup,”hesays.“Ourturnoverin2011wasjustunder¤300,000andfor2012wearesettingatargetof¤1m-thatisallbasedon¤10,000-worthofInnovationvouchers.”

BRINGINGINFORMATIONTO LIFE


Pictureit:youarevisitingacityandtakinginoneofitsattractions,maybeazoooranartgallery.Asyouwalkaround,anapplicationonyoursmartphoneautomaticallydeliversappropriatemedia:whetherit’sthesoundofroaringlionsasyouwalkintotheAfricansection,orharpsichordmusicasyouapproachaportraitofHenryvIII.

Orperhapsyouhavejustarrivedatatradeshowandyouaretryingtofindyourwayaround.Whatifanappcouldbeyourguidetohelpyoufindwhatyouneedfromwhereveryouareinthecavernoushall?

MobiSurround,aninteractiveHDmediaengineforlocation-basedservices,isbeingdevelopedatDublinInstituteofTechnologytodeliverrelevantinformationtousers.

“Wearelookingathowtousetheenginetodeliverextensiverichmediathattargetsusersandenvironments,”explainsDrCharlieCullenfromtheMultimodalInteractionGroupatDIT.“There’salotofopportunityforthingslikeblendedlearning,particularlyinmuseumsandexhibitionspaces-deliveringeffectiveinformationtotheuserisacomplextask.”

TheMobiSurroundaudiointerfaceenginemovesbeyondmerelypinpointingwhereauserisandbringstheirexperienceofthatlocationmoretolife.

“It’sabitlikewhenyouseeamapandithasalittlereddotonitsaying‘youarehere’-it’samazingtheamountoftimesyoustilldon’tknowwhereyouareandwhereyouwanttogo,”saysDrCullen.“Insteadit’sthemodelofinformationaroundtheplacethatisinterestingtotheuser.”

TheteambehindMobiSurround,whichreceivessupportthroughEnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFund,workscloselywithtechnologytransferexpertsinHotHouseatDIT.

“WeliaisewithHotHousealot,”saysDrCullen.“TheyarehelpingustopositiontheMobiSurroundtechnology,tolookatitindifferentwaysandtoseenewvaluepropositions.”

BRINGINGINFORMATIONTO LIFE

you are Here - adding to a user’s experience of their environment


NexttimeyouareboardinganAerLingusplaneforaEuropeanflight,havealookoverattheengine.It’squitelikelythatitcontainspartsmadebyÉireCompositesTeoinGalway.

Andtheindigenouscompany’ssuccessissettoclimbevenhigherastheyworkonthenextgenerationofrocketlaunchers.

Thecompany,whichisaspin-outfromNUIGalwayandissupportedbyÚdarásnaGaeltachta,manufacturesanddevelopscompositematerialsforaircraftandwindturbines-itsupplieswell-knownaerospacecustomerssuchasBombardierandAirbusandalsomanufacturesaround2,000bladeseachyearformicroturbinestoharvestwindenergy.

Aswellasmanufacturingandprovidingtestingservicesforcompositematerials,ÉireCompositesisalsodevelopingnewtechnologytomakematerialsforplanesandlaunchersthatarestrongbutlight.

Theaerospaceindustrywantsthisbecauseitcanreapsavingsonfuelusage,explainsR&DDirectoratÉireCompositesDrConchúrÓBrádaigh.

Andsince2003,theGalwayoperationhas

beenworkingwiththeEuropeanSpaceAgencyontechnologyforbuildingrocketlaunchers.

DrÓBrádaighcreditsTonyMcDonaldandBryanRodgersbasedatEnterpriseIrelandfortheirworkinhelpingIrishcompaniestobidforESAcontracts:sofar,ÉireCompositeshaswonESAcontractstothetuneofalmost¤2million,particularlyontheArianelauncherproject.

Theoverallgoalistoreplacethealuminiumfueltankofthelauncherwithamaterialthatdoesn’tweighsoheavilyonthepocket,explainsDrÓBrádaigh,whoisalsoaseniorlecturerinmechanicalandbiomedicalengineeringatNUIGalway.

“Inthespaceindustry,thepushisonreducingtheweightoflaunchers-iftheyreduceonekiloofastructure’sweighttheycanearnbackabout30,000dollars,”hesays.“Sotheyarelookingatreplacingthemetalstructurewithcost-competitivecomposites.”

Butwhetheryouaremakinganaircraftoraspacecraft,processingcompositematerialsforsuchlargestructurescanbecostly,notesDrÓBrádaigh.

“Alotofthecompositesweseeflyingonnewaircraftareprocessedinbigpressurecookers

calledautoclaves,andit’squiteexpensivetodothatwhenyougetuptobiggerstructuresoffiveorsixmetres,”hesays.“Sowhatwehavebeenworkingonsince2003isamethodofproducingthesetypesofstructureswithoutanautoclave:weareaimingtowardsamobileheatsourcewhichmovesupanddownthestructureandlaysthematerialon.”

Thespace-relatedtechnologybeingdevelopedthrough

ESAcontractscouldalsoeventuallybeofbenefitforcivilianaircraftandwindenergy,andÉireCompositeshasparalleltechnologydevelopmentprogrammestoexploretheseapplications.

“Notonlydoesitprovidedirectemployment,”saysDrÓBrádaigh.“Itpositionsthecompanytoenterintonotonlythespacemarketbutalsodevelopitsinterestandofferingsintoaerospaceandwindenergy.”

GALWAyMATERIALSTECHNOLOGyFLIES HIgH


Takinganextremelyclose-uplookatwrinkles,blemishesandscarscanhelpaestheticdoctors,dermatologistsandplasticsurgeonstoassessaperson’sskinandtrackhowtreatmentsworkovertime.

Ahandheldopticaldevice,theAntera3D,developedbyTrinityCollegeDublinspin-outMiravexbouncesvisiblelightfromLEDsontotheskinandthencollectsvisualandspectroscopicdata.

Thisproducesbothtwo-andthree-dimensionalimagesandmeasureslevelsofpigmentationandotherfeatures.

Thenon-invasivetechnologywas

developedbyProfIgorShvets,DrRomanKantorandDrGuidoMariottowithsupportfromEnterpriseIreland’sCommercialisationFund.

In2009thetrioco-foundedMiravex,whichhasestablishedthedeviceinclinicandresearchcentresinEuropeandisnowenteringmarketsglobally.

“It’saverycompactandportabledevice-youcaneasilycarryitinasmallbriefcase,”explainsDrMariotto.“youcanuseittolookatskinproblemseverywhereonthefaceorbody,whichmakesiteasyfordoctorstoassessconditionssuchaswrinkles,birthmarks,threadveins,stretchmarksandcellulite.”

READyFORyOURCLOSE uP?

IfyoufancyyourselfasthenextEricClaptonorEddievanHalen,butyoustillneedabitofpractice,thensoftwaredevelopedbyDublin-basedSonicLaddercouldbejustwhatyouneed.

TheirRiffstationsoftwaretakesmusicfromyourMP3playerandshowsyouwhattheguitarchordsareinrealtime.Italsoletsyouchangethingsaroundtosuityourself:youcanslowdownthatsolobySlashtolearnit,youcansilencetheguitaronatrackforaspotofyourown‘guitar-eoke’andyoucanevencreatealoopforajamby‘telling’Metallicawhattoplay.

ThetechnologyisthebrainchildofguitarplayersDanBarry,MartinGallagherandMikelGainza,whoalsohappentobeexpertsindigitalsignalprocessing.

In2010theyspunSonicLadderoutofDublinInstituteofTechnology,wheretheyhadbeenresearchinganddevelopingaudiotechnologythatattractedclientssuchasSony.

SonicLadderandRiffstationallowedthemtoexploreevenmoreinterests.

“Itwasanareawecouldtackleasalabourofloveandatthesametimeaddressmarketopportunity,”saysBarry.

Riffstationisnowavailableforcustomerstodownload.

“It’sanexcitingtimeforus,”saysBarry.“There’sagreatsatisfactionwhenyouknowthatpeopleareusingyourtechnologyeveryday.”

GUITARZEROTO HERO


Pre-eclampsiaisapotentiallylife-threateningcomplicationofpregnancythatcanrestrictbloodflowtothewombandputbothmothersandbabiesatrisk.

It’sthoughttoberesponsibleforaround70,000maternaldeathsandhalfamillioninfantdeathsworldwideeachyear.

“It’soneoftheleadingcausesofmaternaldeath,”saysProfLouiseKenny,Professorof

ObstetricsatUniversityCollegeCorkandaConsultantObstetricianandGynaecologistatCorkUniversityMaternityHospital.“Therearesomepreventativestrategiesbutyouhavetostartthemearly.”

Butthereiscurrentlynowaytoeasilypredictinearlypregnancytheriskofawomandevelopingpre-eclampsialateron.

However,apromisingnewfindinginvolvingProfKenny’steamatUniversityCollegeCork

couldchangethat.

AspartoftheinternationalSCOPE(ScreeningforPregnancyEndpoints)study,morethan3,000womengavebloodsamples15weeksintotheirpregnancies.Thestudytrackedwhowentontodeveloppre-eclampsiaandusedthedatatopinpointasuiteofmetabolitesinthebloodinearlypregnancythatcouldpredictrisk.Thebenefitwouldbetoscreenandidentifywomenwhoareinneed

ofclosermonitoringorpreventivetreatmentforthecondition.

Trust,theHealthResearchBoardandScienceFoundationIreland,andnowaCommercialisationPlusawardfromEnterpriseIrelandisallowingthefindingstobevalidatedandmovedtowardsclinicaluse.

UCCspin-outMetabolomicDiagnosticsisnowlookingtocommercialisethetechnology.

ANEARLyPREDICTIONOFPRE-ECLAMPSIARISKIN PREgNaNCy

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Thevarietyoftechnologies,thediversityoftheiroriginsandtheingenioususestowhichtheyhavebeenemployed,illustratesthatthetransferoftechnologyisbynomeansastandardprocess.

EnterpriseIreland,inpartnershipwiththeTechnologyTransferOffices,ensuresthateachtechnologyisevaluatedonitsownmeritsandatailoredpathtothemarket-placeisdevelopedinconsultationwiththeinventors.

WelookforwardtoreviewingtheimpactofthesecondphaseoftheTechnologyTransferStrengtheninginitiativeinthecomingyears.

ForinformationonIreland’sTechnologyTransfersystemandlinkstotheTechnologyTransferOfficesinIrishHigherEducationInstitutionsvisitwww.enterprise-ireland.com/technologytransfer

aCkNOWLEDgmENTS

EnterpriseIrelandwouldliketothankeveryonewhocontributedtothispublication.Inparticular,thoseinterviewedinthecasestudiesandthestaffintheTechnologyTransferOfficeswhonominatedthemforinclusioninthefirstinstance.

technology transfer acknowledgments

ENTERPRISE IRELaNDEastPointBusinessParkDublin3,Ireland.

Tel:+35317272000Fax:+35317272020Web:Enterprise-Ireland.com

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